Bmw K1200 R problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
18,947 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 20 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 8 | 40.0% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 30.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 15.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 1 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Power Train: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Electrical System: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10439842 · 2011-12-13 (December 13, 2011)
WHILE RIDING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS DETECTED. WHILE STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP, BUT A CRASH WAS AVOIDED. I FOUND A LARGE VOLUME OF FUEL SPRAYING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUEL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ALTERNATOR, THE HOT EXHAUST, AND THE REAR TIRE. BY THE TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF TO TURN OFF THE FUEL PUMP, MY PANTS AND BOOTS HAD BEEN SATURATED WITH FUEL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLER FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE INJECTOR SUPPLY LINE HAD CR…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,728 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439842 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10480052 · 2012-10-14 (October 14, 2012)
I RODE BIKE TO WORK AND PARKED IT ON SIDE STAND. AFTER WORK I NOTED A WET SPOT UNDER BIKE BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF IT WAS OIL OR GAS. ON THE RIDE HOME I NOTED A PETROLEUM SMELL WHEN AT STOP LIGHTS. I PARKED THE BIKE IN THE GARAGE ON ITS SIDE STAND AND GASOLINE STARTED LEAKING FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BIKE. I CALLED THE DEALER AND RODE IT OVER. UPON PARKING THE BIKE GAS BEGAN TO LEAK AGAIN. THE DEALER CHECKED THE BIKE CONFIRMING A GAS LEAK ORIGINATING IN THE AREA OF THE FUEL INJECTOR/DELIVERY SYSTEM. PARTS HAVE BEEN ORDERED AND IT IS S…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10480052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10525972 · 2013-07-21 (July 21, 2013)
NOTED A GRINDING FEEL IN THE MOTORCYCLE DURING A RIDE. RETURNED HOME AND FOUND FLUID LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE ONTO THE REAR BRAKE (WHICH NO LONGER WORKED) AND THE REAR TIRE, WHICH BEGAN TO SLIP WHILE CORNERING. THE LEAK IS A SIGN OF A SEAL FAILURE CAUSED BY THE REAR DRIVE BEARINGS SELF-DESTRUCTING. THESE FAILURES ARE COMMON IN BMWS OF THIS ERA, BOTH MY RS AS WELL AS THE LT AND RT MODELS. BMW KNOWS WELL THIS IS A PROBLEM, AND NEEDS TO BE MADE TO STEP UP AND DO THE REPAIRS, WHICH ARE NOT CHEAP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 34,947 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561039 · 2014-01-22 (January 22, 2014)
RIDING ON FREEWAY ABS LIGHTS START FLASHING PULL OVER AND TRY TO STOP, NO POWER ASSIST BRAKE LEVER HARD AND BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP. FOUND FLUID WAS LOW ON REAR AND LATER FOUND ABS UNIT TO HAVE LEAK. CONTACTED BMW WAS TOLD BECAUSE BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY WHEN TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,109 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10419846 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200R. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTS OUT OF SECOND GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THIS FAILURE OCCURS IN SECOND GEAR, BUT THEN THE FAILURE WILL PROGRESS TO INCLUDE THIRD AND FORTH GEAR. THE DEALER STATED THE RODS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BENT AND THAT CAUSES THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE DEFECT, BUT THERE IS NO REMEDY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419846 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10520713 · 2013-06-19 (June 19, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200 R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,700. UPDATED 07/10/13*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10520713 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10462758 · 2012-06-22 (June 22, 2012)
FUEL GAUGE READ THAT I HAD FUEL AND I WAS EMPTY. MOTORCYCLE STALLED LOST POWER WHILE OVERTAKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL!! -FAULTY FUEL TANK SENDER-2ND TIME IT FAILED!! *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 4,652 miles reported. Look up ODI 10462758 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11203188 · 2019-04-23 (April 23, 2019)
THERE IS A FACTORY FUEL STRIP THAT CAUSES THE FUEL GAUGE TO GIVE AN IMPROPER READING. IT SHOWS HALF FULL WHEN THERE ISN'T ANY GAS LEFT AND GIVES NO WARNING. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO STALL IN HEAVY TRAFFIC TWO TIMES AND ONCE I WAS ALMOST HIT DOING 60 MPH.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11203188 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 3 |
2003: 0; 2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 3