2004 Bmw R1150 RT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
33,095 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 15 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 18 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 27.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 11.1% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
Power Train: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Power Train:Driveline: 1; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Service Brakes: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 6; 2013: 1; 2017: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10216799 · 2008-02-03 (February 3, 2008)
CLUTCH FAILURE AS A RESULT OF MISALIGNED TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE, CAUSED BY MANUFACTURER DEFECT. COST TO REPAIR; PARTS AND LABOR = $2,000.00. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,485 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216799 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230109 · 2008-06-06 (June 6, 2008)
2004 BMW R1150RT MOTORCYCLE- FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT FAILED. BIKE STARTED LEAKING SMALL DROPS OF FUEL. TOOK SIDE FAIRING OFF AND FOUND THE LEAK COMING FROM THE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT. I DISCONNECTED THE LINE AND FUEL BEGAN POURING FROM THE LINE. THE WHOLE IDEA OF A QUICK DISCONNECT IS FOR THE LINE TO NOT LEAK WHEN DISCONNECTED. CALLED BMW DEALER BIKE SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE PLENTY REPLACEMENTS IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY FAIL QUITE OFTEN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235119 · 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)
2004 BMW R1150RT FAILURE OF FINAL DRIVE BEARING. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, DENIED BY BMW, AND COULD CAUSE A POTENTIALLY FATAL CRASH IF IT LOCKED UP AT SPEED. OUT RACE FAILS, EVENTUALLY THE BEARING RETAINERS FAIL, AND BEARING COLLAPSES, POTENTIALLY LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 38,612 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235920 · 2008-07-27 (July 27, 2008)
THE FUEL PUMP ON MY 2004 R1150RT BMW MOTORCYCLE FAILED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING HOME FROM WORK ON AN EXPRESSWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I MANAGED TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD, BUT WAS IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THE PROXIMITY OF THE PASSING HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. I BACKED THE BIKE ABOUT 1/8 MILE TO THE PREVIOUS EXIT AND PUSHED IT TO A GAS STATION AND CALLED FOR A TOW. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 68,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235920 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239865 · 2008-08-26 (August 26, 2008)
PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH / TRANSMISSION INPUT SHAFT SPLINES POTENTIALLY CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO LOOSE FORWARD DRIVE IN TRAFFIC. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH 28,210 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RIDING SLIGHTLY UP GRADE AT 50 MPH. SUDDEN AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE CAUSED LOSE OF FORWARD DRIVE AND BEING STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. THIS REQUIRED PUSHING THE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF TRAFFIC TO A SAFE LOCATION AND BEING TOWED TO THE REPAIR LOCATION. THIS IS NOT UNPRESIDENTED IN THIS SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES AND APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE ENGINE / TRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239865 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10296529 · 2009-12-21 (December 21, 2009)
THE WAS NO WARNING THAT A FAILURE WAS ABOUT TO OCCUR. I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ON A LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY IN DOWNTOWN ATLANTA GA WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD I BEEN IN A MIDDLE LANE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A LIFE ENDANGERING SITUATION. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT LANE AND COASTED TO A STOP ON THE LEFT SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. THE CLUTCH SPLINES OF DRIVE SYSTEM STRIPPED OUT AT 50,000 MILES. ACCORDING TO OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE, THESE FAILURES CAN OCCUR AS OFTEN AS EVERY 10-15K MILES BUT MOST FREQUENTLY AROUND 20-25K. I…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,720 miles reported. Look up ODI 10296529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297919 · 2010-01-03 (January 3, 2010)
FINAL DRIVE FAILED ON MY 2004 BMW R1150RT. MOTORCYCLE HAS 31,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425716 · 2011-09-16 (September 16, 2011)
SHINKO RAVEN 009 SIZE 120/70 ZR 17 DEVELOPED BLISTERS AROUND 75% OF THE CIRCUMFERANCE OF THE TREAD. THE BLISTERS RANGE FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES IN SIZE AND ARE EVENLY SPACED ALONG THE TREAD ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CENTER LINE OF THE TIRE. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE DID NOT FAIL BEFORE THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED AND THERE WAS NO CRASH. APPROX 12,500 MILES ON THE TIRE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10425716 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V304000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
Reported: 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, AN INCORRECT SEALING RING WAS MOUNTED TO THE PISTON OF THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
Consequence: IF ONLY THE REAR BRAKE WERE APPLIED DURING RIDING, INSUFFICIENT BRAKING PRESSURE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗