BMW F 850 GS Complaints

3 consumer complaints on file.

• #11593272June 9, 2024
  ENGINE, POWER TRAIN

  New 2023 BMW F850GSA Motorcycle purchased in April of 2023. Clutch lever often sticks as it engages with the engine causing the motorcycle to lurch forward when attempting to take off from a stop. Nearly struck by another vehicle stopped behind. Problem confirmed by dealership and manufacturer. No warning indicators activated. This situation was observed from the day I took delivery. Was advised that a clutch adjustment was all that was needed. However, the condition continued. The clutch would stick about 80 percent of the time and caused the motorcycle to stall numerous times when trying to move away from intersections. Dealer advised to drive for a while thinking that it would get better. It did not. Motorcycle was at the dealership many times for this concern. I filed a concern with BMW and was told in writing that the sticking clutch was normal? In October 2023, I delivered the motorcycle to the dealer as they requested for a comprehensive investigation. Service Technicians confirmed that there was a problem and has seen this in other units sold at their store. The technician installed a go-pro camera system on my motorcycle and sent the video to BMW in Germany. BMW acknowledged that there is a problem. A complete Clutch basket system was replaced and the motorcycle was returned to me in November after the riding season ended declaring that it was repaired. In the spring of this year (2024), it appeared that about 90 percent of the sticking clutch was successfully repaired. After adding another 1K miles, it appears that the problem has returned and occurs about 50 percent of the time while pulling away from a stop. In conclusion, a clutch that sticks just as it engages with the engine is a serious safety hazard and could easily cause a crash and or injury when trying to take off! All other related repair/concern documents were not made available to me from the dealer or manufacturer.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #11561750December 25, 2023
  UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  There are a lot of BMW owners filing complaints to force BMW Motorrad to releases service manuals to the public which they quite doing years ago which forces people to go to the dealership for any sort of service. Basically a monopoly which is illegal. I own a motorcycle repair facility and even as a certified tech and business owner I cannot get one (through legitimate channels). This is a safety factor as some people are fully qualified, and probably better technicians than the ones at the dealerships and can’t get the proper information to service their motorcycles. Which can easily turn into a safety factor. Something needs to be done about this. BMW and all other manufacturers should be forced to release any and all maintenance and repair information manuals to the public.

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0

• #11536911August 7, 2023
  SERVICE BRAKES

  While driving the motorcycle I lose the ability to pull in the front brake for a few seconds. When I pulled in the clutch to slow down the ABS and Traction Control error lights went off. At this moment I was able to pull the front brake again. I immediately took the bike in for service. The technician said the speed sensor was backing out of the bike and applied loctite. First, the speed sensor did not have loctite so it could come loose. Second, a failure of ABS should NEVER affect the ability to apply the brake. I was very lucky I was able to get out of traffic and be able to slow down. It could have been a serious injury

  Crash:

  No

  Fire:

  No

  Injuries:

  0

  Deaths:

  0