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Editor's Note:  This information came from webBikeWorlder "Alex" in Germany.  Thanks Alex!

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UPDATE
From Alex - August 3, 2008

It's me, Alex from Germany, again.  I am glad to provide important NEW information on the subject of defective hand guards on BMW R1200GS models.

1. It is known that for the BMW motorcycle models BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS Adventure a "recall measure to eliminate significant shortcomings with regard to road safety" in accordance with Section 35, paragraph 2, No. 1 Road Traffic Act [StVG/German Law] was initiated in the beginning of June 2008!
   
   These measures included the distribution of a long letter with warnings, a "supplement for the user guide", "installation instructions for stickers" and a "sticker for the right hand guard" and a "sticker for the left hand guard." 
   
   The European Commission is warning about the risk of injury on their website.
    

2. It is known that BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS models have been delivered since October 2007 (!) with completely newly constructed hand guards. 
   
   The risk of locking front wheels during ride and in addition various clutch and brake malfunctions during ride no longer exists with them.  Quite simply for the reason that the hand guards no longer touch any of the lever, even if they may rotate.
   
   Here is the photo of the new style hand guards:

3. It is known that the "old" hand guards no longer can be ordered at BMW dealers.  This is the situation since at least April 2008!  And it's even not possible to order any spare part for the "old" design if you need one.  So no dealer can repair a BMW motorcycle whose "old" hand guards are damaged.

NEWS:  There is now a special retrofit for the hand guards on BMW R1200GS models produced between March 2004 and October 2007 available. Part #: 71 607 705 265. The price of the kit is in Germany about 110 EUR, which corresponds to 170 USD.  Photo below.

Note: This is a very innovative form of a "recall".  Because the customers are paying the bill!

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I am from Germany and there seems to be the need of clarifying the issue of the "BMW R 1200 GS Hand Guard Problem".

The German Federal Motor Transport Authority (Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, KBA) informed the European Commission and the EU Member States about an unsafe product from Germany.  They started an official investigation after a serious accident with a BMW R1200GS Mod. 2004 near Fulda/Germany on 13th January 2008 02:14 pm.

The brakes were totally locked and the bike was equipped with power assisted integral-abs brakes.  The European Commission published the safety warning of the German Federal Motor Transport Authority on 11th July 2008 in RAPEX.

RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for all dangerous consumer products.  It allows for the rapid exchange of information between Member States and the Commission of measures taken to prevent or restrict the marketing or use of products posing a serious risk to the health and safety of consumers.  Both measures ordered by national authorities and measures taken voluntarily by producers and distributors are covered by RAPEX.

Ref. No.: 12 - 0738/08 http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/dyna/rapex/create_rapex.cfm?rx_id=192

NOTE: .pdf file (in German) explaining the problem.

12 0738/08

Germany

Category: Motor vehicles Product: Motorcycles Brand: BMW Type/number of model: Model R1200GS, type R12 Description: Concerns motorcycles built between December 2002 and October 2007. Country of origin: Germany No picture available

Injuries The product poses a risk of injuries because in the event of inappropriate handling, such as pulling roughly, hitting objects while manoeuvring, or if the motorcycle falls over, the hand protector on the handlebar controls can twist. It could then touch the handbrake or clutch control causing brake or clutch malfunction. In addition, if the twisted hand protector lightly touches and operates the handbrake control, the brake linings may touch the brake disc and the resulting heat generation would cause the brake pressure to build up which could slow down the front wheel, even so far as to block it. Three incidents reported.

Voluntary corrective action taken by the manufacturer.

The official recall campaign (= voluntary corrective action) is a letter with a warning, a supplement to the manual and so called "nanny stickers".  These stickers have to be put in the hand guards so everybody can see if hand guards and protector are in the right place.

And you see that the authorities do warn about motorcycles produced between "December 2002 and October 2007", which clearly indicates that they did not only forget to mention the BMW R1200GS Adventure, but also the BMW R1150GS and BMW R1150GS Adventure.

Attached you will find these "nanny stickers" for owners of the affected bikes and a picture of the hand guards in question.  Feel free to use and publish them!  By the way: BMW stopped to distribute the hand guards.  It's not possible to buy them, you don't even get parts of them if you need them!

►Owner Comments

Comments?  Send them to Comments are ordered from most recent to oldest.

From "M.L.":  "Spare parts are still available in Canada, and I was told the "upgrade" will be done at no charge. 
I'm no expert, but are the hand guards the same on the 1150 and 1200GS (and Adventure) models ?