New Member Introductions » 2016 R1200RS shaft issue

Hi there and hello everyone . I'm from Kuala -Lumpur (Malaysia). I own a 2016 R1200RS since 2017 and have been a proud owner until my recent discovery of unusual worn-out shaft issue.
My RS has clocked 60,000km to date and have never missed real axle maintenance every 20k interval as recommended by BMW in my country, yet still to my shocking the shaft has worn out at the rear axle end. I use to hear a heavy cluck sound engaging gear 1 and more heavier sound to go 3.

Has anyone face the similar issue with your RS in other parts of the continent?.. this is my first introduction and posting in this forum.. I'm not sure how active it is now.. but sincerely hope can get s0me feedback from you guys..

cheers and happy new year 2021..

Not sure what you are describing. All these bikes give a heavy clunk going from neutral to 1st gear. That is quite normal. 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd are also often clunky.
If you are having excessive clunking compared to normal, or compared to a similar bike then you need to have it checked. I don't think rear drive unit failures are particularly common on the R1200RS.

Hi..thanks for the feedback its not the normal clunk going 1 to 2 and 3... this is abnormal. Especially going to gear 3..

The shaft which connects to the real wheel has worn out

pic attached..

shaft pic1.JPG - Bild entfernt (keine Rechte)

rgds

Speaking to a general driveshaft issue: Clunking, while moving, usually indicates some type of u-joint failure. The condition of the leading edge of the splines, in your looks a little sketchy. It almost seems to have damage at that point. Hard to tell from that picture. I'm sure you'll get some constructive feedback on this forum.

That looks pretty dry, missing grease or washed out.
You are in a monsoon area geographically - are there extra warnings about water crossings or extra maintenance to re-grease the splines?
Not something was worry about in uk, more likely we get salt damage in winter

Thanks for the feedback I didn't have any issue while moving.. only when engaging the gears particularly gear 3 ... getting into gear 2 was smooth..

Yes your right we have quite a lot of rain here.. however BMW still recommended the shaft to be inspected and re-greased every 20km in major service only

Saying that I ride only on road for work and touring of course never used it for adventures rides like crossing rivers..:) and the service team never found any water inside...that's what surprise me where hell did all the grease within 20k mileage.. or the was not sufficient grease in the first place..!!

My RS has clocked 60,000km to date and have never missed real axle maintenance every 20k interval as recommended by BMW in my country

I find it hard to see how this much damage has been done in only 20k? Assuming the 20k/40k regrease was completed as serviced it must mean this is "since last service" and that looks like a lot of dry running, rust accumulation and totally different to my own drive shaft. My 2005 R1200ST (40k miles/ 64k km) was ignored for over 20k miles from new as bmw originally called the bevel oil a "fill for life" maintenance.
Once I started home oil changes I checked this and swopped the bevel oil myself and the splines were still 'factory fresh' at 32k km so I just cleaned them and re-greased. Maintenece schedule does now include 6000 mile bevel oil changes so spline grease would be seen on a more regular occurance on older bikes that need the whel removal, bevel dropped 90 degrees etc.
These newer bikes with easy empty/refill bevel drives could result in the spline grease check being ignored?
I think I would request a bmw failure report to head office if you have a the dealership and service records show compliance with requested schedules.
This does not appear a bearing failure/wear&tear issue but a loss/lack of spline grease - unless/even if you used heavy duty detergent and a pressure washer I do not see this capable of being a 'user error/failure'
I checked my uk owners manual and it only says 20k / 2year oil change in bevel drive, no mention of spline regrease, I'll load up my bmw service cd and see if any else is advised for spline regrease and update it it's there.
Hope you get some help from BMW, Dave

Thanks Dave for your supportive and concreate feedback. I have send in my bike to dealer today, they will write in to BMW with their report.

Definitely I hopefully get some help from BMW as the new replacement is quite expensive.

Cheers mate..
Siva

From what I understand this isn't a scheduled BMW Service item at all, at least in the UK.

I've done mine myself at the rear of the shaft. Molybdenum grease but there was no corrosion or wear.

Have you checked cushion drive rubbers? that may be the cause, at 60k, if my memory serves me well there is one on the rs

Shaft may just want clean and grease up,

Is there any play in the universal joint?

Is that the gearbox end or the final drive end of the drive shaft? Looks to me like water got in there. Maybe a damaged rubber boot?
BTW greasing the splines does not appear to be a specified maintenance item anywhere that I can find. Only necessary when re assembling after a repair.Why does everyone seem to think it's necessary on a regular basis? Am I missing something?

Zitat von Siva im Beitrag #3

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Hi..thanks for the feedback its not the normal clunk going 1 to 2 and 3... this is abnormal. Especially going to gear 3..

The shaft which connects to the real wheel has worn out

pic attached..



rgds

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