My 2017 R1200GS, with around 95,000km on the clock, decided to throw a Cardan joint on me during a tour last week. I was trying to pass some slow traffic on an uphill stretch, rolled on the throttle in second, and suddenly got this nasty vibration, mainly from the rear. It felt like riding over those freeway rumble strips. I backed off, it eased, then came back when I finished the overtake.
I knew it was a driveshaft issue immediately. Pulled over, and sure enough, pulling back the gaiter confirmed it. The Cardan joint was practically glowing from heat. Couldn't really wheel it backwards after it fully gave up the ghost.
The part itself is over $1500, and they had to order it from out of state. My local BMW dealership will cover the full repair cost under their post-warranty goodwill program, which was a huge relief, especially since I've done all my own servicing. Apparently, the bearing seals had failed a while back, leading to the dry, rusted bearings. Feeling a bit silly for not noticing any signs, but it's not a service item you regularly check.
Now that this has me rethinking my maintenance routines, I'm interested to hear from those with high-mileage shaft-drive bikes, what do you do to check your Cardan joint? Is there a specific preventative maintenance step I should be adding to my routine? Any advice would be great. I was a bit lucky but I definitely don't want to be in the same scenario again!
I knew it was a driveshaft issue immediately. Pulled over, and sure enough, pulling back the gaiter confirmed it. The Cardan joint was practically glowing from heat. Couldn't really wheel it backwards after it fully gave up the ghost.
The part itself is over $1500, and they had to order it from out of state. My local BMW dealership will cover the full repair cost under their post-warranty goodwill program, which was a huge relief, especially since I've done all my own servicing. Apparently, the bearing seals had failed a while back, leading to the dry, rusted bearings. Feeling a bit silly for not noticing any signs, but it's not a service item you regularly check.
Now that this has me rethinking my maintenance routines, I'm interested to hear from those with high-mileage shaft-drive bikes, what do you do to check your Cardan joint? Is there a specific preventative maintenance step I should be adding to my routine? Any advice would be great. I was a bit lucky but I definitely don't want to be in the same scenario again!
