Triumphrat

JRO · 01-20-2006

I'm so glad I switched to Triumph, and back to chains.

This evening, I met an acquaintance, named Greg. 4 months in the hospital, recently. Reason? A brand-new '05 K1200LT (Broken Motor Works). New bike. Not many miles on it. Rear drive locked up, while cruising around Lake Tennkiller this Summer (last Summer?... Summer of '05?... whatever).

BMW has repaired the bike. It took longer to repair him. He says he'll ride again - but not the BMW.

I got rid of my K1200LT, after rear-drive failure struck. Frightening. I worried and read up on it, and decided it was a deadly serious problem. When the replacement drive started acting funny, I got all I wanted of BMW, and traded for a Tiger.

I was right. It was a deadly problem, and maybe getting off junk and onto Triumph has saved my life.

Since meeting Greg in the dept. store this evening, my wife has decided she doesn't miss the comfort of an LT, anymore.

I highly advise any of you folks still on them deathtrap LT's, to get off. My dentist pal has a new '05. I'm going to catch him tomorrow, and put him in touch with Greg.

Greg's lucky to be alive. I'm glad I took the hint, and switched back to a drive I could SEE, on a decent motorcycle, instead of a piece of junk.

Triumph, and chain drive, rules.

May the Lord protect you fools who still ride LT's.

Foxee · 01-21-2006

I take it you've never had a chain break up on you?

djr · 01-21-2006

if a chain goes it can do a helluva damage but I think the point here is that BMW appear to have a serious issue that is not being sorted out!

I'd be worried if I rode one!

peakbonnie · 01-21-2006

The last time I had a chain break on me was in 1980. The bike was a Honda SS50, which even back then was worn out.
The chain in question had probably done twice its intended mileage, with approximately half the intended maintenence. (Although I oiled and adjusted it regularly I could see that it was way overdue replacement)
Since then I've done hundreds of thousands of miles, in all weathers, on over 40 different bikes, only about 5 of which had shaft drive. I've had no other chain failures.
Yes chains do break, but with modern chains it is extemely rare, almost unheard of, at least without some kind of serious abuse or lack of maintenance.

That said, I'd love a shaft driven Tiger! :-D I've never had any shaft problems, barring one UJ on a GT550 Kwak, with any of the Jap bikes Ive had.

I think the problems with the K1200LT are BM problems, not shaft problems.

JRO · 01-21-2006

Yes, I have had a chain break on me. It's been a loong time, though... Late 70's, on my Honda. Chain was stretched, and came apart; ended up removing a link, and putting it back together.

There's nothing like a rear drive you can SEE.

I have had good luck with shaft drive bikes, too. But NOT with BMW. They just can't build a rear drive for a large bike, and the things are dangerous - should all be recalled and sent to the s***** heap (deutschenshratt?), but they don't sell enough of them in the U.S., to attract much interest from the authorities.

Chains, though... Well, being able to see your rear drive, kinda gives you a warm, safe feeling. And there's nothing like these new chains - so smooth they feel like a shaft drive.

Foxee · 01-22-2006

I last had a chain fail three years ago, it being a gold X-ring DID chain with about 4000 miles on it. It let go for no apparent reason at about 90mph. The only suggestions I've had were a manufacturing fault or a stone or other road debris being carried up onto the chain and dragged around one of the sprockets. Mercifully it split quite cleanly and got spat off the rear sprocket only taking a small chunk of the gearbox sprocket cover and the whole chain guard with it.

Sofalofa · 01-22-2006

I had a 1 month old chain snap on a GPZ500, on the motorway at rush hour going up hill at 70mph overtaking a truck... terrifying! Didn't know what had happened at first, but luckilly I managed to swerve in behind the truck and get onto the hard shoulder... phew, could have been nasty...

That'll teach me to buy a budget chain...

wills · 01-22-2006

30,000 miles on my VMax, no shaft problems. I would prefer a shaft to chain, cleaner and quieter.

I always believed BMW stood for bust my wallet :wink:

[ This message was edited by: wills on 2006-01-22 15:40 ]

tyrebyter · 02-01-2006

I've had a Moto Guzzi and never had trouble with the shaft. Had a BMW K bike and it was a pile of excrement in every way including the final drive. Have replaced chains that were so worn out you could bring the ends together sideways and still didn't break. In 35 years of motorcycles as my primary transportation, I've not had a chain break. If one does tomorrow, I'll figure I'm still ahead. I'm parked in JRO's camp on this one.

ChuckofTahoe · 02-01-2006

How about a toothed belt?

Best of both worlds? No lubing and in the unusual event that it breaks, it is less likely to lock up compared to a shaft drive.