BMW Issues Two Motorcycle Brake-Related Recalls

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J. – BMW will send letters in early May to owners of more than 4,000 of its motorcycles in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) pair of brake-related recalls.

The first recall is for a potentially flashing brake light – instead of a solid light – while under emergency braking which NHTSA (campaign 20V-146) said could “. . . cause confusion to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.”

Affected are up to 4,026 examples of the following certain motorcycles (Make/Models/Model Years):

BMW/F 750 GS/2020
BMW/F 850 GS/2020
BMW/F 850 GS ADVENTURE/2020
BMW/F 900 R/2020
BMW/F 900 XR/2020
BMW/R 1250 GS/2020
BMW/R 1250 GS ADVENTURE/2020
BMW/R 1250 R/2020
BMW/R 1250 RS/2020
BMW/R NINE T/2020
BMW/R NINE T PURE/2020
BMW/R NINE T SCRAMBLER/2020
BMW/S1000 R/2019-2020
BMW/S1000 RR/2020

BMW will notify owner, and dealers will reprogram the emergency stop signal function, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 4, 2020.

The second recall covers certain motorcycles (listed below) which might a mismarked brake-fluid cap. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid and the process for filling the reservoir, possibly leading to an improper maintenance procedure and might affect braking, thus increasing the risk of a crash.

Affected are up to 49 examples of the mismarked accessory brake-fluid-reservoir caps potentially in dealer inventories or on customer motorcycles. The following motorcycles (Makes/Models/Model Years) are covered in the recall (Make/Model/Model year):

BMW/R 1250 GS/2019-2020
BMW/R 1250 GS ADVENTURE/2019-2020
BMW/R 1250 R/2020
BMW/R 1250 RS/2020
BMW/R 1250 RT/2019-2020
BMW/R NINE T/2018-2020
BMW/R NINE T PURE/2019-2020
BMW/R NINE T RACER/2018
BMW/R NINE T SCRAMBLER/2018-2020

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall, NHTSA campaign number 20E-013, is expected to begin May 11, 2020

Mike Geylin
Mike Geylin

Mike Geylin is the Editor-in-Chief at Hagman Media. Geylin has been in automotive communications for five decades working in all aspects of the industry from OEM to supplier to motorsports as well as reporting for both newspapers and magazines on the industry.