WHILE IN MOTION, APPROXIMATELY ONE OUT OF FIVE UP-SHIFT ATTEMPTS FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR RESULT IN REPEATED MISSED SHIFTS, RESULTING IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION ATTEMPTING TO REACH SPEEDS ABOVE 35 MPH. BMW MOTORCYCLES OF OMAHA (OMAHA, NEBRASKA) AND BMW MOTTORAD USA ATTRIBUTE THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONS TO A MATERIAL DEFECT, MOST LIKELY A METAL BURR IN THE SHIFTING MECHANISM. THEIR RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE IN ORDER TO WEAR DOWN THE BURR. AFTER OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE FOR ~500 MILES, THE ISSUE HAS NOT SELF RESOLVED. THE SHIFTING PROBLEM RESULT IN A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION, AND NEARLY RESULTED IN BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY VEHICLES ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AS THE TRAILING VEHICLES DIDN'T ANTICIPATE A LOSS OF STEADY ACCELERATION IN THE COURSE OF ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO REACH POSTED SPEED LIMITS. BMW MOTORCYCLES OF OMAHA DID NOT PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION OF THE SERVICE REQUEST, THE PROBLEM, OR THEIR INTENDED COURSE OF ACTION, TO CONTINUE USE OF THE F850GS IN THE HOPE THE PROBLEM WOULD SELF-RESOLVE. I BELIEVE THE LACK OF PROVIDED PAPERWORK WAS TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL LEGAL ISSUES STEMMING FROM ASKING ME TO CONTINUE OPERATING A MOTORCYCLE I EXPLAINED TO THEM WAS UNSAFE.
NHTSA ODI 11208478