Get The Sandwiches Ready GSA Rear Wheel Collapse - Part 3!

In case anybody missed this, here is a 2013 report of a similar incident; 2013 incident reported here
You'll notice that spokes were reported to break towards their hub end , BUT on one side of the wheel, the fractures are short and also many spokes are missing, whereas on the opposite side, fractures are long and spokes seem to be present; I WONDER WHAT THAT MEANS? :
gg1.jpg

The short failures are all severely bent. Maybe the wheel flexed, catching the calliper, which served a few (The short ones) , followed by failure of the remaining over burdened spokes?
Note the above case had the final drive on the right, so must be PRE WC heritage. What was calliper clearance like in that vintage... I forget ?
Looks like the calliper and its mounting have vanished:
gg2.jpg

For reference, this is an intact version of that vintage:
e56def59ab6f8d9eb2960dd40179baf8--bmw-rgs-adventure.jpg

THE MYSTERY CONTINUES: it's not common but nevertheless relevant.
 
Whats common is...

1) Both spoked wheels
2) Both on knobbly tyres
3) Both had rear mudguards taken off

Even though it was 5 years apart and different design bikes
 
Warlord said:
Whats common is...

1) Both spoked wheels
2) Both on knobbly tyres
3) Both had rear mudguards taken off

Even though it was 5 years apart and different design bikes
Click to expand...

Maybe the knobbly tyres set up some harmonic stress unhappiness?

Can I have a sandwich now please?
 
tanneman said:
Maybe there is some flex in the drive shaft swing arm which allows the brake caliper to move closer to the spokes as you accelerate or decelerate :nenau :D
Click to expand...

Except that movement of the caliper is normally constrained by the brake pads and by the disk which is attached to the hub, not the swingarm. However if the outside pad (left side on WC bikes) were to fall out then the floating caliper is free to move towards the spokes to the full extent the sliding pins and their rubber covers allow.

However I can't see any way that the caliper would be pushed to slide along it's pins, and hopefully it is designed in such a way that even without a pad it cannot move far enough to contact the spokes.

I suppose that with a missing pad any rotational flexing of the final drive part of the swingarm under torque applications and reversals could then tilt the final drive and thereby move the caliper more towards the spokes as you suggest, but wouldn't think there is that much rotational movement possible.

Fred
 
I've just checked my 2018 GSA on 3k miles and I too have 3 very loose spokes on the rear wheel. No knobblies and no off road. I've put tape on them and nipped them up. Never had to adjust spokes on any bike before. Will be taking it back to the dealer, I'd suggest if you have an LC with spokes you check them sooner rather than later.
 
I had a loose spoke on front wheel. 2017 model
 
Just checked my 2018 Rallye TE and I have 6 loose on the rear and 2 on the front. Only done 2250 miles from new, told the dealer and they are going to check them all for me asap so awaiting a call.
Question do you need to remove the back wheel to gain access to the shaft side spokes? And what is the torque and what size of socket is it?

Regards George
 
Warlord said:
I don't understand why people are happy to change their brake pads and not remove the caliper?

Yes I understand it can be done, but why would you just push the pistons back through the seals, with all the crud left on them?

Surely cleaning the pistons properly before pushing them back is the proper thing to do, and how can you do that properly with the caliper still bolted on?

I don't get it?
Click to expand...

Because (1) there is a BMW tech sheet that tells you to do it that way (2) When changing pads on other bikes you quite often do not have to remove the caliper, when changing pads on a car wheel you use a tool to push back the pistons, you don't remove the caliper in most cases, so what is the difference. With the gene pool, its probably safer to do it without removing the caliper, than deal with bolts and torque settings. But if the caliper doesn't float anymore, then you should remove it. I don't understand people who have to have cameras and film everything they do, but each to their own.
 
GBH said:
Just checked my 2018 Rallye TE and I have 6 loose on the rear and 2 on the front. Only done 2250 miles from new, told the dealer and they are going to check them all for me asap so awaiting a call.
Question do you need to remove the back wheel to gain access to the shaft side spokes? And what is the torque and what size of socket is it?

Regards George
Click to expand...

First check that your wheel is true . It’s a very easy job adjusting the occasional loose spoke ,made difficult by dirt blocking the tiny grub screws and you won’t get a tiny Allen key to fit unless VERY clean , so do yourself a favour and take the wheel off . Back off the ‘hidden’ grub screw first ( ESSENTIAL) and then retension the spoke , using sound as your guide ; it should sound like the others . Then LIGHTLY tighten the grub screw to lock it .
Check that the wheel is true and all of above is no use if your wheel is out . Caveat is don’t take my word for any of the above .
Being anal about this; I’ll bet there’s a tuning app for your phone like guitar stringers use and it could go with the blow driers that GSers use ..... ?
 
GrinningGSer said:
First check that your wheel is true . It’s a very easy job adjusting the occasional loose spoke ,made difficult by dirt blocking the tiny grub screws and you won’t get a tiny Allen key to fit unless VERY clean , so do yourself a favour and take the wheel off . Back off the ‘hidden’ grub screw first ( ESSENTIAL) and then retension the spoke , using sound as your guide ; it should sound like the others . Then LIGHTLY tighten the grub screw to lock it .
Check that the wheel is true and all of above is no use if your wheel is out . Caveat is don’t take my word for any of the above .
Being anal about this; I’ll bet there’s a tuning app for your phone like guitar stringers use and it could go with the blow driers that GSers use ..... ?
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for that, I have booked the bike in since it is only 3 months old and the dealer can check and fix. I will ask what is acceptable but they did say that the spokes are now locked? Anyway easy to check and whilst within warranty they can fix foc��
 
Will some one define loose please? - is it just a lower frequency than the majority of other spokes when ‘pinged’, or so loose that it rattles, or so loose that the adjuster bolt feels loose? One person’s loose is another’s less tight.
 
My loose spoke on the front wheel, didn't 'ping' at any frequency.

It thudded with no tension at all. Rattled and turned freely in its mount.

So thats what I call loose.
 
Time for a standardised spoke frequency? I think not cos we’d never achieve that accuracy but a thud is certainly not good and ability to move the spokes with finger pressure is wrong .
My understanding is that rims have very little strength and it’s all about spokes .
This is the sort of tension meter that cyclists use and I don't know if relevant to our motorcycles but you may find it interesting:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mb32h4PK_aU" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
 
Warlord said:
My loose spoke on the front wheel, didn't 'ping' at any frequency.

It thudded with no tension at all. Rattled and turned freely in its mount.

So thats what I call loose.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree with Warlord my loose spoke do not ping and the worst ones rattle and can be move around with your fingers. The others that ping do so at different frequencies so even these are not right.
 
It’s an interactive system , such that if several are loose then the entire circle cannot be equalisesd. Construction is by use of a special jig, which dealers do not have and specialised wheel builders struggle with our wheels, so many loose spokes means a new wheel !
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Oldrat
Another rear wheel collapse..
7 8 9
Replies
165
Views
46,292
DrFarkoff
DrFarkoff
Andy B
  • Locked
Get The Sandwiches Ready GSA Rear Wheel Collapse - Part 2!
Replies
9
Views
2,567
Andy B
Andy B
crotchrocket
  • Locked
Get The Sandwiches Ready - GSA Rear Wheel Collapse
20 21 22
Replies
426
Views
97,417
crotchrocket
crotchrocket
Emoto
Accessorizing the R1200GSW: AltRider Skid Plate and Crash Bars
Replies
1
Views
3,821
NickD
Tsiklonaut
10.2016 Mongolia
Replies
6
Views
3,928
patzx12
patzx12


Back
Top Bottom