For those with spoke issues, do you really need spoked wheels? After seeing the picture of the Rallye with the blue cast wheels, IÂ’d be asking BMW for a set of cast wheels, get them painted to match the frame, and the difference in price between spoked and cast back as a refund, for all the hassle.
If I may say so, that's a silly question since they already have the wheel. Debating whether they need spokes or not is like suggesting to a guy that is about to drown that he would be better of mountain climbing.
Anyway, back to what this is all about, loose spokes.
BMW has been using spoked wheels since they made their very first bike, and it's been working fine over the years. Last thirty years they have made spoked wheels combined with tubeless tires, and it has also worked with no issues. When done properly, the spokes will remain tight over it's lifetime. My 1975 90S still have tight spokes, and they have never been adjusted.
So now that we have a few cases of loose spokes, something must have been done wrong. The design as such has been proven over the last 30 years, so I don't think it's a design issue.
If I should be bold enough to make a suggestion, my 2c would be on a faulty torque wrench at the production-line. Perhaps the one for torquing the grubscrew. That way, the wheels would pass any quality inspection along the production line. Then, once the wheels start to drive, the problems occurs. Since there are reports of several loose spokes on the same wheel, we can certainly rule out a coincidence.
Do I belive BMW is taking the problem seriously? Yes I do. I don't expect them to advertise to the world what their intentions are, but I feel confident that they realize the seriusnes of the matter.
I know for instance one guy that discovered loose spokes on his -18 GSA the day before he was of to his vacation. The dealer he got in touch with did not have a spare wheel in stock, so deqler went to his showroom and pulled the wheel of a bike on the floor and ordered a new one. The dealer would not have done this unless he was backed by "the mother-ship".
To the ones that like to complain I will only say this: BMW have been making spoked wheels since 1923, with no issues. I understand that loose spokes from the factory is not acceptable, and so does BMW. I expect them to rectify the problem in an orderly manor, and in the meantime I don't feel silly just because I cut them some slack..