Yes, you recall correctly.
Last February it stripped out the transmission input shaft splines and mating splines on clutch hub.
First repair estimate from dealer was about 95% the value of the bike.
THis is a somewhat common failure for the 1st (2002) and 2nd year of the 1150s (all models) , so most parts bikes are parts bike because of this failure, so good salvage parts for this failure are quite difficult to find.
I could yack about the various theories about the cause of this common failure (BMW never made any statements other than to cover if happened under warrantee) ... but need not discuss that here.
I almost sold the bike to a salvage dealer for $400.
But then did find good salvage parts (with help/advise from two BMW forums) and was able to get bike repaired for about 40% value of the bike.
Short version of the story is: yah, I needed a special tool to get it repaired, and that special tool was my credit card. ANd I abused my credit card pretty well.
Deciding if to ride it home this summer or next summer. Am leaning toward next year.
But then again, there is a big problem with this idea of having a bike in San Diego to ride when I visit them there.
And that problem is: I am not there.
I am sure you have thought of it already, but what about renting a bike for the S.D. visits?




