BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

It'd be interesting to keep an eye on that.
Thanks for your advice on the flap, etc.
Yes I watched that video among the many others!!

There is a realy easy anwser to the flap problem. Get a older bike

Doctor T wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:07 amThere is a really easy answer to the flap problem. Get a older bike.

Agreed, the vintage ones are the best. My flap is still operational after 11 years and 43,000 miles. If it fails, it can be removed and a bobbin piece fitted.

Has no one ever asked BMW why they cannot sort this out ? After it did not bother Yamaha .

hammo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:40 am After it did not bother Yamaha .

Oh it did!

They had the same issue of it seizing up as did other manufacturers who fitted them

Some got it better than others though

The difference between the vintage bikes and the modern ones is that the flap spindle was in the horizontal position, nows it's vertical. I wonder whether this is a contributory factor the the more recent failures.

Being vertical, i wonder if water is dripping in on the top ceasing the spindle. Whereas the older type, the water would run past the spindle

On the modern bikes, the bottom spindle bearing will also be contaminated internally with condensation from exhaust gases.

Its the same issue on the RnineT and thats mounted differently
I think its just a bad design

The R nineT is the same as a Camhead.

David. wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:20 am Agreed, the vintage ones are the best. My flap is still operational after 11 years and 43,000 miles. If it fails, it can be removed and a bobbin piece fitted.

My vintage bike (2011) had had the flap removed when I bought the bike 7 years ago with 15k miles, I can only presume it had been removed due to failure.

hammo wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:40 amHas no one ever asked BMW why they cannot sort this out. After it did not bother Yamaha.

sakm wrote: ↑Sat Mar 04, 2023 11:45 amThey had the same issue of it seizing up as did other manufacturers who fitted them.

If Highland Rider is correct, Yamaha ditched the Exup valve and both Ducati & KTM have experienced the same problems as BMW.

On my 2016 bike I had the valve replace within 12 months under warranty the valve went again about 18 months later I just ignored it. The valve both times stuck fully open so the only issue was a little extra noise at low speed, I saw no discernible difference in performance. On the 2016 model it did not add any warning lights

I wonder why BMW and the other manufacturers have not made this a separate section of the exhaust, a replaceable part that must cost considerably less than replacing the whole header for them to replace.

I now have the 2023 with TFT so I I guess I will get the engine management light if it stick, Once its out of warranty and BMW won't replace it FOC I will just buy an eliminator. It should not impact the insurance as it not going to increase the performance of the machine.

exportman wrote: ↑Sun Mar 05, 2023 10:59 amI wonder why BMW and the other manufacturers have not made this a separate section of the exhaust, a replaceable part that must cost considerably less than replacing the whole header.

On a Camhead, the flap is a separate section which can be replaced but that's old fashioned.

@exportman Thats right, On the 1200 it brings up no warning light but stores an error code in the ECU

The 1250 brings up a warning light and as such maywell fail an MOT

I agree it would have been so much easier for them to make it an addon rather than build it in! I wonder if a change in legislation dictates that it has to be built in and not removable.