GT Centerstand and consequences.

[caratz]

In reference to my previous posts on the wrong forum, regarding GT lifting.....

Folks, believe it or not, yesterday I got a phone call from the technical manager of BMW BeLux. They had indeed taken due note of my complaint, and were going to try to reproduce the problem today.

This afternoon, I got called up again by them. They had put the large topcase on the GT, put in a full BMW raingear and some other junk. Then they'd filled up the sidecases with tools, up to the maximum allowed weight. They took 4 people of various height and weight and asked them to put the following bikes on their centerstand :

R 1150 RT (can't have been the same topcase)
R 1200 RT
K 1200 GT

Their was a consensus that for the same load, the GT while not impossible to do so, was way more difficult to put on its centerstand then the two other tourers. A question of wheelbase and weight distribution they say. Like I hadn't found out.

In any case, after the test, they contacted BMW Germany, who while not minimizing the problem told them they only had gotten three similar complaints.

May I request from any of you who have had the same problem with their GT, to transmit it to your freundliche for further handling ? They might contemplate a similar modification to the centerstand as they did on the GS. I think that the more reports of difficulties come in, the better chance we make of getting the centerstand modified and retrofitted. At least, I know for sure now that I'm not the only case.

Thanks,

[caratz]

This is a free translation of the letter I got from BMW BeLux.

Dear sir,

Referring to our telephone conversation of September 12th. 2006 for which we thank you, we'd like to point out the following.

After further enquiries and tests, it appears that putting the BMW K 1200 GT on its centerstand is a lot more difficult then with other touring bikes like the R 1200 RT. (They also tested it with an R 1150 RT)

In this context, we have contacted our German colleagues, who have confirmed to us that they have had a few more complaints of the same kind.

They also confirm that the engineers in charge are closely investigating the matter at this moment. Should a modification result from their investigation, we will not fail to inform you via your dealer to effect the necessary adaptations.

People BMW DOES listen to complaints or at least they register them. So by all means, load up your bike, and tell them how it feels when you try to put it on the centerstand if you have difficulties. Preferably do it with a large topcase to reproduce my problem.

Now we should only hope they will do the modification. After all they did it for the R1200GS.

By the way, I have had my dealer order the enlargement for the side stand from Wunderlich.