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Campaign 10V488 Posted October 8, 2010 11,826 units

2005-2011 BMW K1200 and K1300 Recall 10V488: Rear Bearings

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 3, 2026

Recall 10V488 affects 11,826 2005-2011 BMW K1200 and K1300 motorcycles for rear suspension bearing corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised BMW dealer.

BMW is recalling 11,826 2005-2011 K1200 S, K1200 R, K1200 GT, K1300 S, K1300 R, and K1300 GT motorcycles because bearing corrosion can reduce movement of the link lever. That can affect handling and raise crash risk; the BMW dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The rear suspension link lever on 2005-2011 BMW K1200 and K1300 motorcycles is part of the linkage that lets the rear wheel and shock move through their travel. The lever pivots on bearings, which are small supports that let the linkage move smoothly instead of binding under load.

On affected K1200 GT, K1200 R, K1200 S, K1300 GT, K1300 R, and K1300 S motorcycles, those bearings are subject to corrosion. Corrosion roughens and tightens the bearing surfaces. As bearing movement gets restricted, the link lever has less freedom to move, so the rear suspension cannot respond as designed.

There is no warning sign before failure. If corrosion has advanced, the rider is not given a clear dashboard message or predictable noise before the link lever movement is reduced.

Who's affected?

Spans six K-series models across the 2005-2011 model years, all tied to the rear suspension.

2009 BMW K1300 S rear suspension
2009 BMW K1300 R rear suspension
2011 BMW K1300 GT rear suspension
2010 BMW K1300 R rear suspension
2008 BMW K1200 R rear suspension
Units affected11,826

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.

What's the safety risk?

This defect affects motorcycle handling and increases the risk that the rider loses control and crashes. If your VIN is included, schedule the recall repair and use extra caution until the bike is fixed. Repair will be free at any franchised BMW dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2011 BMW K1200 S, K1200 R, K1200 GT, K1300 S, K1300 R, or K1300 GT motorcycle is included in this recall.
  2. Contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 if you never received the owner notice mailed March 30, 2011.
  3. Ask a franchised BMW dealer about the free rear suspension link lever bearing repair that restores proper link lever movement.
  4. Reference recall number 10V488 when you call the dealer or BMW customer service.
  5. Avoid riding if the rear suspension feels restricted, loose, or abnormal until a BMW dealer inspects the motorcycle.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a BMW technician handles the recall repair for the link lever bearing issue described in campaign 10V488. The filing says dealers will repair the motorcycle free of charge, but it does not name the exact part operation. BMW expected the safety recall to begin during March 2011, so ask the service desk to confirm the current repair procedure for your VIN. Parts and labor are covered under the recall once the remedy is open.

Timeline

October 8, 2010 NHTSA published the recall
March 30, 2011 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 10V488?

Recall 10V488 covers 11,826 2005-2011 BMW K1300 S, K1300 R, K1300 GT, K1200 R, K1200 GT, and K1200 S motorcycles with rear suspension bearings subject to corrosion. The defect affects link-lever movement, which affects handling and increases crash risk.

What should I do if my 2005-2011 BMW K1300 S, K1300 R, K1300 GT, K1200 R, K1200 GT, or K1200 S is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 10V488. If it is, contact a franchised BMW motorcycle dealer and reference recall number 10V488 when you schedule the rear suspension repair. The dealer repair is free.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and BMW's remedy says dealers will repair the affected motorcycles free of charge. Use recall number 10V488 when you call the BMW motorcycle dealer.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is reduced movement in the rear suspension link lever from bearing corrosion. That affects how the motorcycle handles and increases crash risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the free BMW dealer repair before relying on the motorcycle for regular riding.

What if I bought this BMW motorcycle used?

The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to see whether your specific BMW motorcycle is included, then call a franchised BMW motorcycle dealer with recall number 10V488.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V488000
BMW customer service1-800-525-7417
NHTSA recall #10V488
NHTSA recall # (full)10V488000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →