2009 BMW R1200 RT: sudden loss of power

5 of the 36 complaints about the 2009 BMW R1200 RT describe sudden loss of power.

owner complaints: 5
of this car's complaints: 14%
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 6 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Sudden loss of power by model year

2018
1
2017
1
2013
1
2011
1
2009
5
2008
3
2007
5

What owners say

Filed Aug 24, 2021 · Fuel system · WI

Throttle body cams broken, no symtoms, could have caused crash from complete power loss to the engine, could have crashed or been hit. Dealer replaced.

Filed Apr 10, 2021 · Engine · 51,567 miles · MI

The throttle bodies on this motorcycle are cable-actuated, with plastic pulleys molded onto the throttle spindles. These plastic pulleys were severely cracked and I have replaced them (I still have the old parts). I'm aware of numerous bmw motorcycles of this vintage that have developed cracks in the throttle pulleys. I discovered my problem via inspection in my garage, but I'm currently aware of two other owners for whom the pulleys detached from the spindles while riding, causing a sudden loss of engine power. This problem has also manifested on other bmw motorcycles that use the same engine (e.g. The r1200gs).

Filed Jan 10, 2015 · Fuel system · 29,843 miles · AZ

When shifting into second gear, the engine speed dropped to idle and I lost all power and the ability to control engine speed. I coasted to the shoulder and had to call for a tow as the bike would only idle. Upon further inspection after I got the bike home, I discovered that the plastic pulleys on the throttle bodies had sheared off. This requires replacement of the throttle bodies. I was shocked to find out the pulleys are plastic. Previous models were metal and most cars/bikes use metal, which would be more resistant to failure. To quote another complaint: "if or when the plastic fails, there is no throttle and the engine goes to idle, thus creating an extreme safety hazard if one is driving in traffic and unable to maintain speed or accelerate. In this circumstance the rider could be forthrightly in harm's way and endangered. This should be an urgent recall issue for replacement of the plastic part with a solid cable pulley which will not break. Previous models used metal cable pulleys which did not fail." this is a potential danger. If someone had been accelerating behind me, I could have been rear ended. Bmws intransigence is mind boggling.

Filed Jul 27, 2011 · Transmission · 36,838 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2009 bmw r1200 rt motorcycle. The contact stated that the rear wheel locked abnormally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was discovered that the drive shaft had exploded. The para lever and boot were destroyed. Both were attached to the frame of the vehicle, similar to how the axle is attached to a passenger vehicle. The dealer advised that they had never seen a drive shaft failure such as the one the contact experienced on a motorcycle. The vehicle was left with the dealer where the contact was awaiting repairs. The failure and current mileages were 36,838. Updated 08/24/11*lj the consumer stated there was severe vibration at 75mph for 1-2 seconds. A few miles later there was vibration and loss of power. Updated 06/15/2012

Filed Oct 15, 2010 · Body, Electrical · 16,257 miles · IL

Side stand interlock switch failure on a 2009 bmw r1200rt motorcycle. The switch is designed to prevent the motorcycle from being driven with the side stand in the down position. The switch on my machine failed with the side stand in the up position and the motorcycle being driven down the road at approximately 40 MPH. When the switch failed the motor stopped running, which caused the rear wheel to skid. I was able to pull in the clutch to get out of the rear wheel skid and steer the machine off the road. I was able to by-pass the interlock switch in order to start the machine and ride it home. The only repair would be the replacement of the switch. The problem I have is that once the machine is in gear and moving down the road the failure of this switch should not cause the motor of the motorcycle to stop unexpectedly. The loss of engine power could lead to injury or death. If the switch fails while the machine is being driven down the road it needs to alert the rider of a fault but not stop the motor. If this had happened to me at 60 MPH I might not have been able to file this report.