The German manufacturer is recalling six models manufactured between August 2006 and May 2009 in the latest scare to strike a global automotive company.
Around 6,600 motorcycles in the UK are effected by the recall.
No accidents have been reported in relation to the fault, BMW said, and only a small number of complaints have been received.
Nonetheless, the recall, which accounts for roughly a third of BMW motorcycles produced during the period in question, is the second to strike the company in the last two years. A similar fault was identified in 2008, but a BMW spokesman accepted modifications to the brake fluid lines had failed to eradicate problems.
Letters received by British owners of the bikes said vibrations could cause the front brake lines to develop leaks that could allow brake fluid to escape. In a worst case scenario, this could lead to a failure of the front brakes.
According to the company, the fault effects one in 1,000 vehicles. The models recalled include the R 1200 GS Adventure model, the R 1200 GS, the R 1200 R, the R 1200 RT, the R 1200 ST and the K 1200 GT.
BMW, which owns the Mini and Rolls-Royce car brands, sold 20,840 motorcycles in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 265,809 cars.
Shares in the company were unmoved by the recall on Tuesday, as they gained 2.42pc on the Frankfurt market.
The recall by BMW comes just months after Toyota was forced to recall more than 8.5m cars globally and became engulfed in crisis. Billions of dollars were wiped off the Japanese company's market value as US authorities called for an investigation and eventually fined it $16.4m (£11.4m) for being slow to deal with faulty vehicles. Toyota paid the fine on Tuesday.
Article from the Telegraph
Nonetheless, the recall, which accounts for roughly a third of BMW motorcycles produced during the period in question, is the second to strike the company in the last two years. A similar fault was identified in 2008, but a BMW spokesman accepted modifications to the brake fluid lines had failed to eradicate problems.
Letters received by British owners of the bikes said vibrations could cause the front brake lines to develop leaks that could allow brake fluid to escape. In a worst case scenario, this could lead to a failure of the front brakes.
According to the company, the fault effects one in 1,000 vehicles. The models recalled include the R 1200 GS Adventure model, the R 1200 GS, the R 1200 R, the R 1200 RT, the R 1200 ST and the K 1200 GT.
BMW, which owns the Mini and Rolls-Royce car brands, sold 20,840 motorcycles in the first quarter of 2010, compared to 265,809 cars.
Shares in the company were unmoved by the recall on Tuesday, as they gained 2.42pc on the Frankfurt market.
The recall by BMW comes just months after Toyota was forced to recall more than 8.5m cars globally and became engulfed in crisis. Billions of dollars were wiped off the Japanese company's market value as US authorities called for an investigation and eventually fined it $16.4m (£11.4m) for being slow to deal with faulty vehicles. Toyota paid the fine on Tuesday.
Article from the Telegraph
