Help Broken crankcase attachment to motorcycle stand

[rodrigo.medina.paz@gmail.]

Good afternoon.


I have a 2019 C400 GT with 10,000km on it that is perfect and had not given me any problems until now.


This fall, a couple of times when I have needed to use it (I barely use it because I find the side leg much more comfortable), I have used the center stand since I had to park the bike in a really narrow place and I couldn't leave it as inclined as I had. I do as usual with the kickstand.


The two times I did it (I barely use it), I noticed that the bike seemed to sway slightly and also that it didn't stay completely vertical, I didn't give it any importance since I never use it.


Well, last Friday was the third time I went to use it, to let the bike warm up while I put on my warm clothes, jacket, gloves, etc. and my wife went out to the door of the house where I was waiting for her.


In case the stand "didn't go down", I tried 3 or 4 times and it was impossible to lower it, it seemed stuck. I turned around to the other side of the bike to inspect it on the other side, thinking that there was some twig that was preventing it from being lowered or something and nothing. When my wife got off, while she helped me hold the motorcycle from the other side, I inspected the right side, tilting it slightly and when I pushed it with my shoe, it moved strangely and some metal pieces fell to the ground that I recovered.


When those pieces "that seemed broken" fell, the stand left the rear wheel stuck. I had to leave the motorcycle there because I couldn't pick it up, nor was it riding under those circumstances, and I called roadside assistance so they could take it to a trusted workshop.


Today I spoke to the guy at the workshop and he was "freaked out" because he told me that the stand mounts coming out of the crankcase had broken and that he had never seen anything like that on large, heavy motorcycles (he once saw it on a moped).


He tells me to search and write on internet forums what I'm doing right now and that on Monday he will send me photos of the disaster.


Any help from you is welcome since I am desperate and right now I don't know what I can do.


Thank you very much in advance.

 

[wspollack]

Rodrigo,

My condolences on your problem.

I had a 2022 C 400 GT, purchased in June 2022, for almost a year. During riding season here in the northeast USA, I'd do riding two or three days most weeks; I had the bike for almost a year, and put 5,000+ miles on it. Every time I'd come back home, I'd park it in my garage, always on the center stand. I had no issues with that.

In May 2023, during a ride the engine self-destructed somewhat. I eventually found out that a "valve-spring keeper" (or something like that) broke, or went astray, or something. In any case, the engine lost 20% or more of its power. I bring this up because the folks at my local dealer, and then at corporate BMW in Germany, claimed that they had never heard of such a problem with that scooter. Eventually -- about five months later -- BMW North America and the dealership agreed to replace my bike, at no cost to me (except for replacing some added lights and suchlike), with a new 2023 C 400 GT. I managed to only put about 400 miles on the new one before my riding season ended; that bike is now parked, on its center stand, in the garage.

I was just looking at the parts fiche for the center stand at https://shop.maxbmw.com/fiche/DiagramsMain.aspx?vid=60292&rnd=09082020 . It doesn't look as if any part numbers have changed in that part, at least for the listed '18 - '20 model years. That's sort of good news. The sort of bad news is that the center stand itself is listed at unavailable, with a delivery date unknown. I wonder whether that's because it's being redesigned ... or maybe that's just conspiracy-theory thinking on my part.

In any case:

1) No, I haven't had any problem with the center stand, so far, on two C 400 GTs, and I use it all the time.

2) I've never read about anyone else having a problem.

3) It's the easiest-to-use -- least resistance -- of any center stand on any bike I've owned. The geometry of the whole thing seems nicely designed to make using it remarkably easy.

4) I did, however, have my own problem of having a failure in a C 400 GT that BMW, at various levels, asserted that they had never heard of before. That's possible in both of our situations, and, like me, you may be able to get assistance from corporate BMW in paying for some, most, or all, of the repair, so you may want to contact them. (On the other hand, my bike was clearly still within the warranty period and mileage.)

A few questions for you:

1) Are you the original owner?

2) Does your wife get on the bike while it's on the center stand? I ask because when my wife gets on (or off) the bike, I already have the bike OFF the center stand or side stand (I use that often, when traveling), and am standing, straddling the bike, holding it up, and then she gets on. (I mostly ride solo, but that's our procedure when we do two-up trips.)

Good luck to you.

 

[rodrigo.medina.paz@gmail.]

Thank you very much for your kind interest.

After carefully reading everything you have written, I can tell you that no one has ever gotten on the motorcycle with the center stand on since I barely use it. Only in very very specific situations.

The fact is that since the warranty has already expired, the case is not as "easy" as yours.

I just checked it and here in Europe, the crankcase is in stock for a modest price of $1000 (and that does not include assembly costs).

On Monday I will try to find someone to do an expert opinion with a report and photos after which I will start the claim with BMW.

I don't think I can do much against a giant like BMW, but I'll try anyway.

Thank you very much for your information.

Kind regards

 

[Ceesie76]

You may be able to have a new mount fabricated and welded back onto the crankcase, which is most likely a type of aluminum. Or, if the damage only affects the center stand and not the functioning of the engine, I would seriously consider just removing the center stand altogether and using the side stand exclusively from now on. Having a new crankcase fitted will cost twice or up to three times the cost of the part itself.

 

[400GT Flyer]

The previous owner of my C400GT tipped it on the side and scratched the center stand pretty badly, so when I purchased it I told the dealer to just remove it since the scratched part was so visible. I get along fine without the center stand, and when I park it in the garage and want it straight up I put a 1" thick small wood block below the side stand, works perfectly. Looks good without it, too.

 

[rodrigo.medina.paz@gmail.]

Yes, I know it can be used without a center stand. In fact that's what I always do using the kickstand.

The only thing that happens is that it makes me very angry that such an expensive and supposedly good and renowned bike, this happens at 10,000km.

I will fix it and claim to BMW, if I do not succeed, I will sell it.

Thank you very much.

 

[mzflorida]

Yes, I know it can be used without a center stand. In fact that's what I always do using the kickstand.

The only thing that happens is that it makes me very angry that such an expensive and supposedly good and renowned bike, this happens at 10,000km.

I will fix it and claim to BMW, if I do not succeed, I will sell it.

Thank you very much.

Tough pill to swallow for sure. I went out and looked at my 23 GT. Not that this makes it any better, that is just a terrible design for the center stand mount. Not seeing the pictures, I'd have to believe that repair of the existing damage would be difficult.

 

[rodrigo.medina.paz@gmail.]

Ok. I have spoken with the mechanic and he has told me that he will remove the stand (I have already taken the opportunity to have it checked) and on Monday or Tuesday I will go to pick it up (I will take the stand apart). The mechanic knows a specialist welding aluminum. Apparently he is able to make it better than new and even reinforce more the connections.

I have gone to the mechanic's shop with an expert who has taken these photos and says that no damage can be seen, because if there is any damage, it would be my fault.

I know that BMW is going to wash their hands but well, like David and Goliath, let's see if I give them a stone in the eye with the expert report.

I tried to upload the expert's photos but I can't because it says they are too heavy.