After 38 days the K1200S was sold back to the supplying Dealer - I'd thoroughly enjoyed the bike and, dire fuel consumption and lumpy low speed running apart, it was a fine bike.
8 days later on December 8, the vacant garage slot had been taken by a Sapphire Black K1300S Sport. 8 years younger, similar mileage but with FSH (the big 18K just completed) and 2 years of BMW warranty. Smiling faces all round.
The first 500 miles were fine. Decent weather helped, the fuel consumption was much improved over the 1200 and I busied myself buying panniers & a very sexy carbon hugger (thank you David), centre stand, AC Schnitzer bars, rear rack, 4 button Garmin mount and a combined alarm/TPMS unit from Motorworks.
I went to give them all a good run out to Helmsley on New Years eve returning the long way back through Stokesley - very enjoyable wearing my new Keis heated jacket.
And then........
Why was the left side of the rear tyre all black and shiny? Why was the disc and calliper dripping oil all over the garage floor? How had I got back home in one piece?
The BMW rescue service rates 11/10. Having called them at 0845 on January 2, the bike was at Allan Jefferies before 1100 that day.
It turns out that a rear wheel bearing has failed, destroying the oil seal and emptying the recently changed FD oil as described. All covered by the warranty and expected back with me on Friday. Excellent.
Whilst with them, I'd asked if they could investigate a stray ½" washer I'd noticed on the bottom of the headlight unit a few days earlier. This turns out to be a part of the headlight adjustment system. Sadly NOT covered by the warranty. I've authorised some investigative work to see if they can rebuild whatever it is that's fallen off/apart. Does anyone have any experience of this and the likely chances of success without a complete new unit?
Oh, and the BMW diagnostic system apparently won't talk to my combined Alarm/TPMS unit so I can't get that coded in either.
Looks like an expensive start to the New Year.