Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > BMW Tech
Scary-drum brake & Spoked wheels Scary-drum brake & Spoked wheels
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
BMW Tech BMW Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to BMW riders only.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 4 Apr 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: India for the winter...
Posts: 23
Exclamation Scary-drum brake & Spoked wheels
hello all,
I just wanted to find out if anyone else came across this dangerous problem before.
One evening as i was riding down a steep driveway my back wheel totally locked up.....its an R80GS.
After falling off at low speed i noticed one broken spoke. After further inspection i found the spoke had broken at the nipple threaded into the wheel rim. The nipple had fallen into the drum brake and locked it......
Seriously scary stuff.
Thank god i was only doing 2 or 3 miles an hour.
Has anyone had this problem before???? a serious design flaw?
I had been doing alot of rough riding in woods around europe fully loaded on high tyre pressures so i could understand a broken spoke after lots of this riding.....but with such consequences?
Any thoughts?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 5 Apr 2007
Dean de St Croix's Avatar
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Southern Ontario
Posts: 32
Question?

The spoke broke at the nipple (this is common for a spoke to brake at either the bend or the beginning of the threads - at the weakest point)

- you said the nipple then fell into the drum? How did it get out of the rim? Did it pull through or crack? it would still be in the rim right?

I have had brakes lock for a number of reasons as even a broken spring inside a drum can lead to a lock up or brake arm movement can spin the brake hub and lock. Scary stuff but still pretty rare.

I suspect the reason for the lock-up was the low speed as any amount of rpm of the wheel would have cracked the hub/brake plate spacing or crushed the nipple end as they are quite soft (so-to-speak). Before tossing you - unless you were in a turn with a slippery surface.

But, you never know.

Seems like a very unlucky coincidence.

Dean
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 5 Apr 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Town / South Africa
Posts: 207
On the GS the spokes on the right is fed through the inside of the hub, so what was most likely meant was that the spoke fell into the drum brake and not the nipple.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 6 Apr 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,598
Quote:
Originally Posted by gsworkshop View Post
On the GS the spokes on the right is fed through the inside of the hub, so what was most likely meant was that the spoke fell into the drum brake and not the nipple.
Hmm, another bmw 'characteristic'
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 6 Apr 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: India for the winter...
Posts: 23
Sorry i should have said,
part of the nipple broke and fell into the hub, the bit of the nipple left in the rim was deformed and broken. the spoke also broke at the just where the threads enter the nipple. (maybe when the spoke broke the force also broke the nipple...)
The part of the nipple left in the rim protrouded into the hub thus damaging the brake shoe as i braked going down the hill, the loose part in the hub seemed to have jammed between the hub wall and the shoes.......thus jamming the wheel.
To be honest this happened a few months ago but this is what happened as i recall. I just wanted to see if anyone else had heard of, or had this happen to them,,,,,,
I can imagine brake internals jamming in the hub also......god those bloody drum brakes.....
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 6 Apr 2007
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Cape Town / South Africa
Posts: 207
I guess it is a Paralever GS with the tubeless rim. These were fitted with a stainless steel spoke and due to the high chrome content in stainless steel it is more brittle and weaker than steel spokes.
When fitting Stainless spokes it is common to use much thicker spokes to compensate for its weaker structure.
On the tubeless rim the nipple is not mounted on the rim but rather on the hub with the head of the spoke being held in the rim sidewall. Sorry for the confusion earlier about what part should end up in the brakes as with the older type tubed wheel it would be impossible for the nipple to find it's way into the hub.
The safe solution for your problem would be to fit normal steel spokes but I am not sure you can find this from BMW and besides they seem to have a serious problem with corrosion on the steel spokes fitted to older bikes at this time.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 8 Apr 2007
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: India for the winter...
Posts: 23
yes gsworkshop your quite right it is the tubless paralever....interesting about the s/s spokes..
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
86 XL600 Drum to Disc Brake Conversion belly Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 6 15 Nov 2006 01:10
Honda Wheels (Dommie / XR6) POB/London Honda Tech 4 19 Jul 2006 05:11
rear drum brake lining zebra Yamaha Tech 2 1 May 2005 04:38
Rear disc brake Mark Yamaha Tech 4 28 Sep 2004 20:57
When spoked or cast wheels? STEVE B Equipping the Bike - what's the best gear? 5 14 Feb 2002 19:23

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27 2025
Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
CanWest: July 10-13 2025
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21 2025
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 00:29.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top