1990 BMW K1

Defect. THE BONDING TECHNIQUE USED BETWEEN THE PAD AND THE BACKING PLATE CAN RESULT IN A POROUS JOINT LAYER WHICH WATER AND SALT CAN PENETRATE, RESULTING IN CORROSION OF THE BACKING PLATE.

Risk. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS CAN SEPARATE PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELYFROM THE CORRODED BACKING PLATE, RESULTING IN DECREASED STOPPING ABILITY AND APOSSIBLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WITH NEW PADS UTILIZING A DIFFERENT BONDING METHOD WHICH ENSURES A NON-POROUS JOINT LAYER TO PREVENT WATER AND SALT PENETRATION OF THE BACKING PLATE.

FUEL TANK DEVELOPED VERY LARGE LEAK AND DRAINED COMPLETELY IN LESS THAN 2 HOURS. ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE FOR TYPE OF BIKE AT 10 YEARS OLD. LUCKLY I DO NOT HAVE ANY IGNITION SOURCES IN GARAGE SO NO FIRE RESULTED. LEAK BEGAN AFTER PLACING BIKE ON CENTER STAND AFTER MOVING TO CLEAN GARAGE. FULL TANK OF ~5 GALLONS OF FUEL WAS EVENTUALLY SPILLED. TANK IS ALL ALLUMINUM. MAIN LEAK ON LEFT SIDE OF BIKE DIRECTLY ABOVE FUEL INJECTORS, ENGINE AND IGNITION COILS. SMALLER LEAK (PAINT BUBBLE) ON RIGHT SIDE OF TANK AT SAME LOCATION. LEAK SEEMS TO BE A RESULT OF CORRORSION FROM THE INSIDE OF THE TANK OUT, POSSIABLY FOLLOWING WELD OR FOLD IN METAL. IF FAILURE OCCURRED IN CLOSED GARAGE WITH IGNITION SOURCES FIRE/EXPOLSION COULD RESULT. IF FAILURE OCCURED ON ROAD FUEL WOULD LEAK ONTO RIDER RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY IN FIRE. BIKE IS COMPLETELY "STOCK" AND UNMODIFIED. NO ACCIDENTS AFFECTING TANK IN HISTORY OF OWNERSHIP, HOWEVER REAR OF BIKE DAMAGED IN ACCIDENT IN 1991. TANK CURRENTLY REPAIRED WITH "JB WELD" AND I AM RESEARCHING OTHER REPAIR OPTIONS.*AK