The German motorcycle manufacturer may have Playboy Playmates as possible riders, hip photo shoots with tattooed models and adventure tours to faraway places, but they’ve also been the subject of several safety recalls.

Riding against the flow of the vaunted reputation for German engineering, BMW is facing recalls issued over brake lines, rear wheels locking up and drive train issues all covering more than 15,500 motorcycles.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2007-8 K 1200GT, 2007 -9 R 1200 GS, R 1200 GS Adventure, R 1200 R, R 1200 RT and the 2007 R 1200 ST have all shown signs of the front brake lines being stressed, developing cracks and consequently leak.

Should the front brakes fail, “rear brakes are available and are capable of slowing and stopping the motorcycle,” Jan Urbahn, BMW general manager for safety engineering, said in a June 15^th letter to the NHTSA.

Playboy's Playmate Hope Dworaczyk and her BMW S1000RR
(one of the models NOT affected by any recalls)

Recently the R1200GS Adventure was the subject of a second recall, this one affecting models from 2005-2007. The fuel tank front attachment bolts on certain units may come loose under vibration. These bolts could potentially come into contact with the fork legs should the handlebar be turned enough, such as during low-speed maneuvering and possibly limit the travel range of the handlebars.

BMW is also recalling some of its dual-purpose motorcycles because the rear wheel could lock up. They are the 2007-8 G 650 X Country; the 2007 G 650 X Challenge and the 2007 G 650 X Motor.

In addition, BMW said its 2008–9 F 650 GS and F 800 GS motorcycles were being recalled because the drive chain “was not manufactured to specification” and could break.