Factory rear wheel hub

Putting new tyres on for the season I happened to notice that the hub bolted to the rear wheel which holds the cush drive was loose. It is held on by 10 M6 bolts.

I took all the bolts out and could see that they had been loose for a while. The holes they went through were no longer round and had been elongated by the constant on off throttle forces transmitted through the hub. I cleaned the bolts which did not appear damaged, loctited them and torqued then to 15NM.

Seeing a wheel for sale on ebay which was damaged when the bolts came loose and failed made me wonder if this was a one off. I looked on other forums and found others had the same issue.

Worth checking yours to be safe. I believe it is only the forged wheels on the factory that have the 10 bolt system. The R has a 5 bolt system apparently which has no issue.

I whipped the wheel out again after a few hundred miles and it was still okay.

It does make me wonder if this issue is why the fitter could not properly balance the rear wheel. It also explains the clunk/knock I used to hear when ever I checked the tension of the chain.

Mine is a 2014 Factory.

Hope this helps.

I found out about this as well in a different message too!
Wondering if this indeed is something structural?
Anyone else had this issue with the RF model / Forged wheels before?

Is 15 NM the right torque?

Thanks guys!

...and here:
http://www.apriliaforum.com/forums/showthread.php?296799-Check-your-rear-wheel-hub-(Factory)

Seems to be a serious problem.

Another reason to get a set of OZ as it also affects the Brembo cast wheels, AP did a youtube video: