Actually, BMW is using the Paralever system, with 2 universal joints, since the 90's (and is not the only one) to eliminate the "bad" effects of driving shaft on braking and increase rear suspension travel without needing a long swing arm. The Guzzi Stelvio is using the exact same system. Funny enough, BMW previous system on the G/S was the monolever, with a single U joint, and was way more reliable than the Paralever, mainly because the drive shaft and U joint was in oil while "permanently lubricated" on the Paralever (originally, the Paralever was supposed to be run in oil but leakages led R&D to mount permanently lubricated U joints).
Not sure the the XLV system was reliable (the bike was not, and has been replaced rapidly by the much much better Africa Twin) but since the introduction of the Paralever by BMW, the reliability and rock solid reputation of BMW driving shats has suffered a lot.