BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

I've notice just recently that changing gear, on occasion, has become a little problematical.

When I set-off to work in a morning it's fine, but on the way home I have difficultly changing up or down. I can't quite put my finger on what's causing the problem, but it doesn't seem to want to engage.

Anyone else had a similar problem; I've done about 3,000 - 3,500 miles over the past three months, but I wouldn't have thought that's an issue...

M

Clutch? Maybe not fully disengaging.

This has happened to me a few times too. I'm downshifting and then all of a sudden it just stops shifting.

I usually just have to roll the bike forward or backwards a bit and then it will shift fine.

I've only noticed this when I'm almost at a stop and I don't downshift quickly through the geras back to first.

- Anthony

This has happened to me a few times too. I'm down shifting and then all of a sudden it just stops shifting.

I usually just have to roll the bike forward or backwards a bit and then it will shift fine.

I've only noticed this when I'm almost at a stop and I don't down shift quickly through the geras back to first.

That's kinda what I'm talking about...

I noticed tonight that it seems to be worse the hotter the engine gets. I was moving slowly through traffic and could feel the excess heat from the engine.

Shifting has never been a problem before, but now it's a bit of a lottery; I'll pull the clutch in, try to shift gears and it's as if I'm already in top. Same on the down shift; as if I'm already in 1st gear.

I usually actuate the clutch twice or rev the bike hard to make it select.

My bike's due to go in to get the headlight adjusted, so I'll mention it then.

Cheers,

M

The problem is caused by the two nylon bushes Nr. 9 in your foot shift lever; they will harden in time, which increases wear, which cause play in your lever.
About ten minutes of time will do the job.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=23&fg=05

Boxerpunk wrote:The problem is caused by the two nylon bushes Nr. 9 in your foot shift lever; they will harden in time, which increases wear, which cause play in your lever.
About ten minutes of time will do the job.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=23&fg=05

Interesting. I'd think of those bushings are going bad, I'd get some side to side play. I'll take a look this weekend when I'm changing all the fluids.

Maybe they just need some grease also.

The problem is caused by the two nylon bushes Nr. 9 in your foot shift lever; they will harden in time, which increases wear, which cause play in your lever.
About ten minutes of time will do the job.

So have you experienced the same problem then? I don't understand why it seems so intermittent.

M

I also had this one - fine on the way somewhere, sticking on the way home.

After a lot of struggling to release the pivot holding bolt, I meticulously cleaned all the parts, and applied some ACF-50 to the bearing surfaces.

It all moved very smoothly now. Next time out - same all over again !

Solution ? - renewing the 2 year old gearbox (transmission ?) oil cured it at a stroke (do the bevel drive at the same time, to save it suffering any probs caused by tired out oil). I suppose it must have started to stodge up the changing mechanism when hot. Good luck with yours,

Petermac.

I agree that good multi-weight engine (and transmission and FD) oil makes a difference. High heat contributes to loss of oil function.

I just changed my Trans and final, 8K miles, but 4 years old. I did notice a difference, it shifted much smoother!

I just changed my tranny and FD oil today also, and this is what is happening:

I'll stop from 6th geat at about 70 MPH. I'm at a complete stop and I try to downshift through the gears to first, and it keeps getting stuck. Then I have to release the clutch a bit, it will catch, and then I can downshift another gear. Sometimes rolling the bike back and forth helps also.

If I downshift while I have the clutch engaged and am slowing down, I can shift just fine.

Is this normal?

Yep. Totally normal. When shifting as you describe or when moving into first gear from neutral, you sometimes have to let the clutch lever out a smidgin.

Rog

Check to see if you have side play in your shifter lever.

In the summer my Rock started acting strange. It would not change down correctly and would get stuck in third or fourth etc. Further pressure on the lever felt like it was already down in first gear with nowhere else to go. Sometimes I had to pull away in quite a high gear! Not good!!

After this spoiled a days ride to Derbyshire, I decided to investigate...

I completely stripped down the lever and found it to be extremely dry (No lube at all). I repacked the two nylon "top hat" bushes with high melting point silicon grease, and the change was transformed. very very slick with a lovely crisp feel to it.

Now I have a small amount of sideways play in the bushes in the lever.

I was convinced I had a gearbox problem, so was very happy when the problem was fixed with a few pence worth of silicon grease.

Brian.

Gentlemen.....hate to bring this up....

Check your mileage and year, if you have an early model and anywher efrom 20 K to 50K miles you might be experiencing the first symptoms of clutch/input shaft failure. Bocu $$$$$$

If you have any warranty left take it in and insist on having them take a look at it. It that is the case, replacing the parts will not solve the problem as it will return in due time. You need a new transmission.

Check the postings on the R1150R side.....just a thought.....

Phew... I only have 7600 miles.

I think I will need ot take off the shifter arm and grease the bushings.

If that doesn't help, then I'll check some other things. It's just very notchy sometimes, and other times it's perfectly fine. Maybe I am just going crazy.

I guess I am just lazy, but when my bike was shifting like crap, i just sprayed some chain lube on the linkage.

Shifts like silk now.

adg44

You have same symptoms as I had, so I am hopeful you will find dry bushes and nothing more expensive.

If you need further help just shout.

Regards Brian.

adg44

Take it to the dealer, it should still be under warranty.....3 years/36K, 2 additional years and 24 if it was sold as a CPO, that way you have the paper trail......

It's funny, because once I've been riding it for a while, the shifting is fine.

I think that it just is the bushings. I think wheel bearing grease will work well here, as it's rather water repelant.

How hard is it to take off the shifter lever? I assume it's just a bolt going through from the back side, and then just disconnect the adjustable ball joint/linkage.

As for the warranty, it expired in May of '07, and it's not CPO.

- Anthony

yes, easy.

Unclip and remove the locking pin from cup on linkage (I removed the top one). Remove cup from ball (mine was tight).

Remove long bolt from rear of footrest bracket. Remove shifter lever, and clean up all mating surfaces. Grease bushes and sleeve.

Assemble and enjoy...