Loud downshifts

[slowtorque]

OK, I know these bikes are known to be rather un-Honda like when it comes to shifting. I've mostly come to accept it. Now that I have my Aeroflow mounted and my Bill Mayer seat, things are just about perfect. Well, except for the very audible downshifts I often get especially from 6th to 5th and 2nd to 1st. I have Redline High Shock oil in the gearbox. Maybe smoothed things out a little bit, ...maybe. Have about 10k on the bike, and it is an 04 model. I guess I am looking for some of you to say, yeah, mine does that, too. Or perhaps there is something I need to adjust? Thanks in advance.

ETA: the downshifts feel quite sloppy and is as if it slides into the lower gear and "CLUNK" it's in. I don't know how I could better describe it.

[Sunbeemer]

"Agricultural" is the adjective I've heard used to describe our transmissions, and you'd think that the guys at Gettrag, the same ones who build trannies for Porsche, would have been able to engineer them to have the same silkiness of that venerable sports car. But apparently they decided the BMW motorcycle needed something strong, and clunky. Oh well... I'm used to it, but it does take getting used to shifting them, both up and down. The best way to achieve smooothness is to synchromesh your gears by matching your engine rpm while the clutch is disengaged before the shift to the same rpm it will be after the shift and the clutch is engaged. Make sense? Works better toward getting that silkiness we should expect from a tranny with this much heritage!

[Xdot]

Sounds like it's running great!

[towerworker]

"Agricultural" is the adjective I've heard used to describe our transmissions, and you'd think that the guys at Gettrag, the same ones who build trannies for Porsche, would have been able to engineer them to have the same silkiness of that venerable sports car. But apparently they decided the BMW motorcycle needed something strong, and clunky. Oh well... I'm used to it, but it does take getting used to shifting them, both up and down. The best way to achieve smooothness is to synchromesh your gears by matching your engine rpm while the clutch is disengaged before the shift to the same rpm it will be after the shift and the clutch is engaged. Make sense? Works better toward getting that silkiness we should expect from a tranny with this much heritage!

I wonder if the Porsche has clutch spline issues?

[rprothero]

Ive also found my bike shifts smoother between 4500-5500 rpms..Lower the RPM the more tractorish the gearing even with a smooth cycling of clutch to RPM

[Samiam]

I wonder if the Porsche has clutch spline issues? [/quote]

Nope; but try Googling Porsche main seal failure and you'll get an eyeful of miseries. Both the Boxter and water cooled 911 use many of the same engine components and not only main seals but cylinder/block failures are known trouble areas. I've been looking for a replacement for my high-mileage and trouble free Miata but water-cooled Porsches will make you think Beemers have no issues.