Final drive 3.0

[BobbyLeBout]

For the last year I have been riding my 08 R1200R with the lower ratio final drive. The switch was not done for 'track' reasons but for stop and go traffic and riding two up.
I am very happy with the switch because first gear was geared so high. Has anyone else made the switch? I believe it came with 2.75 and now it is 3.0.

[objectuser]

Please tell me more. What exactly did you do and what are the results?

[Lost Rider]

Interesting.
So is that a GS final drive?

[BobbyLeBout]

I am not sure if that is the GS final drive ratio.
What I wanted is a lower first gear only. This was the easier way.
This lower ratio drive works much better for me in stop and go traffic.
I am glad that I switched ratios.

ratio ratio change
2.75 3.0 9.09%
rpm rpm
3,000.0 3,272.7 9.00%
4,000.0 4,363.6 9.00%
5,000.0 5,454.5 9.00%
6,000.0 6,545.4 9.00%

[objectuser]

That's really cool. Thanks for sharing this!

How much did it cost, parts and labor?

I'd rather go the other way. I think the bike has plenty of power down low and I'd rather lower the RPMs at speed. The RT has a ratio of 2.62:1. I would like to try that myself.

[Rolando33]

This IS very interesting! I too would like to know how much $, etc. etc. Was it done internally (inside the hub), or was the entire rear final drive replaced? What prompted you to do it (like problems with the previous drive failing?)?

[objectuser]

Well, bummer. I was interested in the details of this. Looks like I'll need to do some research when I have some time. Good to know that it seems possible, though.

[mogu83]

This isn't such a big deal, just one bolt past changing the rear drive fluid. If you want a lower ratio get a drive from a GS if you want higher look for a RT. Naturally same year (if you don't use the on-line microfiche), and with or without ABS. I have three different rear drives for my /5 and swap then every now and then just to get a different feel.

[objectuser]

Ok, cool. Not that I'd do it myself, but good to know it's no big deal.

Thanks very much!

[BobbyLeBout]

Here is how the R compares to a GS A

BMW Year 2008 1200GSA R1200R Change %
Primary Drivve 1: 1.737 1.882 -7.70%
First Gear Ratio 2.37 2.28 3.95%
Second Gear Ratio 1.64 1.58 3.80%
Third Gear Ratio 1.29 1.26 2.38%
Fourth Gear Ratio 1.06 1.03 2.91%
Fifth Gear Ratio 0.93 0.9 3.33%
Sixth Gear Ratio 0.84 0.81 3.70%
Final Drive Ratio 2.91 2.75 5.82%

Wish I knew what it all meant.

[2wheels]

Personally, I sometimes find first gear is too high for low speed riding and slow traffic. Conversely I would like a higher, overdrive, top gear!

2012 R1200R

[redwing]

I live in a farming community ... we got farms. Yesterday I followed a tractor for maybe 2 miles ...if I had only to follow the tractor first would have been good; but the car in front of me kept slowing down and speeding up ...near stop to 7 or 8 mph and why I don't know.
Constantly having to let the clutch out and then pull the clutch in to slow down.
Interesting ... not as much fun as riding in high wind but interesting.
Maybe a low first gear in a touring bike might be a good idea.???

[deilenberger]

I live in a farming community ... we got farms. Yesterday I followed a tractor for maybe 2 miles ...if I had only to follow the tractor first would have been good; but the car in front of me kept slowing down and speeding up ...near stop to 7 or 8 mph and why I don't know.
Constantly having to let the clutch out and then pull the clutch in to slow down.
Interesting ... not as much fun as riding in high wind but interesting.
Maybe a low first gear in a touring bike might be a good idea.???

Or just pull over for 5 minutes then proceed.. usually works for me when I remember to do it.

[BobbyLeBout]

Going back to the 2.75 final drive. The 3.0 had a failure. Bike was in for the 12K checkup when this was discovered.
I plan on having it repaired and using it. Glad to have the 2.75 for a backup.

[objectuser]

Going back to the 2.75 final drive. The 3.0 had a failure. Bike was in for the 12K checkup when this was discovered.
I plan on having it repaired and using it. Glad to have the 2.75 for a backup.

It failed after a year? Seems a bit dodgy.

[BobbyLeBout]

The rear was used for two years. I am looking up the mileage.
With the 2.75 at near red line first gear is 45MPH.
I wish it was half that speed.
The 3.0 will be repaired and reinstalled.

[mogu83]

What happened to the 3.0 rear. How many miles on it or what was it in before your bike? I think that's the first rear drive failure on this list. Just curious because my Guzzi buddies keep beating me up with BMW rear drive failure stories but no evidence of that being a problem on this list. Seems like after they (BMW) corrected the fluid level in the rear drive the problems stopped.

[BobbyLeBout]

The 3.0 was installed October of 2009 with 4500 miles on the bike.
It problem was discovered during a 12 K service at 13,200 miles.
So there were less than 9,000 miles on the rear. More to follow.