r1200gs shifting concern

[RUNAWAY]

Hey all, I am the third owner of a 2005 GS with about 22000 miles on it.

Love the bike, and am looking forward to putting many miles on it.

Occasionally, when I shift from 1st to 2nd gear, I get about a half second of engagement in 2nd gear, ( roll on throttle, bike speeds up ) , and then it kicks out of gear and I damn near peg the engine rpms.

This does not happen very often, but when it does, it occurs whether I am accelerating gently or aggressively.

So my question is, am I somehow not shifting completely into gear, or is it a sign that something is amiss.

The bike's 3 year warranty will be up in a few months, so I need to figure out what I need to do.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[cjack]

Hey all, I am the third owner of a 2005 GS with about 22000 miles on it.

Love the bike, and am looking forward to putting many miles on it.

Occasionally, when I shift from 1st to 2nd gear, I get about a half second of engagement in 2nd gear, ( roll on throttle, bike speeds up ) , and then it kicks out of gear and I damn near peg the engine rpms.

This does not happen very often, but when it does, it occurs whether I am accelerating gently or aggressively.

So my question is, am I somehow not shifting completely into gear, or is it a sign that something is amiss.

The bike's 3 year warranty will be up in a few months, so I need to figure out what I need to do.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Usually, I keep pressure on the shift lever (up or down) until the clutch is out all the way. It may be that you have a problem if you do this and the issue remains. But if the problem goes away, then it's that you didn't have the shift dogs fully engaged.

[Stuff2C]

I have missed a shift exactly the same way on every bike I've ever owned. It's the long throw between 1 and 2. preload the shifter before you shift and that should take care of it. If not get it to the dealer pronto and make them note it to BMW. It happens to me when I ride in sneakers.

[deilenberger]

In any case - I would report this to the dealer and have it in writing. That can make all the difference if it actually is a problem after the warranty runs out.

[JimVonBaden1]

In any case - I would report this to the dealer and have it in writing. That can make all the difference if it actually is a problem after the warranty runs out.

He might already be out of warranty.

This had happened to me about once every 5K miles or so, and I finally changed the shifter to a Hammerhead offset low. It let me upshift easier, and no more lazy shifts, hitting neutral, or unintentional shift-downs.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/Service%20Video/Hmmmerhead-shifter-2.jpg
http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/JimVonBaden2000/Service%20Video/Hmmmerhead-shifter.jpg

I am fairly convinced it is just lazy shifting on my part.

Jim :brow

[david46]

That is a neat looking shifter. where did you purchase it, and at what cost?

[JimVonBaden1]

That is a neat looking shifter. where did you purchase it, and at what cost?

Mine was a gift from a friend, but you can get them at http://www.adventurersworkshop.com/hammerhead_shifters.htm set up for your shoe size.

Just $70, and well worth it!

Jim :brow

[CH2Ous]

Hi Folks,
I have an 07 GS with 2k miles and size 12 Areostich Combat Lites. (New Bike & big feet) Once in a blue moon I am guilty of lazy shifting i.e.: slightly out of sequence and not matching engine speed in a down shift or not getting a full push or pull on the lever but, the other day on the way to the dealer for some other issues, I was cruising in 6th gear and had to drop it to 5th to get out of a tight squeeze at about 55MPH. No big deal as the engine speed was matched for 5th but, when I engaged the clutch I heard a racket that chilled my brain. Like the shredding of splines. I thought I might have lost 5th gear. But it engaged and on I went. All I could imagine was chunks of tranny guts tossing about in my crankcase. I alerted my service manager and he politely replied "seems fine to us". OK so on I went thinking it was a stone or debris from the 6 lane highway rattling around or maybe the other vehicle?????
Yesterday I was up shifting from 2nd to 3rd on a typical run to 4th or 5th to cruise. It would not go into 3rd. I found myself repositioning my size 12 toe down and under the lever to gain better leverage to force it up into 3rd. It simply wouldn't go. So, I hit my flashers as I coasted, Braked lightly, pulled my toe out and downshifted to second, re-engaged, accelerated a bit and then tried again and it went but it wasn't graceful.
I also notice that when the bike is in neutral it won’t go into first unless I roll the bike forward with the clutch engaged. Sometimes fanning the clutch will allow it to engage.
So my questions are:
1) Has anyone experienced this type of stuff? What should I do about it?
2) How does that Hammerhead improve the shifting process?
3) How tough are these trannys? Is there a maintenance procedure that could improve this?

[mistercindy]

Hi Folks,
I have an 07 GS with 2k miles and size 12 Areostich Combat Lites. (New Bike & big feet) Once in a blue moon I am guilty of lazy shifting i.e.: slightly out of sequence and not matching engine speed in a down shift or not getting a full push or pull on the lever but, the other day on the way to the dealer for some other issues, I was cruising in 6th gear and had to drop it to 5th to get out of a tight squeeze at about 55MPH. No big deal as the engine speed was matched for 5th but, when I engaged the clutch I heard a racket that chilled my brain. Like the shredding of splines. I thought I might have lost 5th gear. But it engaged and on I went. All I could imagine was chunks of tranny guts tossing about in my crankcase. I alerted my service manager and he politely replied "seems fine to us". OK so on I went thinking it was a stone or debris from the 6 lane highway rattling around or maybe the other vehicle?????
Yesterday I was up shifting from 2nd to 3rd on a typical run to 4th or 5th to cruise. It would not go into 3rd. I found myself repositioning my size 12 toe down and under the lever to gain better leverage to force it up into 3rd. It simply wouldn't go. So, I hit my flashers as I coasted, Braked lightly, pulled my toe out and downshifted to second, re-engaged, accelerated a bit and then tried again and it went but it wasn't graceful.
I also notice that when the bike is in neutral it won’t go into first unless I roll the bike forward with the clutch engaged. Sometimes fanning the clutch will allow it to engage.
So my questions are:
1) Has anyone experienced this type of stuff? What should I do about it?
2) How does that Hammerhead improve the shifting process?
3) How tough are these trannys? Is there a maintenance procedure that could improve this?
I wish I could give you an educated response. But you might want to start a new thread on this. This thread was started nearly three months ago and lots of folks who've already looked at it might not re-open it. With a new thread all the gearheads like Jim will pop in with solid advice. Just copy & paste what you've already written, put it in a new thread, put a title on it and you're done.

Just my $0.02.

[CH2Ous]

Thanks... Will Do.

[glurkus]

I have an 07 RT with 2000 miles on it. When the bike is cold and first starting out, I sometimes have to double clutch to get the bike into first.
When I first got the bike last fall, at least 3 or 4 times I up-shifted from 4th to 5th and it didn't engage. It hasn't done yet it this spring. It might have been due to lazy shifts.
I did snap the main shaft of a 97 RT transmission with 27000 miles on it. It went with no warning at all. Tried to down-shift getting off the Xway, and there was nothing there. That was a $2600 odyssey.