new R12RT- clutch/transmission problems?

[109398]

Purchased a new R1200RT yesterday. Was ready to leave the dealership and noticed a shudder when releasing the clutch to drive away in 1st gear. The lower half of the bike shakes and rattles. The only way to make it not shudder is to rev the engine to about 1500rpm and ride the clutch for a few feet while rolling forward- then it takes off as one would expect. The sales manager called out one of the service guys who took it for short drive, came back and asked me what my last bike was. I think he was implying I hadn't driven a boxer before. When I told him it was an R1200GS- and that I had test driven a few new RT's and none of them did this he conceded that something was wrong. He said he had seen a few of them do this- and that he thought it was a high spot on the clutch disk that needed to wear in. His advice was to drive it hard up to the 600 mile service and see if it goes away- but if it gets worse to come back for a check. When I got home I was troubled by this- didn't seem right to me. I'm concerned that something could go wrong while my fiance and I are driving at speed and it could be a safety issue. I placed the bike on the center stand, selected first gear (with rear tire off ground, placing weight on handlebars- this is stupid...I know!) and released the clutch. With the rear wheel spinning there is what can best be described as "chatter" and "clunking" in the driveline- doesn't sound right to me...but then again I've never listened to a boxer/shaft drive moving while not under load- this may be normal.

Q1: has anyone experienced this?
Q2: should the driveline operate smoothly with nary a noise when on the centerstand?
Q3: would you take the service tech's advice and drive this bike as is- or have it towed back to the dealership for further evaluation?

Thanks in advance for your help. It was closing time for the dealership and I kind of felt rushed off/dismissed by the service guy...but maybe I'm just being too paranoid/needy with regard to the issue as this is a new dealer and service dept for me and their talents/capabilities are an unknown.

[DarrylRi]

I think you'll get more targetted response with this in the Hexheads forum, so I'm moving it there.

[cwsenn]

The clunking in the drive line while on center-stand is normal as it's not intended to be be operated in that position. I did that a year or so ago, went to the dealer was told that it was not a problem and I have not had a problem with it since so they must be correct.
I would take there advice and drive the bike to the 600 mile service and see what you think at that point. If you don;t want to do that, take it back and demand it be fixed or replaced with a new RT.


Chuck Senn

[109398]

Thanks guys- I think I'll drive it close to home today and Monday then stop by on Tues when the dealership is open. I appreciate the feedback.

[109398]

I think you'll get more targetted response with this in the Hexheads forum, so I'm moving it there.

Thanks Darryl! Guess it's better to drink coffee prior to posting...I wasn't quite firing on all cylinders yet!

[TomfromMD]

IIRC, 1st gear in the RT is much higher than in the GS which makes a significant difference in launch technique.

Although I'm pretty well adjusted to my '06, I normally engage the clutch slowly with the engine turning about 1,500 repm - 2,000 if starting off uphill. Anything less and it shakes like crazy, so I'd assume your bike is normal.
Tom

[airoilheadbeemerguy]

Your experience now is near exactly mine last year when picking up my new RT. Stalled it several times the first day, learned to rev up a bit and slip the clutch out and have become much smoother over time. It certainly is much different than my '83RT in starting out tho. Now have 17K (kms) on mine and it is a fantastic bike, no problems at all. :heart

[109398]

Guys- thanks so much for the help. I had no idea that the 1st gear is different from that of my GS. Makes a lot of sense that I'd be having the "problems" that I have knowing that. I'm going to take TomMD's and airolheadbeemerhead's advice and enjoy the thing. I'll keep y'all posted if it turns out that there's a real issue.

[JK]

Purchased a new R1200RT yesterday. Was ready to leave the dealership and noticed a shudder when releasing the clutch to drive away in 1st gear. The lower half of the bike shakes and rattles. The only way to make it not shudder is to rev the engine to about 1500rpm and ride the clutch for a few feet while rolling forward- then it takes off as one would expect. The sales manager called out one of the service guys who took it for short drive, came back and asked me what my last bike was. I think he was implying I hadn't driven a boxer before. When I told him it was an R1200GS- and that I had test driven a few new RT's and none of them did this he conceded that something was wrong. He said he had seen a few of them do this- and that he thought it was a high spot on the clutch disk that needed to wear in. His advice was to drive it hard up to the 600 mile service and see if it goes away- but if it gets worse to come back for a check. When I got home I was troubled by this- didn't seem right to me. I'm concerned that something could go wrong while my fiance and I are driving at speed and it could be a safety issue. I placed the bike on the center stand, selected first gear (with rear tire off ground, placing weight on handlebars- this is stupid...I know!) and released the clutch. With the rear wheel spinning there is what can best be described as "chatter" and "clunking" in the driveline- doesn't sound right to me...but then again I've never listened to a boxer/shaft drive moving while not under load- this may be normal.

Q1: has anyone experienced this?
Q2: should the driveline operate smoothly with nary a noise when on the centerstand?
Q3: would you take the service tech's advice and drive this bike as is- or have it towed back to the dealership for further evaluation?

Thanks in advance for your help. It was closing time for the dealership and I kind of felt rushed off/dismissed by the service guy...but maybe I'm just being too paranoid/needy with regard to the issue as this is a new dealer and service dept for me and their talents/capabilities are an unknown.

Hi Jay -

Sorry to hear about your problem.

When I bought my R-12S last year at BMW of Denver, after taking the bike out of the shipping box, the service department had ridden the bike for about four miles to make sure that it was properly dialed in.

Don't know if you bought your ride from Foothills, or Denver BMW, but I'm pretty sure that shake-down rides are standard operating procedure prior to any purchase delivery.

With that said, getting bum-rushed out of the door after making a $20K+ purchase doesn't seem right. Clearly, a warped clutch, or clunking in the driveline, are absolutely unacceptable and are highly unlikely to get better with "age."

Bottom line: Hold their feet to the fire to make things right, to include a "loaner" bike.


J.K. :wow

[109398]

Hi Jay -

Sorry to hear about your problem.

When I bought my R-12S last year at BMW of Denver, after taking the bike out of the shipping box, the service department had ridden the bike for about four miles to make sure that it was properly dialed in.

Don't know if you bought your ride from Foothills, or Denver BMW, but I'm pretty sure that shake-down rides are standard operating procedure prior to any purchase delivery.

With that said, getting bum-rushed out of the door after making a $20K+ purchase doesn't seem right. Clearly, a warped clutch, or clunking in the driveline, are absolutely unacceptable and are highly unlikely to get better with "age."

Bottom line: Hold their feet to the fire to make things right, to include a "loaner" bike.


J.K. :wow

thanks JK- will do. After riding today it's clear that something is definitely wrong with the bike. I'll be heading there on Tuesday to do exactly what you said.

[dsenn]

had a new transmission and clutch put in my 05 RT at 60,000miles, when I picked it up it shuddered a little on startup but went away in about 400 miles. sometimes on new vehicles and replacement clutches they will shudder for a short time till everything seats in. After 45 years of turning wrenches from small engines to semis I have seen it quite a few times in all types of vehicles, not too often but it does happen.
-----------------------------------

05 R1200RT
00 Rll00 RTP
76 Guzzi 850 T3
79 750 Bonn Special
finally retired

[109398]

had a new transmission and clutch put in my 05 RT at 60,000miles, when I picked it up it shuddered a little on startup but went away in about 400 miles. sometimes on new vehicles and replacement clutches they will shudder for a short time till everything seats in. After 45 years of turning wrenches from small engines to semis I have seen it quite a few times in all types of vehicles, not too often but it does happen.
-----------------------------------

05 R1200RT
00 Rll00 RTP
76 Guzzi 850 T3
79 750 Bonn Special
finally retired

Thanks Dsenn- I think that's what the mechanic's opinion was at the time of delivery. Maybe there are some slight tolerance differences in the clutches of these bikes. Hopefully mine will be the same issue and wear in by the 600 mile service.

[109398]

Well the verdict is in- new clutch/pressure plate assembly @ 140 miles. Not sure if the parts were defective or if someone was hung over on the assembly line. The dealer is trying to make things as pain free as possible and has next-day-aired the parts which were, luckily, in stock so I should have it back shortly. Thanks everyone for the sympathy/advice.