shifting problems

[woody99]

Hi: I just bought a 96 R1100RS & I also have a 94 K75 . I noticed that the R1100RS shifts up a lot harder than the K75 is this normal? The clutch seems to be depressed enough to disengage, but it still shift very hard,sometimes it actually hurts your foot it's so hard.

[JimMoore]

Yeah, I've always found K bikes to shift a lot more smoothly than oilheads. Try preloading the shifter. That helps alot.

[BubbaZanetti]

sometimes it actually hurts your foot it's so hard.

that's not normal. does it make any "bad" sounds when you shift? how is the free-play in your clutch cable? too much and you might not be disengaging the clutch fully.

[woody99]

no bad sounds, just shifts very hard.

[flars]

Make sure the shift linkage is lubricated. The little ball joints should wiggle around freely.

[RSssssss]

They do shift harder then the K75. Do all the above and if no improvement you may be looking at doing a spline lube. How many miles on the RS? I'm getting ready to do one on my 94 RS.

[osbornk]

They do shift harder then the K75. Do all the above and if no improvement you may be looking at doing a spline lube. How many miles on the RS? I'm getting ready to do one on my 94 RS.

I suspect it might be a spline lube or linkage problem. I've had 2 K bikes and now have an oilhead and an airhead. They all shifted about the same. All four of them seem to have a loud 4th gear. It must be the nature of the beasts.

[Andy VH]

Do a search on shifting as many if us have responded to this same question many times. You'll find some good guidelines there.

[woody99]

48,000

[woody99]

I lubed the shift linkage and that help quite a bit.