Changing Gears On An '09 R1200RT

[ricoefamoso]

My first 600 mile service was completed yesterday. When I picked up the bike I had questions surrounding shifting/changing gears and RPM's.

The service manager has many years with BMW and advised me that it is important to begin running hard now that this service is complete to "set" the bike.

During the first 600 miles, I kept rpms at 3000 during shifting, avoided highway speeds over 60 mph and in general "babied" this new bike.

The service manager's directions are to shift/change gears at 4000 rpms ... beginning from 1st gear and upward.

I experimented with this on the ride home. I have noticed that the engine is loud running 1st gear at 4000 rpms and the same when in 2nd and 3rd. I have noticed that the shifting is smoother at this rpm rate and the clutch "grabs" quickly without any jerking or grinding.

My questions are:

1. At what RPM do most BMW R1200RT riders shift from take off in first gear, then when up shifting ?

2. What are your RPM's when riding at speeds of 35 - 40 - 50 - 65 and higher.

3. My experiences have always been with wet clutches. Any tips for clutching and shifting with a dry clutch?

Would also appreciate any comments from experienced riders of R1200RT bikes surrounding RPM's ... MPH ... and correct shifting and gear changes.

I love this new bike and want to ride it the way that is best for the engine.

Thanks!

[dbriggs2000]

Forget about the tach, feel the bike, listen to the sound of the motor and enjoy the scenery...

[PGlaves]

The bike is like a sportscar, not a big station wagon. While not identical engines, my R1150R is of similar design. I might shift at 4K or less out of first, but seldom shift below 4500 or 5000 from any other gear. The motor is happy from 3500 up. I cruise at 4K or higher unless straight, level, and flat where 6th becomes usable about 65 mph at 3600 or so.

[Greenwald]

Forget about the tach, feel the bike, listen to the sound of the motor and enjoy the scenery...

I would agree.

Just get out and ride it like the high-performance machine that it is. Shift when if feels like time to shift, and work towards a smooth transition between gears.

When it comes to shifitng, I'm not 'married' to the tach. Your goal is to match engine speed to road speed.

After not looking at your tachometer for several days of good riding, then glance down when shifting and see where it occurs.

Don't get all hung up on precise RPM parameters for shifting - enjoy the ride! :german

[hlothery]

Coming from an HD, when I initially bought my 05RT, I had a lot of trouble revving to 4000 to shift. After time with the bike, I almost never shifted below that (except maybe to get out of 1st in traffic). The boxer loves to rev, and you will grow to cherish the sound. I agree, however, with ignoring the tach. The bike will tell you when to shift. :thumb

[SPOKESMAN]

Now maybe an RT will pull smoothly with an open throttle from 2000 rpm or even 1500, but to me, anything other than a near-idle throttle setting below 3000 rpm feels like lugging.

Accordingly, I try to keep the bike at or above 3000 rpm pretty much all the time, and I upshift somewhere between 4000 to 7000, depending on how fast I feel like accelerating. I did hit the rev limiter once in second, and although it probably did no harm whatsoever, I felt guilty about it.

EDIT: One exception: I don't launch the bike at 3000 rpm, probably more like 2200, but it's up above 3000 almost instantly.

[charliebrown]

I normally shift from 1st to 2nd above 4000 rpm. I don't really make a note of other gears. Cruising at 70 in 6th is about 3700 rpm.

[ExGMan]

My experience is that earplugs are very helpful, especially when you're concerned about shifting. Take the noise out of the equation, and shifting up at 4k, 5K or 6K is not a problem...feels very good in fact.:thumb

[racer7]

Don't forget technique.

The shifter should be lightly preloaded with your toe when you go for the clutch and then shift. With a tiny bit of preload it just glides into the next gear at almost any rpm.

[Bezdelnik]

As a noob with the RT {only 1500 miles of experience on my demo model} I have not been sure where to shift after coming off a high revving 4 cyl. This last weekend I went on a 300+ mile trip (couldn't have done that comfortably on the crotch rocket) I found myself pushing the rpm's higher between shifts and found the bike more comfortable and smoother. I am still not pegging the red line, but gladly seeing how the bike responds. Previously I would try to shift between 2 & 3 k. Now seeing it as lugging and definitely not smooth. Push it up into the 4's at least to see how smooth it really is. :german

[RoboRider]

If I'm cruising, I shift around 4.5 - 5k. If I'm aggressive, I run well into the 7000s. I cruise the freeway at about 4k. I too no longer look at the tach much anymore.

If you are having a problem shifting into first from a standstill, try pulling the clutch in only about half way (which is all it needs anyway). You can find the point by pulling in the clutch and shifting to first. If you find first won't go, just let the clutch out slowly, keeping pressure on the shifter, and she'll pop right in, no problem.

The boxer has no problem running at high RPMs. My HD buddies all want to shift it at 3000 RPM, but it runs like crap at 3k.

When you get into the twisties, pop it into 2d and you can pretty much leave it as you can easily do 20-70 mph in 2d gear. It makes the RT a great ride in the twisties.

[MPMARTY]

I just leave it in third or fourth depending on how fast I want to go. I shift up when I want to go faster. I generally wind up with the tach between four and five thousand rpm. Sixth gear is for cruising at 4 thousand rpm which the bike and I seem to like just fine.:brad
My RT flat out doesn't like trying to pull at all below three grand.

[Greenwald]

:lurk

[RTinger]

Don't forget technique.

The shifter should be lightly preloaded with your toe when you go for the clutch and then shift. With a tiny bit of preload it just glides into the next gear at almost any rpm.


After taking this advice from racer7 my gears never clank...I usually shift around 35 but after re-reading this thread I am going to try 4k shifting for a while see how that works.