Clunky Gears

Hi friends

Please help!

I bought my RT a couple of months ago and need some advice. (2005 with 14000Km on clock)
The gearbox is really clunky when I go from 1st to 2nd (but not always) and also from 2nd to 1st. Is this normal?
Sometimes it feels like that it doesn't go into 3rd smoothly. Is this normal?

Regards
Rudi

Rudivv - clunky gears are as BMW as brandewyn is Souf Efrikan...

Yip, i can confirm that and if you wish to speak to a good mechanic then speak to Lenie at Bavarian Motorcycles in PTA on 0123234865...

Thx for the help!

Thought it was not normal, but at least it is not marketing its territory like a Landrover!

Rudi

What they said.

In fact keep your eye (ear) on it……..if it stops to clunk, take it to a workshop immediately…….something is wrong then

All Beemers have clunky gearchanges - is endemic to the bike. Accept it as at the only possible "flaw" in an otherwise perfect brand.

The Triumph Sprint box is not that great either. Often miss second and hook neutral which then results in manic over revving till the limiter kicks in and then sometimes the change to 6th from 5th results in missing and this horrible grating noise. The sweetest gearboxes are found on bikes like Kawasaki and Suzuki. Having ridden my sons ZX6 and the GSX750, they are smooth and quiet.

The Honda 900 Bol d' Orr I had in the early 80's just needed a feathers touch to change even at max revs. The Beemers clunky gearbox needed a mindset adjustment. But other than that enjoy the best brand on 2 wheels.

On my F650GS the gearbox was also clunky. Thought that on the RT BMW would have made a better effort!

Still happy with my bike!!

Rudi

I got used to my clunky gearbox. In the beginning I was self concious when putting my bike into gear at a robot, but it soon passed and now it is just part of normal life on a Beemer. As MadnohB said, if it gets quiet you must start to worry

You actually CAN change gears without it clunking...!
Regard it as your lifelong journey of discovery into the world of BMW Motorrad riding.

After 13years on an 'Airhead' model and two years on a 'Hexhead', I can even change up without clunking...and without using the clutch!
(Admittedly not between first and second - there's this little matter of neutral in between them)

Practice, practice, practice...
Do it smoothly, not in haste - preferably during l-o-n-g rides on quiet roads in beautiful countryside.

An Extreme Gold trip is a good place to start...



(PS: Make sure that you fully release your gear-change lever with your left foot.
If you don't let it jump back completely, it won't engage the next gear and you will lift up without it changing.
I've done that more than once when trying to change up..!)