Clacks , Crunches, or cant get Neutral

[Benhur]

it is just a new phenomenon to the GS which is why it is a bit alien.

Really?

My "old" 1200 did it in a manner identical to my WC. I just think of it is a positive engagement of a gear rather than a "clunk."

I am yet to ride a motorcycle on which you can select neutral every time at the first time of asking.

 

[alp]

Maybe, but this clunk into first is not a fault, loads of wet clutch chain driven Japanese sports bike do the same - it is just a new phenomenon to the GS which is why it is a bit alien.

I am sure that the designers were well aware of it but never saw it as a problem because it isn't.

Nonsense!
It's alien all right.
You seem to be telling me that after many wet clutch jap bikes which don't crunch and lurch changing into 1st with anything remotely like the force of this GS wet clutch does it, we have to accept it because it's a new phenomenon to the GS and we just don't understand that this is the way they are?????
I've never experienced this level of crunch in a lifetime of bikes unless something had gone wrong.

 

[Yellow Peril]

Nonsense!
It's alien all right.
You seem to be telling me that after many wet clutch jap bikes which don't crunch and lurch changing into 1st with anything remotely like the force of this GS wet clutch does it, we have to accept it because it's a new phenomenon to the GS and we just don't understand that this is the way they are?????
I've never experienced this level of crunch in a lifetime of bikes unless something had gone wrong.

I was along side LC at a traffic lights and was quite surprised by the clunk it made, when obviously engaging 1st. I can make my GSA clunk but not to that volume.

 

[telbenj]

they all do it

Nonsense!
It's alien all right.
You seem to be telling me that after many wet clutch jap bikes which don't crunch and lurch changing into 1st with anything remotely like the force of this GS wet clutch does it, we have to accept it because it's a new phenomenon to the GS and we just don't understand that this is the way they are?????
I've never experienced this level of crunch in a lifetime of bikes unless something had gone wrong.

All motorcycles clonk in to first gear, albeit some worse than others just type motorcycle first gear clonk in to youtube and hey presto loads of worried people thinking their bikes are faulty.
like I said in my previous post my last bike a Harley Davidson Fat Bob really clonked in to first sometimes it felt like it was trying to destroy itself by ripping the rear wheel off its axle.

in the case of this original post a fault was found but I expect most owners have already had their bikes serviced and not one mechanic or dealer when they ride the bike off to the work shop has said they thought there was a problem. Why? because they service all types of bikes in large amounts and know its what a motorcycle clutch / gearbox does.

check out youtube put your minds to rest and just get on your bikes and enjoy them.

Terry

 

[Paul B]

My old gs clunked in to gear .... Although the LC seems harsher dropping into 1st ,the gear shift is a lot smoother on the move. I rode a lot of Jap sports bike before I got the BMW bug and they all clunked in to 1st with no problems. Just get on ride if there's a problem it will be covered under warranty or a recall !

 

[Loki-JME]

The LC sounds like an out of tune spanner orchestra. Especially at idle. Stuck in gridlock around Trafalgar Square, during the week, and resisting the temptation to 'off-road' through the tourists. I turned the engine off, in order to enjoy the fume filled ambience in peace and quiet.

 

[alp]

Those who are posting that it's 'not a problem', 'all bikes are like that' etc etc are missing the point. It's a matter of degree.

They should have been on the pillion of my bike the other night when I had to wait at 13 sets of traffic lights and crunch into 1st gear each time (after getting into N from 2nd while coasting to a stop), I'm sure they would agree that it's OTT crunchy.

Love the bike out of the city traffic though, should be great in mainland Europe this summer. Yippee! See you in Garmisch/Various passes/Corsica etc etc.

 

[Hammam]

The LC has a pretty tight clutch. When I start it in the morning in the garage (around 15 ° C. these days) with 1st gear engaged and the clutch fully disengaged, the bike lurches forward quite violently. Also, I cannnot roll it around by pushing it, engine off, with 1st gear engaged and clutch disengaged. This could explain the louder than «normal» clunk when shifting in 1st when the engine is cold. It gets a bit better once the engine, hence the oil, has warmed up.

 

[Wyreflyer]

I've kept quiet since I first posted on here that my problem extends beyond getting into first, so many seem to have no problem and a loud clunk into 1st seems to be "like it or lump it"

However since day one, 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th all have had intermittent problems. Some changes perfectly smooth, others crunchy, gears grating, with no apparent change in technique.

After 2500miles, Southport have now stripped the bike and the clutch is dry halfway in. They are waiting for an answer back from BMW on Tuesday.

If you are one of the lucky ones with no problems, I'm glad for you, but don't dismiss others quite so readily, they may have a point!

 

[Engineer]

I've kept quiet since I first posted on here that my problem extends beyond getting into first, so many seem to have no problem and a loud clunk into 1st seems to be "like it or lump it"

However since day one, 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th all have had intermittent problems. Some changes perfectly smooth, others crunchy, gears grating, with no apparent change in technique.

After 2500miles, Southport have now stripped the bike and the clutch is dry halfway in. They are waiting for an answer back from BMW on Tuesday.

If you are one of the lucky ones with no problems, I'm glad for you, but don't dismiss others quite so readily, they may have a point!

I'll say it again, mine clonks into first at a standstill but changes just fine into all other gears - your bike obviously has some sort of problem and I hope that it gets fixed.

I have now done 3500 miles and it is behaving the same as when it was new, I hope it carries on behaving itself.

 

[jonnyp]

I'll say it again, mine clonks into first at a standstill but changes just fine into all other gears - your bike obviously has some sort of problem and I hope that it gets fixed.

I have now done 3500 miles and it is behaving the same as when it was new, I hope it carries on behaving itself.

Mines the same, the clunk in to first is a little more when warm but I don't consider it a problem.

Wyreflyer - sorry to hear about your box. Lets us know how you get on...... May be your dealer used the wrong oil.........

 

[P1lts]

Somebody re-assure me. Ordered a 2013 GS 1200. Test ride didn't highlight any particular issues with the box.y 2010 V-Strom 650 is going as its a little too basic. Don't want too find I've made the wrong decision!

 

[Paul B]

Get a scooter for riding between 13 sets of traffic lights !. If you select first at a couple of miles an hour slowing down there is no problem !

 

[Nutty]

Still no issues with mine

 

[skywalker]

Start it up in first gear - no clonks

 

[Wyreflyer]

Wyreflyer - sorry to hear about your box. Lets us know how you get on...... May be your dealer used the wrong oil.........

Complained from the off and told it would get better once 600 service was done and the oil changed. It was all a rush for their annual trip to Scotland, so 600 in first week, serviced and then 1700 around Scotland the second week. No improvement, so in she went. Glad in a strange way that a problem was found, as you start to wonder if it really is you, not the bike. One mate rode it for an hour in Scotland and said it was bad and another said it was smooth no problem!
I'm off to Portugal on Tues, so Southport have a while to hopefully sort it.

This is my third GS and I absolutely love it (despite the problem). The engine is addictive and the handling makes even my riding look good! I can confidently throw this bike around far better than my previous 2 Can't wait to be back on it again.

 

[roundincircles]

Complained from the off and told it would get better once 600 service was done and the oil changed. It was all a rush for their annual trip to Scotland, so 600 in first week, serviced and then 1700 around Scotland the second week. No improvement, so in she went. Glad in a strange way that a problem was found, as you start to wonder if it really is you, not the bike. One mate rode it for an hour in Scotland and said it was bad and another said it was smooth no problem!
I'm off to Portugal on Tues, so Southport have a while to hopefully sort it.

This is my third GS and I absolutely love it (despite the problem). The engine is addictive and the handling makes even my riding look good! I can confidently throw this bike around far better than my previous 2 Can't wait to be back on it again.

Wyreflyer. The smart ar...ses on here continually tell themselves their judgement is spot on and the rest don't understand. So it takes all types to ride tractors!

Anyway I'm with you on the box. BMW will ignore it until a fault develops then they will take action. I had 10,000 miles of crap gear changes on a K1600 before they changed the box after changing the selector mechanism.

If it is not right you simply have to keep knocking at the dealers door and a ride on their demo bike gives a perspective.

My Wasserboxer drags it's gears going up the box when blatting it but if the leaver is pre-loaded it is OKish. Is the acceptable? For some tractor riders it's OK as they are 'expert' riders for others it is a distraction they do not care for.

Post the outcome.

 

[Hammam]

My LC clonks at every gear change if I am sloppy. If I'm doing things right, it does not, except going into 1st: preload the gear lever up with pressure from foot, rev her up, then a tiny and quick (and I mean tiny and quick) cut off of the throttle, accompanied (or not, if you're used to it) by a tiny pull in of the clutch and a gentle but deliberate pushing up of the gear lever will shift smoothly and quietly. Synchronism and quickness are everything here.

The best recipe for having clonky gear changes is to cut off the throttle completely, bring the clutch all the way in and giving a jolt up the gear lever without preload. Plus taking too long to do it. Actually clutchless gear changes are the smoothest of them all, and not all that difficult to do. And they will spare both your gearbox and your clutch.

 

[needlongerlegs]

OK Chaps.

Got the bike back yesterday......

So far only a forty mile ride home and all seems well

So fingers crossed Cannons have sorted it.

While there Matt showed me clutch assembly that had been replaced, seems strange to swop entire clutch housing plates springs thustplate bearings etc etc.... but I ain't complaining.

Cannons ain't been nothing but helpfull through out the issue, lent me a nice bike n kept me informed of what was going on.

I've 7 days now till I head for ferry to Spain so hoping alisgoot.

NLL

Just got back from Spain, bike was great, clutch performed faultlessly NOTHING like the previous clutch, clucks a little in to first nothing like previous clutch, sometimes a noise change probably me being lazy with the lever.

Selected Neutral easily and first time every time. So I'd say sorted

Or it could just be the I put on top box has re booted the electronic clutch control unit ......-----

 

[krytengs]

Because I am waiting to get my first service done, I am unable to ride mine at the moment so cant recheck this. However, after reading this thread, I have been thinking about it and I know that mine has trouble getting into Neutral at stand still.

Slowing down to stop I drop into 1st and then as I stop snick up into Neutral...but...it goes into 2nd. Now I am stopped and have to snick it back down into Neutral. This seems to happen every time I try to get into Neutral in this way when the bike is hot.
I don't remember if this happens when the bike is cold, so I will need to check whether this is happens from cold too, when I take the bike in for its service next week.