Is a weak return spring at the root of the gear change issue?

GSWizz

GSWizz

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I have tried a variety of solutions to improve the gear change. Pivot Pegz, Wunderlich clever gear lever and numerous adjustment positions. I have noticed that the strength of the spring that centres the gear lever appears to be quite weak. As such you have to make a conscious effort to make sure you take all pressure off the pedal between changes. Is this a possible cause together with the general sloppiness in the change linkage and I wonder what could be done to improve it? Is it worth contacting BMW to see if they have explored this issue.
 
Is this something that you could change, yourself? Would be interesting to see if you notice a difference.:thumb
 
Quite honestly I don't think BMW know how to cure the problem on the gear change issue . mine has been under investigation since the first service in may last year and been over three weeks waiting for the recent suggestion from them !! but not seen any recent posts on the subject ,or has most owners given up ? or sold the bike ?
I want a fix from them as its not acceptable on a £14 k investment !!!
 
what's wrong with the gearchange ?

it changes sloppy when I am sloppy.

changes good when I am good

.
 
GSWizz said:
As such you have to make a conscious effort to make sure you take all pressure off the pedal between changes.
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But you should :nenau Every gear should be precise, planned and deliberate. Even if you take two or three gears in quick succession it shouldn't be hurried or take you by surprise. Ride on the balls of yer feet, take a gear (or two) go back to yer balls ... :thumb2
 
Giles said:
But you should :nenau Every gear should be precise, planned and deliberate. Even if you take two or three gears in quick succession it shouldn't be hurried or take you by surprise. Ride on the balls of yer feet, take a gear (or two) go back to yer balls ... :thumb2
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That is exactly how I do it and have never had any issues with the gear change.
 
Having never had this problem on any other bike I have ever ridden I am of the opinion that it is the bike rather than my gear changing. I have never had to concentrate on changing gear. It has always been a natural process. If i remove pressure from the pedal in theory it should revert to its natural centre using the pressure created by the gear change mechanism in an instant. It should not need me to think about it and wait. I have read all the posts here from expert riders but it may be they are in a different league to me. However the bike is not sold for experts in gear changing. With less than a thousand miles and having had the update at first service the problem seems to be getting worse and is beginning to become a dangerous distraction in what in all other aspects is a fantastic machine.
 
GSWizz said:
..... I wonder what could be done to improve it? Is it worth contacting BMW to see if they have explored this issue.
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To see if they have explored your return spring theory or something else?

Either way, why hesitate? I'm sure they will be open to suggestions, theories, guesses, practical examples of work done to arrive at a complete and satisfactory fix or just a very simple, 'Have you thought about?' type of enquiry.

There are three initial potential points of contact:

1. Through BMW's dealership network. Though that would rely on them pushing your observations / theory / practical and reliable fix, up the chain.

2. BMW's UK headquarters at Bracknell, again relying on them to push your correspondence forward.

3. BMW's headquarters in Munich

Contact details for all three available via a Google search.

There again, many people believe that BMW closely monitor the pages of UKGSer, including no doubt the 1200 Technical section, probably as a valuable adjunct to BMW's own and costly R&D function. So, it's quite possible that they are already aware of this thread and are on the case as we speak. However, English may not be their first language and / or they may well have become distracted by requests for advice on jackets and the legal aspects of company liquidation; so best to get your letter into the post. Of course it's worth it.
 
biggeorge said:
Quite honestly I don't think BMW know how to cure the problem on the gear change issue . mine has been under investigation since the first service in may last year and been over three weeks waiting for the recent suggestion from them !! but not seen any recent posts on the subject ,or has most owners given up ? or sold the bike ?
I want a fix from them as its not acceptable on a £14 k investment !!!
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I think the posts have reduced because few people ride during the Winter, but I still don't think that there is a fundamental problem with the gearbox, yes it is not the World's smoothest but I do not have an issue with it, nor do I believe do the vast majority of riders - bear in mind BMW have sold thousands of LCs worldwide.

One thing that I have noticed, since my 12,000 mile service is the 'clonk' into 1st has reduced, especially when starting off on cold mornings, 50% of the time it is totally silent. The only difference that I can see is that the oil level is now in the centre of the oil-level window and not off the top like it used to be. I suspect that a lower oil level helps a little, perhaps when the oil drains down over night there is less on the clutch meaning that there is a little less clutch drag????? The 'clonk' gets a little worse as the bike heats up.

My bike changes up smoothly enough and changes down silently as long as I give the throttle a little blip - it just seems to work fine.

I hope that BMW can do something about your bike, I'd love to give it a try to compare it to mine.
 
Wapping said:
To see if they have explored your return spring theory or something else?

Either way, why hesitate? I'm sure they will be open to suggestions, theories, guesses, practical examples of work done to arrive at a complete and satisfactory fix or just a very simple, 'Have you thought about?' type of enquiry.

There are three initial potential points of contact:

1. Through BMW's dealership network. Though that would rely on them pushing your observations / theory / practical and reliable fix, up the chain.

2. BMW's UK headquarters at Bracknell, again relying on them to push your correspondence forward.

3. BMW's headquarters in Munich

Contact details for all three available via a Google search.

There again, many people believe that BMW closely monitor the pages of UKGSer, including no doubt the 1200 Technical section, probably as a valuable adjunct to BMW's own and costly R&D function. So, it's quite possible that they are already aware of this thread and are on the case as we speak. However, English may not be their first language and / or they may well have become distracted by requests for advice on jackets and the legal aspects of company liquidation; so best to get your letter into the post. Of course it's worth it.
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Good advice young man :D

Andres
 
As before try the SW MOTECH lever...made a huge difference on mine...went for thinking about shifts to enjoying the bike.

Its more accessible and has more leverage which means hassle free shifts.

Maybe call them and ask if they have a demo unit?
 
Engineer said:
I still don't think that there is a fundamental problem with the gearbox, yes it is not the World's smoothest but I do not have an issue with it, nor do I believe do the vast majority of riders - bear in mind BMW have sold thousands of LCs worldwide..
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LOL Here speaks Big Chief Talking Bollox no doubt a BMW employee LOL

It should be as near as perfect as you can get for 14k, you shouldn't have to prat around thinking about how to change bloody gear.

I get on my 4K Honda CRF250 and its sweet, along with the four other bikes I own all have a better gear change than the GS! ! I ride many other bikes including mates older BMW's they are sweet, the GS has the Issue not me. My cuz another GS owner (a TWINK) rode my first one and said "you couldn't even sell it like that", and that sums it up really.

So I'm so sick of mine (this is my second one in a year as they replaced the first one after six months and 7500miles of shite gear changes n no neutral) and this current one well its going Saturday after nine BMW's I shall never buy another one.

I jumped on a Triumph 1200 three hours later I got my credit card out, why because the GS has the WORST GEARBOX/CLUTCH gear change of any bike I have owned but saying that I've only owned sixty odd bikes in the forty years I've been riding so what do I know.
 
GSWizz said:
.... and numerous adjustment positions....
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Today I thought of you :D

I fitted a wunderlich gear lever the other day, but hadn't had a chance to ride the bike until this afternoon, so went out with the appropriate spanners to fine tune it. The set up in the garage without riding it was almost right, but a tad too high - I was having to pucker up my toes a tad to let it return completely between down shifts (as was your problem..). Dropped the lever down 1/4 inch and now quick successive down shifts are tappety tap, soul of my boot free .... :thumb2
 
needlongerlegs said:
LOL Here speaks Big Chief Talking Bollox no doubt a BMW employee LOL

It should be as near as perfect as you can get for 14k, you shouldn't have to prat around thinking about how to change bloody gear.

I get on my 4K Honda CRF250 and its sweet, along with the four other bikes I own all have a better gear change than the GS! ! I ride many other bikes including mates older BMW's they are sweet, the GS has the Issue not me. My cuz another GS owner (a TWINK) rode my first one and said "you couldn't even sell it like that", and that sums it up really.

So I'm so sick of mine (this is my second one in a year as they replaced the first one after six months and 7500miles of shite gear changes n no neutral) and this current one well its going Saturday after nine BMW's I shall never buy another one.

I jumped on a Triumph 1200 three hours later I got my credit card out, why because the GS has the WORST GEARBOX/CLUTCH gear change of any bike I have owned but saying that I've only owned sixty odd bikes in the forty years I've been riding so what do I know.
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Shocked

Bike No2 no good?

Appalling
 
My difficulty has always been selecting first and then changing up rather than down. The dealer has asked that I refit all the original components and they will get someone from BMW to Come and ride it. In addition to the gear change I have an intermittent problem with the rear brake losing power. For example I was going down a slight hill in a dirt / gravel car park the other day at a very low speed and however hard I pressed I could not get the rear wheel to lock or the ABS to activate. Not good.
 
Anyone in London with a shonky clunky gearbox bike, that is otherwise standard, that I can try out for the day on Sunday?

The weather forecast is reasonably kind and it's a good opportunity to maybe get out and about. I'll return it with a brimmed full tank of petrol etc. etc. etc.
 
needlongerlegs said:
LOL Here speaks Big Chief Talking Bollox no doubt a BMW employee LOL
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I am not talking bollox and I am not an employee of BMW, I am just telling you that my gearbox is fine, in fact with slightly less oil in the motor it is better than it was before its 12,000 mile service, it is getting better all the time - for you to get two in a row that are unsatisfactory is very unlucky indeed or there is another explanation.

P.S. I started riding 40 years ago too
 
Wapping said:
Anyone in London with a shonky clunky gearbox bike, that is otherwise standard, that I can try out for the day on Sunday?

The weather forecast is reasonably kind and it's a good opportunity to maybe get out and about. I'll return it with a brimmed full tank of petrol etc. etc. etc.
Click to expand...

Good plan.:thumb If nobody with the problem takes you up on your offer, then they may be worried you'll find no such problem.:rob
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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