Jumping out of second

[timpitt77]

Hi all.

My 1200 has developed a nasty habit of jumping out off second gear whilst changing up leaving me with a neutral just when I least need it !

Any clues to cause? Am I just not being firm enough or do I have an expensive problem (again).

 

[Deleted account 190920001]

I cant relate this to the GS itself other than my box is very positive and light. What I can say from past experience of this on other bikes though is that its possible its either worn dogs on the gear or worn selector drum or both. Sometimes originally cause by incorrect shimming so the gears aren't spaced properly. If I am right then its not going to get any better only worse and it doesn't matter how hard you shove it into gear, it will still happen. Its always been second gear that I have broke as well, sometimes 3rd. Used to be fairly common on older bike and on the old kawas I used to race the trick was to undercut the dogs to hold it in gear. I thought they had all cured these problems now but I guess there can still always be a bad one.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

First stop is to clean and lube the linkage bushes and ball-joints.

 

[Wapping]

I do not know if you are new to the delights of the 1200GS, but....

I, who came from years of slick boxed Japanese bikes, used to find the same thing from time-to-time, exiting steep uphill hairpins with luggage and going for a sharp overtake before the next bend.

It was, I discovered, not so much jumping out of second, more that I was not disengaging engaging second properly. By a process of trial and error I managed to work out that it had to be me and not the bike that was at fault. That and I discovered that I was lifting my toe high enough in second, ahead of a quick change to third, to lift it out of gear moments before going up the box.

A quick adjustment to the linkage and a better 'gear action' on my part and all has been well ever since.

 

[motoreiter]

I've had this problem with my 2005 GS as well. I think, but am not certain, that the problem goes away when I shift more firmly.