Problem selecting first gear

[Paul90]

Problems selecting first gear

I have an ’07 1200GS and I’m new to these Boxer Twins so I’m still getting used to it’s unique character.

One thing I have noticed is that sometimes it is reluctant to go into first gear when at a standstill. Pull the clutch in, press the lever down and it doesn’t go in, “N” light stays on and if I let the clutch out it confirms no gear selected. Usually 2 or 3 goes and it will select. Letting the clutch in and out / revving the engine doesn’t seem to make any difference. Doesn’t do it all the time but seems worse when it’s cold, ie just started up first thing in the morning.

If I let the clutch out very slowly while pressing down on the gear lever it will snick into gear nicely but none of my other bikes have ever done this.

Do they all do that ?

It’s a bit of a trek back to the dealer and I’m not in a hurry to have it looked at, just wondered if I should get it checked out at some point.

Paul

 

[marcus]

When brand new they tend to do that......

Once well bedded in -

gear changes get easier

oil use decreases

fuel economy improves

 

[GSmonkey]

That's character that is.

Mine always did it when cold - as soon as things got warmed up, you had a 90% chance of getting it in with a single tap down.

 

[Pukmeister]

Aye, like you say:

To select 1st at a standstill:

1) Pull in clutch lever
2) Press down for 1st gear and hold down with foot
3) GENTLY ease out clutch until 1st gear engages
4) Release foot
5) Ride off

When I first got my R1200GS I thought I'd bought a lemon. Phoned a GS/Guzzi enthusiast mate and explained, and heard him pissing himself laughing. When he explained the above and that it is part of the bikes character I felt a complete berk having only been used to silky smooth Jap bikes.

Don't worry mate, it's nothing but good old fashioned character, something the Japs have forgotten in their persuit for perfection.

 

[terayon]

I have the same problem, it's in the character of the bike.
Only does it when cold

 

[GS.Mick.B]

Same problem for me to, but you get used to it

 

[nozza]

1st gear

yep, ditto takes a bit of finding when cold but fine after a couple of mins.
nozza

 

[JayGee]

They all seem to do it, it's not character but crap engineering! It does it more often when cold but mine still does it occaissionally when hot.

 

[Wapping]

They all seem to do it, it's not character but crap engineering! It does it more often when cold but mine still does it occaissionally when hot.

Have you never ridden a Honda with its charicteristic first gear clunk?

 

[littleredrooster]

All is revealed with a search....

Here you go (again.....)

The reason

Unlike almost any other bike, BM's use a (dry) diaphragm clutch just like a car. This means that, when the clutch lever is pulled in, the gearbox shafts stop almost immediately because there is no 'drag' from the oil within the clutch. On other bikes, the gearbox shafts will continue to rotate because of this drag. And, before you ask, cars do not have this trait because they have synchromesh gearboxes, not constant-mesh dog-boxes. (Do a Google search if you want more info - it's too late and I've had too much beer!)

If the shafts are stationary and have two opposing 'dogs' rather than a dog and a slot with which to mesh, the gear will not engage and will require re-alignment of the dogs/slots - i.e. letting the clutch out or rolling the bike slightly.


Therefore, the technique is to pull the clutch and IMMEDIATELY (but gently) prod the gear lever. Works every time, but often produces a mild 'clunk'. If you find this clunk offensive, try riding anything with a Honda badge - they is ten times worse.

 

[littleredrooster]

They all seem to do it, it's not character but crap engineering! It does it more often when cold but mine still does it occaissionally when hot.

It's easy to be ignorant of how something works and then blame it on 'crap engineering', I suppose. Find out before you slag it off!

 

[Schtum]

Some Japanese bikes do exactly the same thing. SWMBO's old Thundercat was particularly prone to this.

 

[Paul Mac]

It's easy to be ignorant of how something works and then blame it on 'crap engineering', I suppose. Find out before you slag it off!

Such a pleasant site - so nice to see such fraternalism !!!

 

[ktmmark]

Because the bike has a dry clutch there is very little drag (unlike a wet clutch on most jap bikes) you need to cause a little drag (letting the clutch out ) to line the dogs up in the gear box (same as getting reverse on some cars)

 

[Wapping]

Such a pleasant site - so nice to see such fraternalism !!!

But littleredrooster had it right. See post #10

It's pointless squawking about bad engineering if the person doesn't understand how the thing works. littleredrooster's post also explains, quite simply, how to engage first neatly, without resorting to forcing the dogs and slots together.

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

On all the Japanese bikes I ever owned, getting them into first gear was never a problem, nor changing between gears once up and running (apart from a Yamaha TDM 850 which was a little idiosyncratic).

HOWEVER - I have NEVER had difficulty finding neutral on any of the four BMs I have owned, unlike every Japanese bike. On a couple of them, it was simply impossible to find neautral from 1st while stationary. First-second-first-second-first-pump the clutch a few times-second-first-try dragging the clutch and trying for neutral while creeping-second-first-oh sod it, I'll keep the clutch in....

Let's not be too quick to criticise BM and praise all Japanese gearboxes as paragons of virtue.

 

[Paul Mac]

But littleredrooster had it right. See post #10

It's pointless squawking about bad engineering if the person doesn't understand how the thing works. littleredrooster's post also explains, quite simply, how to engage first neatly, without resorting to forcing the dogs and slots together.

Yeah point taken - but aren't we getting maybe a bit intolerant on this site.

 

[Deleted account W]

Yeah point taken - but aren't we getting maybe a bit intolerant on this site.

We?

I'm tolerant. I tolerate lots. I can't tolerate generalisations though.

 

[cookie]

also worth mentioning, boxers have a crank speed clutch unlike your average jap bike. that means the gearbox input shaft is likely turning twice as fast as a transverse 4, so the clunk will be louder

 

[Brendan]

Having had a 1200Gs for the last few months I found the same problem with selecting 1st gear from neutral, my solution pull clutch lever, press gear change lever once, if it doesn't engage, roll bike back or forward 1-2", gear engages then. Works every time for me.