Simple things....

[Meanderlight]

....bring the greatest rewards.

Since the purchase of my RT in June, my first bike in a couple of years

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I've struggled to get a smooth change down the gearbox, often from 3rd to 2nd and almost always from 2nd to 1st. I initially put this down to my incompetence and then as the weeks turned into months with no improvement and reading like tales on the internet I came to the conclusion, what I experienced was to be expected "its a BMW gearbox", "they all do that" etc etc.

Then a couple of days ago, it finally clicked, I think my coordination with blipping the throttle subtlety improved and every day since no more clonking, I have a smile from ear to ear. So it was not my gearbox, just my incompetence.

To be fair it'll never been as silky smooth as my last bike, a Blackbird, but at least I now smile instead of wince ever time i change down a gear

 

[wreck diver]

that's a cracking looking bike,enjoy.

 

[stever1]

Sustained gear change is the answer, as taught in advanced driving/riding. If you are changing down, get to the speed you want then hold the throttle still to maintain a constant speed. When your ready, de clutch keeping the throttle still (not closing or blipping it). Change down and release the clutch. a smooth down change has been achieved.
It sounds a lot more difficult than it is. Just needs practice.

 

[Meanderlight]

Sustained gear change is the answer, as taught in advanced driving/riding. If you are changing down, get to the speed you want then hold the throttle still to maintain a constant speed. When your ready, de clutch keeping the throttle still (not closing or blipping it). Change down and release the clutch. a smooth down change has been achieved.
It sounds a lot more difficult than it is. Just needs practice.

Ha, I wish it were that simple, that is my default method of changing down whether car or bike. Over the years done the odd advanced and refresher courses in a previous job

Obviously just out of practice when it comes to the bike, though had a blast round the block on a mates bike the other day (not a BM) and sustaining down the box no problem.

If in doubt practice some more

 

[Packer]

Yes, gearbox input shaft running at engine speeds mean that the boxers need slightly different treatment from other bikes. Some good images on your Flickr link

 

[stanley]

Oooh,

Is that Marazion?

(Or nearabouts there!?)

 

[Meanderlight]

Oooh,

Is that Marazion?

(Or nearabouts there!?)

Well spotted, a local coffee stop for me

 

[Meanderlight]

Yes, gearbox input shaft running at engine speeds mean that the boxers need slightly different treatment from other bikes. Some good images on your Flickr link

Thanks Packer

 

[Our Gee]

Another simple solution to effect smooth down changes is not to use all of the clutch travel, just a slight fanning movement combined with a more lazy throttle increase (not a quick blip). Works at least a third of the time for me !!.
P.S. Cracking looking bike Meanderlight. Lovely paint job reinforces my opinion that the Twin Cam is the prettiest looking of the RT,s including the rather ugly W.C.

 

[Meanderlight]

Another simple solution to effect smooth down changes is not to use all of the clutch travel, just a slight fanning movement combined with a more lazy throttle increase (not a quick blip). Works at least a third of the time for me !!.
P.S. Cracking looking bike Meanderlight. Lovely paint job reinforces my opinion that the Twin Cam is the prettiest looking of the RT,s including the rather ugly W.C.

Thanks , another benefit of the colour scheme that I only really noticed the other day is that the standard large top box looks as if its colour coded to the silver on the bike, a happy coincidence

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[DC]

some incredible pictures there …..i recognised a lot form the Lakes .I go there walking and climbing the peaks quite often love the RT

 

[Jacal]

Like the alien shadow to the left, otherwise a nice pickie ;-)

 

[Diamond Blade]

Sustained gear change is the answer

Not in my case. The bike had 200 miles on it when I bought it, and the gearbox was so bad it ratlled across the cogs which was embarrassing at traffic lights etc. I returned the bike 3 times for the fault to be addressed before Clarks in Dundee took it apart and told me that 4 of the 6 clutch discs(?) had been installed the wrong way around. Its better now, but I am awaiting what BMW UK have to say about it all. In 12 weeks of ownership, I managed only 7 days riding on the bike due to the clutch/gearbox.

 

[Meanderlight]

Like the alien shadow to the left, otherwise a nice pickie ;-)

Lol, I'll inform the better half that I've married into the wrong species

 

[Deleted account 220427001]

make sure you have the correct amount of oil in it helps