Tricky 1st Gear when cold on '07 GSA

[Engineer]

AFAIK the two hondas i mentioned earlier do it with a geared down clutch on a separate shaft.
this has the added benefits of contra rotating the clutch, which cancels out the torque reaction some riders complain about when blipping the throttle at standstill. it also slows the speed of the input shaft, making gearchanges quieter.

i'm not suggesting bmw adopt this system btw. i consider it a solution to rather insignificant "problems".

I didn't realise that Honda did it this way - I guess that there are numerous ways of skinning a cat .

Once you know that BMW's boxers have this characteristic then it really does become a non-issue. BMW dealers ought to point this 'feature' out to new customers, it would save many questions and perhaps a few bent gear levers.

 

[GS Bloke]

Once you know that BMW's boxers have this characteristic then it really does become a non-issue. BMW dealers ought to point this 'feature' out to new customers, it would save many questions and perhaps a few bent gear levers.

I agree.
I have been out today and whilst gently applying pressure to the gear lever & letting the clutch out, it drops in nicely.
According to my BM dealer, it shouldn't do it and they have never come across it - muppets - why can't they just tell the truth, it would save so much time...?

 

[birdseye]

got to say I p[referred the slight baulkiness of my 1200 to the resounding crunch I get engaging 1st gear on the 990 adv.

 

[GSmonkey]

According to my BM dealer, it shouldn't do it and they have never come across it........

New dealer required

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

And I go back to the issue of finding neutral, which is always simple on a GS and a real pain in the bum in lots of other bikes, especially when warm.

I know which problem I'd prefer.

 

[lgsand]

CLEVER people these Germans - a gerabox mounted immobiliser. That'll stop the crooks riding away for sure.

Seriously though - it is not a JAP bike - its not a Harley - its is a BMW and warts and all its called CHARACTER.

 

[deaninkl]

Rob I have a newish GS and have the same problem bit not every time maybe 1 in 10 cold starts, just does not quite go in, but I find a prod after a little movement and clutch slip overcomes it. As said by others I think its a idiosyncrisy of the gearboxes, but if its every time get it looked at.

 

[MattSwain]

Thanks folks

Thought it was me being stupid as a new GS owner not being able to engage 1st gear consistently. I've followed the advice and can say that it's spot on, just easing the clutch out maybe a centimetre or 2 and it drops into 1st everytime. Thanks all.