Won't go into 1st gear when cold

[jonesai]

Hi all
I have difficulty getting my 1999 1150GS into first gear after starting from cold and until around 3 bars are showing on the RID it won't go into first gear easily. Usually needs at least 3 or 4 hard shoves on the gear lever with my size tens before I can move off. OK when the engine/gearbox is fully warmed up. I am using the correct viscosity gear oil and replaced the clutch fluid 1000miles ago - still did it with the old fluid in.
The gear indicator usually says first gear has been selected but reverts to showing 0 (zero) when I let out the clutch - b****r! The bike has done 21000 miles. Took me 2 cycles at the front of the queue at the traffic lights one mile along the road to get it into first gear once - much to the annoyance of those behind me!
I've tried selecting 2nd gear before selecting first gear but no success.
Is this just a 'feature' i.e. 'they all do that sir' or a problem?
Suggestions appreciated.

 

[Steptoe]

Serious question - How long have you been riding BMW's.

 

[camel_landy]

I find that releasing the clutch & giving it another go usually works for me.

...and yes, it's a fairly common thing for the BMs.

M

 

[nozza]

Same here, I just grab 3 or 4 handfulls of clutch, took it as a beemer thing !

 

[Loiq]

rocking it backwards with just a tad of clutch out can help plus bit of swearing helps me!

 

[sniper]

On mine you have to pull the clutch in and quickly select first gear. If you hang around with clutch in for more then a few seconds it wont go in its always been like that. Try it ?

 

[cookie]

release the clutch a bit as you press the pedal. it's just a case of aligning the engagement dogs

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

bleed your clutch properly .

probabably shitey fluids.

 

[Paul90]

Wot Cookie said.

Some useful info here:
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=92604

A different approach seems to be needed to get smooth, clunk free changes on my GS comapared to my other bikes.

Paul

 

[Janie]

release the clutch a bit as you press the pedal. it's just a case of aligning the engagement dogs

using this method always works for me..............its a beemer thing......

 

[Gas'd Off]

As above - Clutch in, apply gentle pressure to the gear selector, release clutch lever until it snicks into gear. Something about lining up Alsations, or was is Terriers?

 

[Packer]

Mine snicks into 1st gear perfectly every time

In fact, apart from an occasional tendency to jump out of 5th when the gear lever pivot needs a clean and I'm trying to be too quick or casual the gearbox is a cracker.

Seamless, clutchless upchanges, no problem! Quick blip of throttle and a slight dab of clutch on down shifts, clean as a clean thing.

In fact my gearbox must be faulty as it's an 1150GS and I think it's damn near perfect.

Smug, moi?

 

[davegs]

First gear.

make sure you've got full travel on the gear leaver and it.s not touching the prop stand or anything. Move it up a notch and try it again.
dave GS.

 

[jonesai]

Won't go into first gear when cold

Thanks for all the posts gentlemen.
Sounds like 'feature' rather than a fault.
Hardly encountered it at all on my old R100GS which I have had for 6 years.
Only had the R1150GS for 6 months so still getting to grips with the idiosyncrasies or is that character?
I will give your suggestions a try.
Much appreciated.

 

[BigAlMacMac]

This is sort of an extension to the previous question. I agree with selecting first issues/feature/character thing.

However, when cold moving from first to second needs a fair old lift with my boot on my 1200 GS.

Just another character?!?

BTW in the world of software when things don't work as expected i.e. a bug, it is often called an undocumented feature!

 

[Blackal]

As above - Clutch in, apply gentle pressure to the gear selector, release clutch lever until it snicks into gear. Something about lining up Alsations, or was is Terriers?

That's it exactly........ but I thought you were dyslexic and meant "lining up the cogs " )

Al

 

[tufty1909]

Release the clutch a bit as you press the pedal. it's just a case of aligning the engagement dogs

Ditto!
synthetic oil in the gearbox also makes the changes a bit slicker.

 

[Voyager]

Thanks for all the posts gentlemen.
Sounds like 'feature' rather than a fault.
Hardly encountered it at all on my old R100GS which I have had for 6 years.

My three BMWs all need the clutch to be dipped slightly while holding the pedal down - the 1989 100GS is the worst, it sounds like a dropped crate of milk bottles at the lights !

But then I am the 10th owner (and I'll be re-building the box this year).