Fingers are crossed but need some info!!!!

[2wheels_only]

Hi, I'm new to the site and a new BMW rider. Just purchased an '02 R1150R with 7k miles in January and it now has 9k on it. A couple of weeks ago I began having a problem with downshifting. Occasionally when I downshift from 3rd to 2nd the shift lever does not want to move unless I change how much I pull the clutch, change rpms, or a little more force on the shifter and it will go into 2nd. It does seem to be that it happens if I go to downshift after coasting and not blip the throttle. I have read so much info on here about clutch spline failure and symptoms and needless to say I am more than mildly freaked out since it is such a new to me bike and I still owe on it. Any info would be appreciated! A new exhaust and Haynes manual came today and I am reluctant to put the exhaust on if I might be shelling out a couple grand to get this fixed.

[ColumbiaBMW]

The exact same thing happens on my bike (from 3rd to 2nd), so let's hope one of the wiser members tells us that it's just something these bikes do. Mine has just over 30,000 miles and started doing that within the last year or so. Sometimes it feels like I'm going to break the shifter off by pushing down as hard as I am.

[MIXR]

I had to hammer my shifts up and down for 155,000 kms. So does the bloke who bought my bike! I can't guarantee anything with regard to splines, but unless you get really good at matching RPM to gear selection and road speed, the box will be very 'agricultural'. Our Police used to love the R1150 bikes, because you could pound the gears down when racing ahead on intersection escort duty. Try that on a jap bike, and things break.

I've ridden one R1150 that had a silky smooth box. One. I've ridden dozens of R1150 R, GS, GSA, RT, and RS bikes that have been just like my R, and now my 'new' R1150 GSA is the same as my R, with different ratios. Clunky as driving 6 inch nails. You can check and lube some of the selector mechanism, but I'd almost bet that it's a normal feature that you just need some practice with, and to get used to. Rare for the box to be a failure point, but the splines are a somwhat common item that can give trouble. Mine were perfect at 155,000 kms.

[Keppelj]

I had this issue on a regular basis with third gear downshifting. Sometimes it took quite a poke to get it in. Awhile ago when it was time to change fluids I used Castrol Hypoxy C gear oil with 10% Guard Dog moly additive in the transmission and final drives. I haven't had a chance this year to do a lot of riding but so far shifting overall is much smoother so and the third gear downshift problem hasn't reoccured. I've just noticed Paul Glaves recommending Guard Dog over in the MOA forum.

[ColumbiaBMW]

I changed the transmission and final drive oil using Mobil 1 oils, and it didn't help at all. I may try cleaning the shifter ball soon and see if that has anything to do with it.

[macx]

I've read, too, that the moly additive, or the Redline (or similar) "shockproof" synthetic oils really do smooth out the shifting.

I've only ridden my 1150R so don't have much basis for comparison. It was an 04 I bought with 25k miles on it in summer of 08. Then I discovered this forum and right away read posts about the "agriculturalness" of the trans & shifting. So just learned to drive it and forgot about it.

Then I did a little tinkering with my trans - swapped in the lower 1st & 4th Enduro gears out of a GSA Enduro trans (also found out not all GSA's have the low gears, you have to know the code on the outside right of the bellhousing) cuz most of my riding on that bike is on 60 mph 2 lanes and around town, and I absolutely love the lower 1st gear, and now 5th is perfect for 50 to 60 mph (after I swapped in a 2.62 final drive out of a K1200LT) - ANYWAY -

I had found a used Enduro trans with bad input splines and a bad front seal. Instead of going thru the hassle of setting the assembled lengths on the intermediate and output shaft assemblies, I just swapped them as is into my trans case. Then I crossed my fingers and hoped it would shift at least tolerably well.

To my utter amazement, it shifted much better than my original trans! Lots smoother, less balkiness.
Only thing I can figure is that there is likely an acceptable clearance range for manufacturing, and even being within that range, there probly are units that shift better than others. Just like setting the valves - a really close careful job will run better than one that's just in acceptable ranges.

But that was nothing more than pure unadulterated luck.

So I'd say give the moly additive, or the "shockproof" gear oils a try. Can't make it any worse!

[omg1010]

Hi there,

changing the oil in the gear box does not really help ... I would suggest looking at the shifter balls as well as the "bearing" of the shifter itself. Same is just a piece of milled hard plastic with a groove in the middle to hold some grease. When riding a lot in wet conditions this may wear out and become sticky. I replaced the same and applied some grease and eversince my shifting is very smooth ...

However the gear boxes of BMW are known to be more on the agricultural side compared to some jap stuff.

Brgds
Oliver

[ColumbiaBMW]

However the gear boxes of BMW are known to be more on the agricultural side compared to some jap stuff

Well yeah, they definitely have an agricultural feel, and I've just become used to that in the 4 years I've owned this bike. But in the last few months this problem really started where it feels like I'm going to break the shifter because I'm putting so much pressure on it to change down to 2nd gear. I do ride year round though, and that could be part of the problem as there is a lot of salt on the roads here in Missouri during the winter, so I bet the shifter balls and shifter bearing are a likely culprit.

[riceburner]

However the gear boxes of BMW are known to be more on the agricultural side compared to some jap stuff

Well yeah, they definitely have an agricultural feel, and I've just become used to that in the 4 years I've owned this bike. But in the last few months this problem really started where it feels like I'm going to break the shifter because I'm putting so much pressure on it to change down to 2nd gear. I do ride year round though, and that could be part of the problem as there is a lot of salt on the roads here in Missouri during the winter, so I bet the shifter balls and shifter bearing are a likely culprit.

I know it sounds dumb - but check you're pulling the clutch lever all the way in. Ie ensure the clutch is disengaging fully.

[brownj]

Another thing I'm sure you've already checked but I had the same thing happen on my 02.

Check the shift linkage right at the splined shaft on the transmission - I can't remember exactly what it looks like (I'm at work). There is either just a bolt or a bolt with nut that tightens the linkage on the spline. Mine was loose. I was having a tough time downshifting and it very slowly got worse to the point that it was very difficult to get into 1rst (at a stop light for example.)

[ColumbiaBMW]

Check the shift linkage right at the splined shaft on the transmission - I can't remember exactly what it looks like (I'm at work). There is either just a bolt or a bolt with nut that tightens the linkage on the spline. Mine was loose. I was having a tough time downshifting and it very slowly got worse to the point that it was very difficult to get into 1rst (at a stop light for example.)

First of all I just want to apologize to the orignal poster for completely hijacking his thread, but I figured I'm having the exact same problem so why not jump on board and ask for some help too. But back to the issue at hand, I have not checked the bolts down there yet, I haven't rode it much lately (which sucks) but I'm hoping to check everything out this weekend and I'll let you know what I find.

I know it sounds dumb - but check you're pulling the clutch lever all the way in. Ie ensure the clutch is disengaging fully.

Man I would hope I would know how to shift this bike after having it this many years and putting this many miles on it....but I see where you're coming from, sometimes it's the simple little things that are overlooked. However, this bike never had a problem shifting the first several years I had it, so unless my shifting is just getting worse, I imagine it's probably something wrong with the shift linkage (I don't even want to think it might be the other thing).

[Airman]

After reading all the posts here and considering it a bit, I wonder if the clutch disk isn't disengaging completely. I know there's been some problems with clutch servos. Partial engagement might cause the hard shifting. My `03 clanks a bit, but I can click the gears right down with no resistance.

[2wheels_only]

I think I have fixed my problem. It was me haha. I changed my 'blipping' the throttle on down shifts and have not been able to replicate the sticking shifter on my daily rides for a month now (including on a 1000+ mile weekend ride)! like I said 'new to this'. thanks for all the advice!