BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hi everyone long time lurker first time poster. Background on my bike 04' non abs, 15k miles ridden somewhat aggressively (lots of no-clutch up-shifts, make an effort to keep the RPM around 4k). Never clutched it up to do wheelies or anything too crazy, it does power wheelies on throttle alone just fine. Anyhow I've just pulled the bike apart for a spline lube and was hoping I could get some feedback on the condition of the female clutch splines. Link to pictures http://imgur.com/a/WB8tb Not a great pic but there is a visible edge that can be felt using a pick on the drive side of the splines where the end of the input shaft stops engaging. The input shaft itself looks to be in great shape, no lip or excess wear. So to get to my question should I throw out the clutch now or is this an acceptable amount of wear for 15k on the original clutch? I definitely do not want to damage my input shaft as I know how that story ends, so should I play it safe and throw out a working clutch or reassemble (using Bel-Ray assembly lube) and run it until the clutch starts to slip? I would greatly appreciate any feedback, thanks for the read.

Hi, both your splines and clutch look perfect. At 17500 miles I had a bit more wear on my shaft than you. I did the clutch spacer mod,
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 8&t=964425 , If it was mine i would do it, I got my local machine shop to run me up a spacer, 60 euro including riveting, especially when you have all the hard work done. You can see from your photos how much of the spline thats not being used.
Cheers.

I second that emotion - lube the gearbox input shaft with the original Staburags grease, having meticulously cleaned with a dental pick from every valley in the spline any trace of old gunge; fit a modified clutch plate to make the plate's hub cover the whole length of the input shaft splines, see Esmir in Florida on the ADVRider forum for a spacer and details of how to get it fitted; don't lube the friction plate hub itself, examine the inadequate clutch slave cylinder bolted on the back of the transmission just in front of the rear spring, and fit a Speed Bleeder instead of the factory filler plug stuck to the end of the clutch bleeder hose that's zip-tied invisibly to the frame tube directly under the helmet lock thingie.
Then you'll be fine for another 20 or 30 K without splurging DOT4 via a failed slave cylinder onto you nice new modified friction plate, and can also easily top up / replace the fluid at yearly intervals, just as you do with your brakes.
Ride safe, AL in s.e. Spain

I was concerned about the clutch spline issues so I had mine changed a couple of weeks ago at 61k miles. I also added the clutch plate spacer and had the clutch slave cylinder changed at the same time.

In my case the clutch was probably only half worn, and there was no discernible wear on the gearbox or clutch spline.

My bike was made mid-2004, and I when purchased it had only 2k miles. I think I ride in a mechanically sympathetic way, and I set the idle at 1300 to 1400. I find with the high idle which reduces backlatch in the drive on overrun.

I didn't do the work myself so it was pretty expensive, and also had both pressure plates and spring changed.

The clutch pull is now lighter (not sure why) and it seems like it runs a bit smoother (which maybe just my imagination).

Hi,
Just joined the group since a 2004 r1150r took up residence in the garage. Long ago I had a 15 year old 1980R100RT and have had a soft spot for these bikes ever since. Anyway, I had a long talk with the head mechanic at the BMW shop where I traded for this bike and based on the experience with the 1980 model I pressed him on the clutch spline lube issue. To which he kind of politely chuckled. Those were the old days says he....the bike I have is one of the newer bikes with hardened splines that don't call for routine lubes. Says he has a customer with 200,0000 and no lube job on the splines and another with 100k and lots with under 100k and no issues. Nice words to hear and I HOPE he is correct. Time will tell. Just tossing his comments into the mix.....he has been a BMW trained mechanic for 30 + years...so hoping he isn't blowing smoke up the proverbial.....