BMW clutch

[vwdoctor]

"Proper" way to shift the transmission in first gear from standstill (neutral) is to pull the clutch lever and immediately shift into gear.
Due to the design, internals of the transmission will stop spinning 1-2 seconds after the clutch lever is pulled in. The longer you wait the greater the chance you will be fighting the stationary gears trying to get them to mesh.
Try it. Pull - shift.
Also, unlike wet clutch designs, it is not recommended to sit at the light in first gear with the clutch lever pulled it. It puts a lot of stress on the bearing of the slave cylinder (and other clutch components). When stopped, put it in neutral and release the lever. When it is time to go, pull - shift, almost one motion.

EDIT: I wanted to post the reply to the other thread, but what the hell, this issue has been asked many times it should have its own thread.

[rocky2ie]

Pull in clutch, load gear lever, release clutch slowly, snicks into gear first time every time. That's my way, no problem.

[peels]

pretty much.

foot loaded and ready at shifter. pull lever,shift almost immediately.

sometimes its smooth. sometimes its clunk-crunch-click. and away we go. lol

and a big fat +1 on the slave. that bearing is not made to spin alot. I know, first hand.

[swamper]

Usually the getting into first problem is after idling in neutral. If you engage the clutch then release then re-engage then select first it usually goes right into gear. I also understand the idea about using neutral at a stop. Riding defensibly one usually has the bike in gear watching in their rear view mirrors at signals with an escape plan.

[sykospain]

Had a go the other day on a new 2015 R1200R with the wet clutch.
The very best easy-riding Boxer I've ever experienced. Boxer motor and entire transmission completely redesigned - mostly outsourced from China by-the-way - and the machine felt just like a modern car with everything electronically controlled. Lean-angle-governed cornering traction control, auto suspension control, various selectable riding 'modes', the full salute. Fantastic powerful sweeping ride with no effort at all and breathtaking acceleration but RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. I met a German tourist on a new R1200GS Adventure in Altea near Benidorm the other day and he said he paid 18 thousand euro in cash for it. You can get a Skoda Octavia for that price !
AL in s.e. Spain

[gregor]

Usually the getting into first problem is after idling in neutral. If you engage the clutch then release then re-engage then select first it usually goes right into gear. I also understand the idea about using neutral at a stop. Riding defensibly one usually has the bike in gear watching in their rear view mirrors at signals with an escape plan.

Or did you really mean to say ' If you dis-engage the clutch then release then dis-engage then select first it usually goes right into gear' I wish.

I was embarrassed with the clonks when engaging gear from a stand still during a bike club run. One fellow BMW owner was displaying his Remus exhaust which I guess masks some of the noise.

[gregor]

Had a go the other day on a new 2015 R1200R with the wet clutch.
The very best easy-riding Boxer I've ever experienced. Boxer motor and entire transmission completely redesigned - mostly outsourced from China by-the-way - and the machine felt just like a modern car with everything electronically controlled. Lean-angle-governed cornering traction control, auto suspension control, various selectable riding 'modes', the full salute. Fantastic powerful sweeping ride with no effort at all and breathtaking acceleration but RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. I met a German tourist on a new R1200GS Adventure in Altea near Benidorm the other day and he said he paid 18 thousand euro in cash for it. You can get a Skoda Octavia for that price !
AL in s.e. Spain

I rode an R1200 a few years ago. It clonked when engaging gear. Surprised to hear the transmission is "new".

[sykospain]

It's now a Chinese-outsourced gearbox and a soaking wet oil-lubed "anti-hopping" ( what the f ... does THAT mean ? ) clutch - not an old redesigned Getrag load of tractor-inspired garbage, nor an uprated dry clutch.

So now in the new boxer, all the earlier transmission problems have been solved, as they should've been years ago if it weren't for BMW Motorrad's intransigence.
No clunking. Take a test ride and try the auto-shift. Up or down the new box. Gobsmackingly effective.
Proof of the pudding is that you now notice the total number of pre-2015 1200cc boxers currently offered for sale on the 2nd hand market in the UK.
Over 200 of 'em, mainly /gs.
Nuff said.
AL in s.e. Spain

[riceburner]

You can get a Skoda Octavia for that price !
AL in s.e. Spain

But I don't WANT a Skoda Octavia!

[peels]

You can get a Skoda Octavia for that price !
AL in s.e. Spain

But I don't WANT a Skoda Octavia!

LOL WHY NOT!?

Its pretty much just a weirder, more european VW. are'nt they still basically VeeDUb underneath?


and...

Sykospain, you have so much "clutch anger" built up inside. makes me laugh every time I read your posts!!!!! Maybe You should buy an old oilhead transmission, and beat it with a sledge for awhile. release the anger......