Rear Wheel Rotates on Centerstand When in Neutral

[bmurphypdx]

Is the following normal for my 07 R1200ST? On the centerstand with the engine running, transmission in neutral, the rear wheel does not move for several seconds then makes one slow rotation or a bit more then stops. The wheel will rotate one rev or so every minute or two. I've tried stopping it with my hand but it seems to have some force behind it, albeit not much. (So I think it is not moving because of vibration, etc.)

[Firefight911]

Completely normal. What you are seeing is the transfer of rotational motion through the oil/gears/drivetrain from the motor.

 

Every motorcycle, chain drive included, I have ever owned do this.

[EffBee]

It's the transmission and it's perfectly normal.

 

You have a constant-mesh transmission. That means the gears (all six speeds) are engaged at all times. However, these gears spin on their shafts unless a sliding engagement gear, which is splined to the shaft, slides over and engages it laterally through some slots located midway up the gear's circumference.

 

In neutral, no such engagement is taking place. Yet the input shaft of the transmission is being spun because the clutch is engaged. It imparts a certain amount of friction on the gears that spin on it, and those gears move the output shaft gears with which they're engaged, which then impart friction onto the output shaft and out the drive shaft. That friction, slippery though it might be in a transmission's oil bath, is the "force" you feel. This is common for all motorcycles with a constant-mesh transmission.

[duckbubbles]

Two correct answers, so far.

 

It won't do it nearly as much once the gear oil is hot.

 

Frank

[bmurphypdx]

Thanks everyone. I'll stop fretting.

[Highway41]

No need to stop now. My rear wheel also rotated until I replaced the rear tranny seal. The tighter seal fit stopped the rotation dead in its track.

Bill