pdes Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Guys, I have had my new R1200RT for three weeks. It's only my second bike (ex Suzuki Bandit rider!). I've been riding like an old geezer for the past 600 miles per the stealer's instructions. I have noticed that the change-down to 2nd and first is extremely "clonky". I am assuming that this is a characteristic of the box but am a little surprised as this is deemed a luxury vehicle. Assuming that this is normal, can any of you seasoned riders give me an idea as to how to smooth out these changes as the noise from the box when changing down is quite disconcerting. Do you only engage 1st when stationary and ride the clutch in 2nd for slow manoeuvres? Thanks Link to comment
Silver Surfer/AKAButters Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Preload the shifter, match the revs, and don't worry about it. "Clunky," is a BMW tranny, "feature." Dang embarassing at times if you ask me. Link to comment
bross Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 It shifts nice and smooth right around 6000RPM and beyond! Seriously, I don't try to down shift into 1st unless coming to a complete stop or close to it. I don't think you'll find the gearbox on the RT will ever be as smooth or snickety as your Bandit's or most any Japanese bike, but I don't notice it anymore. I do notice how d@mn easy the tranny on Jodie's Ninja 650R responds. Not bad, just different. Start riding that thing and get the revs up, you'll forget about any clunking. As you can tell I'm not a big fan of break it in easy. Link to comment
ShovelStrokeEd Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Don't back off the gas on downshifts or back off a good deal less. You want the revs to climb between changes to more closely match the speed of the input driving gears with that of the road speed the output shaft is turning. I'll wager you are pulling in the clutch, while turning the throttle off and then attempting the shift. Just back off about half of what you have been doing and things will smooth right out. I little seat time with the new technique and it will all become automatic and you won't get any lurching or the like. Link to comment
Mister Tee Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Hmm... interesting, I find the RT's transmission to be quite a bit smoother than my previous sportbike. Sounds like a shifting technique issue. If anything, getting in to first gear from neutral can be annoying, since it doesn't always catch the gear and you can't always hear the shift. I seem to have to let a little bit of clutch out first sometimes to get things moving slightly. Link to comment
ShovelStrokeEd Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 That works, when the bike is stationary and the clutch pulled in, all the gears in the transmission come to a stop. Dogs don't always line up with their mating notches. You can also just roll the bike forward or back a little and then try again. I use both with less clunking from rolling the bike. Link to comment
Trajan Posted January 30, 2008 Share Posted January 30, 2008 Preload the shifter, match the revs, and don't worry about it. "Clunky," is a BMW tranny, "feature." Dang embarassing at times if you ask me. OK, I missed this is class. What is preloading? Please describe the technique of "pre-loading the shifter". Link to comment
Boffin Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Preload the shifter, match the revs, and don't worry about it. "Clunky," is a BMW tranny, "feature." Dang embarassing at times if you ask me. OK, I missed this is class. What is preloading? Please describe the technique of "pre-loading the shifter". Apply pressure to the shift lever before you shift, then for up-shifts dip the throttle and fan the clutch, the bike pops smoothly into the next gear. For down shifts apply pressure, blip the throttle and fan the clutch. Andy Link to comment
ShovelStrokeEd Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Really little need to blip, just don't back off the throttle at all on downshifts. Link to comment
Kritou Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 ..... and fan the clutch. Andy Sorry, I don't speak Leicesterese - how do I fan a clutch up in Lancashire? Link to comment
Boffin Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 ..... and fan the clutch. Andy Sorry, I don't speak Leicesterese - how do I fan a clutch up in Lancashire? Sorry, I had slipped into transatlantic speak for a moment. Just a quick squeeze and release, only pulling the lever part-way back, just enough to allow some slip on the clutch. Andy Link to comment
Newt Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 pdes, I had the same shifting issues when I got by 05 RT12, except I rarely downshift into first. With time and technique (preload, partial clutch lever pull, quick shifting) you will be shifting smooth. I am happy with all my shifts now except from 1st to 2nd, but I am working on it. Link to comment
bobanddianne Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Gee, I must have the wrong bike, mine shifts so smooth and sweet that I can't imagine anything better. ... of course that's after 45 years of riding BMW's I commonly downshift by bliping the throtle. I downshift aggressively all the way down to 1st gear at almost every stop. No complaints about shifting my RT or RS... but in all honesty the RT is superior Link to comment
TedG Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Really little need to blip, just don't back off the throttle at all on downshifts. I couldn't agree more. The technique takes some practice, but once I got the hang of downshifting while slightly rolling off the throttle, I instantly improved my riding. No more lost time blipping the throttle while trying to apply just the right amount of brake lever pressure, no more clunky downshifts, no more "snatchy" downshifts, etc., etc. I normally throw my first downshift before I have any significant pressure on the brakes, and I can just keep shifting as needed to keep the revs up. When I am doing a track day or playing around in the country, I don't let the rpms drop below 5K on the R12ST unless I am coming to a halt. By the way, I use first gear all the time when called for...I don't get why some folks believe it is only to be used when getting underway from a full stop. I want the engine 'on the cam' all the time; discovering you are at 2.5K RPM in 4th gear when you need to accelerate right now does not make for joyous riding, IMO. Link to comment
bross Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Really little need to blip, just don't back off the throttle at all on downshifts. I couldn't agree more. The technique takes some practice, but once I got the hang of downshifting while slightly rolling off the throttle, I instantly improved my riding. No more lost time blipping the throttle while trying to apply just the right amount of brake lever pressure, no more clunky downshifts, no more "snatchy" downshifts, etc., etc. I normally throw my first downshift before I have any significant pressure on the brakes, and I can just keep shifting as needed to keep the revs up. When I am doing a track day or playing around in the country, I don't let the rpms drop below 5K on the R12ST unless I am coming to a halt. By the way, I use first gear all the time when called for...I don't get why some folks believe it is only to be used when getting underway from a full stop. I want the engine 'on the cam' all the time; discovering you are at 2.5K RPM in 4th gear when you need to accelerate right now does not make for joyous riding, IMO. LOL, it's like a whole other bike isn't it? My riding buddy rode the RT and thought it didn't go that well, as compared to his V-Strom. He never got it above 4000RPM. I sent him out again and told him to try 6000 and up, he had a big smile on his face when he rolled up. Link to comment
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