BMW K1200, K1300, and K1600 Forum banner

Shifter sticking in different gears

3K views 9 replies 4 participants last post by  rewdoc 
#1 ·
I rode my 2008 K1200GT for the first time Sunday, after having the 6K service done at BMW ATL, the week before. Everything was fine for the first 15 miles, then it would not shift out of 2nd. It would downshift into first and back into second, but didn't want to shift out of second. After slowing down, speeding up, back and forth in second, it finally shifted into third. It did this two or three more times in second, then it started not wanting to shift out of third, but would shift up to third with no problem. Same thing. back and forth, speed up and down, then it would shift into 4th. No gear grinding or other noises, it just felt rock hard when trying to up shift and would not budge. It did this is third gear two- three more times, then once again in second, then shifted fine for awhile. Then the same thing happened in 4th gear one time. It shifted OK and normally for the next 5-8 shifts from a dead stop on the way home. Anyone have any idea what's going on. This is the first time it's ever done anything like this. The only different is that I bought a new pair of BMW boots the day I picked it up and was riding with them. :confused:

BMW service manager told me he didn't know what would do this and to try my old boots. If it kept doing it, bring it back in to be checked (250 miles round trip). :yeow:
 
#2 ·
Use your old boots? I'll have to remember that one! Ok, there's a minute possibility, but still...

Is part of the 6K service to adjust the clutch? Perhaps it was adjusted incorrectly and no test ride was done?

"Won't go into gear" sounds pretty serious, though...

Do you do clutchless upshifts every so often? And, does it do a clutchless upshift ok? Sounds like no, according to your description, which may rule out clutch adjustment.

Hmmmm....
 
#3 ·
1200GT Gear Shift

Hey REWDOC, had same thing happen to me, could always downshift, couldn't up shift. Dealer asked me same thing about boots. It WAS! more specifically, I found with my new boots I assumed a different foot position on the shift lever, more to the outside of the lever. After dealer thoroughly checked over the bike, I toed my foot more inward towards the bike, problem solved. It was immediate, and it was amazing. That shift lever doesn't like angular pressure.
 
#4 · (Edited)
Dick, I was going to say the same thing about your boots as the person above me. Give it a try with your old ones and if the shifting doesn't feel normal, then take the bike in to Atlanta.

Something I bought straight away when I took delivery of my GT was the shift lever extension sold over at The Pirates' Lair. It's not expensive in the least and really works well no matter where my toe is on the shifter.

http://pirateslair.net/PegSlow.htm

Keep us in the loop. Best of luck!

David
 

Attachments

#5 ·
Smilodon said:
Use your old boots? I'll have to remember that one! Ok, there's a minute possibility, but still...

Is part of the 6K service to adjust the clutch? Perhaps it was adjusted incorrectly and no test ride was done?

"Won't go into gear" sounds pretty serious, though...

Do you do clutchless upshifts every so often? And, does it do a clutchless upshift ok? Sounds like no, according to your description, which may rule out clutch adjustment.

Hmmmm....
Service manager said the clutch is hydraulic and they do not adjust it. I never have done clutchless upshifts (usually just feather the clutch) but do clutchless downshifts frequently in the twisties. It not that it just will not go into gear, the shift level just will not move when trying to upshift when it happens (just rock hard). When it happens it will downshift into lower gears and upshift back to the gear that was giving the problem. If I just ride for 20-30 seconds in the stuck gear, it will then shift smoothly into the next gear. Doesn't happen with every series of shifts, but when it stick, it usually does so for the next 1-2 shifts. Really weird. Honest, I'm not making this $#!^ up. :dunno:
 
#6 ·
mpswelsh said:
Hey REWDOC, had same thing happen to me, could always downshift, couldn't up shift. Dealer asked me same thing about boots. It WAS! more specifically, I found with my new boots I assumed a different foot position on the shift lever, more to the outside of the lever. After dealer thoroughly checked over the bike, I toed my foot more inward towards the bike, problem solved. It was immediate, and it was amazing. That shift lever doesn't like angular pressure.
Thanks, someone else on the LT site told me that they had the same problem with their LT. My old boots are Cruiseworks and the new boots are more aggressive boots and thicker in the shifting area of the toe. So could actually be the problem.
Thanks,
 
#7 ·
dpancerz said:
Dick, I was going to say the same thing about your boots as the person above me. Give it a try with your old ones and if the shifting doesn't feel normal, then take the bike in to Atlanta.

Something I bought straight away when I took delivery of my GT was the shift lever extension sold over at The Pirates' Lair. It's not expensive in the least and really works well no matter where my toe is on the shifter.

http://pirateslair.net/PegSlow.htm

Keep us in the loop. Best of luck!

David
Thanks, David.
I've seen those on other GTs and on the pirateslair site, but really thought they we just for looks. I've also thought about the peg lowering kit, not because my legs are long ( 29" inseam), but just because the GT riding positon causes cramping behind my left knee. I might have to give both of them a try. Lowering the peg might make getting the new boot directly under the lever easier.

Thanks again,
 
#8 ·
Well, I'm going to sound like an infomercial for Jerry at The Pirates' Lair but he really sells great stuff. I wouldn't count too much of his inventory as fluff at all. The first two things I put on my bike were the TechSpec Grip Pads and the shifter extension lever. The extension is a quality made part with an allen set screw to hold it in place. Takes all of five minutes or less to install. Because it is slightly thicker than the OEM shifter, you may need to adjust the linkage. That too is stupid easy. Two simple nuts that you loosen on the shifter arm to raise or lower the shifter. I played with the adjustment over a series of days until I got it perfect. I also am a fan of Sidi boots and own many pair for the various riding seasons (year long!) in Texas. The ones I bought all share a fairly uniform heel & toe area. It's no great difference when I switch from one boot to another.

The peg lowering kit may also be just the thing for you. It's certainly worth a try. And what's this I read over on the LT site about not riding until Saturday? That's a crime Dick, just a crime. If it's weather related Grif and I are gonna move you down to The Lone Star State. :)

David
 
#9 ·
dpancerz said:
. And what's this I read over on the LT site about not riding until Saturday? That's a crime Dick, just a crime. If it's weather related Grif and I are gonna move you down to The Lone Star State. :)

David
No not weather, it's work related and elderly parent related. You know, I'm originally from Texas and would like to come ride with you and Grif one of these days. :tim
 
#10 ·
Fixed - So easy a caveman can do it!

Boy do I feel stupid, not fixing this before now. :dunno: 12mm wrench on the big nut, 10 mm on the little nut (one has left handed threads) and no problem. Except the rod was stuck in the in the lower ball joint and wouldn't move. Then I notice the flat spot on the linkage rod and with a 1/4" wrench it broke lose easily. I then raised the shift lever about an inch, put on my new boots and off I went. It now shifts better than it ever did before, even with my old boots. It probably needed adjusting anyway. Took less than 5 minutes total to fix it. Now, will my old boots still work? :rotf:

Many thanks to David Pancerz and Ken Meese for telling how to fix it.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top