BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Just approaching the 600 mile service. When selecting 1st should it still have such an agricultural clunk?

Never really goes away, you learn to ignore it.

Even my GS never sounded this bad

Agree its agricultural and the worst part of the bike. Mines got 14.5 K on now and its just as bad. The only way to avoid the crunch is to change from 2 - N - 1 whilst moving slowly and then holding the bike in 1 whilst stationary.

My camhead and wethead, both same phenomena

Same issue, using shift assist appears to lessen it, except when hitting first

That is the problem. Waiting at lights for example and when 1st is selected it feels like it has been whacked in with a hammer. Given the cost of the bike I thought it might have been a bit more refined!

Got to admit though that except for 1st its a good box.  No false neutrals and with Pro Shift probably one if the best around. 

Zack042 wrote: That is the problem. Waiting at lights for example and when 1st is selected it feels like it has been whacked in with a hammer. Given the cost of the bike I thought it might have been a bit more refined!

If it's any consolation zack, my previous 4 cyl K1300GT was just as erfin clunky in 1st & 2nd gear!! Mind you, if you have a relatively new R1200RT, and you're not happy with it from that aspect, then talk to the dealer and get a second opinion. I find my dealer (from where I bought my RT) extremely helpful. Needless to say, you'd expect a bit of customer focussed service when you've lashed out umpteen grand on one of their bikes.....wouldn't you....?? I certainly would.

RTman10 wrote: No false neutrals...

False ones aren't the issue - finding the real one is the challenge!


I came from  a Ducati, which conveniently had a neutral between every pair of gears (moving in either direction through the box).  Now I have a bike that only has neutral on add days of the week...

richardbd wrote:
False ones aren't the issue - finding the real one is the challenge!


I came from  a Ducati, which conveniently had a neutral between every pair of gears (moving in either direction through the box).  Now I have a bike that only has neutral on add days of the week...

+1, of the various bikes Ive owned, BMW has the most nebulous N

Apart from the clunk in 1st I have a slight rumble lifting it to second depending on acceleration the remainder is sweet up an down to 2nd to 1st and then it's the same old clunk. I have no issues with Neutral find it every time.

All my RT's have clunked when selecting first. I often wonder why they can't solve this- their cars don't clunk. Agree wit RTman though, the box is faultless after this when on the move- the quickshifter makes me smile everytime. It makes me look like a good rider when I'm downshifting with that little throttle burp. I've never had a false neutral either. I once found a neutral (1st to2nd) on my brothers VFR going around a roundabout; I nearly mounted the firkin thing. It stopped me changing gear on slow tight bends tho!

"Agricultural" is too mean of a word for such a refined motorcycle.  "Harley-esque" is much nicer! :))

My previous 2002 RT1150RT and current 2005 RT1200RT seem to be exactly the same gearbox wise.  As the above post remarks, for this money you'd have thought they could do better. 

My Honda ST1100 also clonked into first sometimes so it's not an unknown issue but if cars can do it properly, why not bikes?