BMW R1200RT/R1250RT Forum

Being blunt, the Gear Assist Pro on my '18 R1250RT doesn't work as I'm expecting it to. I'm still having to apply the same amount of pressure to change gear as I would when I’m using the clutch and I'm doing what I would call clutchless changes rather than it being an assisted change. The only time I feel like it's working is if I'm accelerating hard and with higher revs. Reading elsewhere people seem to use it quite successfully for normal day to day riding so I think it might either be me or I might have a problem with the unit. So a few questions to the wise.

1. Is it me? Most of the time I’m a riding I ride using the torque rather than the power band. I’ve read about using the yellow shift reminder arrow as the recommended shifting point; no, makes no difference. Bottom line, am I expecting too much at low to mid revs?

2. It is the unit? Reading up the unit looks a pretty simple bit of kit, but it's in quite an exposed position. Do they benefit from an occasional take off, clean up and put back on? Taking it off looks like it's just one bolt and the electrical connector. Any hidden nasties or gremlins to be aware off before I start and any known issues to look out for?

4. After refitting I assume I'm going have to reset the unit by going through the gears and holding it for 10 seconds process which sounds straight forward enough. Again, anything in particular I need to know?

5. Lastly, if all else fails and it’s a new unit, does it have to be ‘paired’ to the bike at a main dealer or is it a simple DIY bolt off/on swap?

ta.

I found on my 16 it was very clunky at lower revs.Get going with some beans it was fine,no issue.I tended to use the clutch in the lower rev range.One thing I did learn was not to use it between 1st and 2nd with hard acceleration, had a new pants experience

On my 2019 I find the quickshifter gives clean, instant downchanges on a closed throttle but upchanges are agricultural at any power setting. I tend not to use it on upchanges.

I am satisfied with the shift assist on my 2017.
It is not perfect, but on gears 3-6 it is great, once you get used to using it.

My 16 was fine once I had got used to it, after 40+ years of clutchless changes without a quick shifter I was easing off on the throttle when attempting to change upthis seemed to confuse the system. Keep the same throttle setting and it was fne. Change now to a 23 model which is even better

My 2105 is clunky between 1st, 2nd and 3r. I shift among those gears manually only, when riding with pillion, as I don't want her to brake her back (or to bump her helmet into mine).

You are correct, the assist is to disengage the engine's power (or the rev it), you still have to use the gear pedal with full force for shifting. There is no assist with changing gears in the gearbox itself.

Additionally, you really should be shifting up on load, with throttle fairly open. I'd use quick-shift up above 4000 rpm only. The higher the revs, the better. Shifting down, you have to have closed throttle (as per RTFM).

Coming from 250cc Honda, I am still getting used to lack of chain-slap and the agricultural feel of the gearbox. Only after I rode behind another RT on a group-ride, I thought there could have been something wrong with my bike. But once the other RT was making the same noises when shifting, I am a bit calmer.

Don't get me wrong, I like cruising around 3000 rpm, but the bike comes to life well above 4000 rpm, and having only 2 cylinders (and not being 4-cylinder like XR), it handles shifting much better there. There are just more engine cycles to assist with shifting in the same time period. Riding "on the boil" is more fun anyway ;-)