Transmission CLUNK

[LuvMyK12S]

I see many posts regarding the clunky transmission. I am having the same issue. I noticed that if I switch really fast and do not roll completely off the throttle the transition is much smoother. At lower RPMs there is no way to master a smooth gear change between 1, 2, and 3. This is a problem because I'm not trying to set speed records every time I leave he driveway. I read that the early released (mostly Euro) versions had this but were corrected prior to the US debut. I bought my KS in mid April and have already had my 600mile service at 1080 miles (dealer suggestion). The dealer wasn't aware of this issue even when I had him witness it. Are BMW and the dealers in denial? This is worthy of a recall. I've owned 8 motorcycles and never have I had this issue. I am not beleiving that this is a characteristic of BMW transmissions and I should just deal with it when even other new BMWs are delivered with flawless gear changes.

If you are having this same issue lets keep posting and reporting until it is appearant that BMW should fix this annoyance.

Joe

[LuvMyK12S]

This is great feedback. Please post your experiences? Mileage, severity, workarounds, techniques, ... etc.
I'm curious. At what mileage range did the issue begin to resolves itself? Is it gone completely?

I sent an email to BMW Motorrad and received a phone call the next day. They offered to send a mechanic to my house to check it out. I suggested that I'll wait until after 2000 miles. If it still exists, I will take their offer. The good news is that they are aware of the issue and It's not just standard BMW break in in a few cases. I was just pleased that my concerns were validated. However, there aren't enough "legitimate" cases to warrant a recall. They are handling them on a case by case basis.

Enjoy!!

[Beamer]

My thoughts...

The transmssion is different than a japanese bike.

Some may call it "clunky". It feels like a positive shift for me.

To me, it's much smoother if you increase the rpm's before shifting.
It does not like to be short shifted and putted around and I don't give it
much clutch either between gears - maybe 1/4th to 1/3rd of the lever travel.

BMW send a mechanic out>? damm, try getting Kawasaki to do that!

[Che]

So what if it clunks!!That's why God invented loud exhausts As long as everything falls into place nicely You guys are just spoilt by Japanese Plastic Style Bikes. My brother swears he could hear my old Moto Guzzi clunk through the gears from the pits down the main straight!!! Now who did put olil in the gear box

[Takasho]

After chatting with one of the BMW technicians on a BMW track day at Rockingham in the UK he said that to avoid the initial clunk when you put it in to first to set off you have to hold the clutch in for 2 long seconds before you engage first. This works well on my k1200R but the rest of the time at low speed 1st to 2nd its clunky as hell.

[Che]

Gees who bothers to pull in the clutch anyhow? Just kick it into gear and bang it through the box with flat changes

[K12S Norwegian]

Im on my 11 bike, and my K1200S -05 9k km, ar very clunky 1-3.

[wfm]

Mine used to clunk like crazy. If I took off (jack-rabbit starts) under solid power, it wouldn't clunk. magically, it has diappeared alltogether with the evo race filter and Leo Vince pipe. Again, this would appear to have a LOT to do with power, and you get a lot of low-end power from these mods. Those of you with these parts, are you experiencing the same thing?

[PRS]

I used to own a 2001 R1200C. It not only clunked, I couldn't get it into 1st unless I rolled it a few inches forward or backward. It used to got a lot of false neutrals. My S is 100% improvement. I had a Ducati Multistrada that used to get false neutrals betewwn 5th and 6th. Again, The S beats it hands down. People seem so freaked out about a click here or a clunk there. I say pass it off as the character of the machine and as long as it aint' broke, don't fix it. Get on the damn thing and ride. Just remember, when the Japanese bike's are rotted, worn and worthless, you'll still be driving a BMW, which will never be run of the mill.

[gelliott]

Hi, all this is my first post.

Bought my K1200S on June 25 In Hollywood.

I now have 3000k mi. on it.

My transmission had a big clunk with the 20w50 oil that a L.A.
Dealer's service dept. put in at the 600mi servuce.

After 1500mi. I had another dealer put in 10w50 oil.
The trans is less clunky and the bike just purrrs.

Glenn

[Sparky]

I wonder if the drum shifter has any influence over the 'clunk' ? Mine clunks on the 1-2 and 2-3 shifts but otherwise is ok

[yellerjacket]

Preloading the shifter on 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd works well for reducing clunk, and I do it 'cause, rightly or wrongly, I think that if it makes less noise, it's less damaging to the tranny. But, really, I don't give a rip; the bike is just plain exciting to ride. When, or if, the tranny dies it'll be replaced and I'll hop back on.

[mjptexas]

Some people call it a 'clunk' - I'd call it 'personality'. Certainly doesn't affect the rideability or performance of my K1200r.

There is an easy cure for the clunk - buy a Honda.

[Shifter Brains]

I was really disapointed to find that this seems to be normal. My bike is about 9000km new and it hasn't really smoothed out. It definitely appreciates fast changes with some pre-load of the shift in the first three gears, but it is still nowhere near as smooth as any of the other (Jap) bikes I've had. By far the worst trait of the bike IMO.

[caratz]

HD riders like "potato potato" from their exausts, BMW riders have the "CLONK" when shifting gears. It's one of these things, that doesn't affect durability. I call it personality.

[Cartilage]

Love the clunk.
That is, going into first.
Reminds me of my first BMW, a 1956 model I bought as a student in 1961.
Very reassuring clunk into first.

Cartilage

[Cambridge K]

Starting up in the mornings - I start in Neutral - get the oil moving around then walk it (moving) into 1st. - this works for me. At tlong raffic lights I do the same thing - BUT LOOK DOWN TO SEE I DROPPED / THREW SOMETHING OFF THE BIKE IT'S SO LOUD.Only happens in 1 & 2 gears.

[shurton]

HD riders like "potato potato" from their exausts, BMW riders have the "CLONK" when shifting gears. It's one of these things, that doesn't affect durability. I call it personality.

Of course it affects durability! The gear dogs get chewed up!

[Cartilage]

But are the dogs durable?

I've owned clunking BMWs for decades and never had a dog fail.

Is there a record/history of tranny dog death?

Cartilage

[jim_83703]

The clunky BMW transmisson isn`t a new feature. My first BMW a R75/7 had it, the best solution then was to keep RPMS around 4200 rpms. An even older BMW rider on a 500 told me about that. Seemed to work for the following 25 years.

[FreedomRider]

Not much you can do about the "CLUNK" going from neutral into first. B'mers have been doing this for the thirty years I've been riding em'.

At speed between gears? Learn to shift the bike HER way!

[Jean P]

I just picked up an 06 K1200S last month. The bike has 13,000 kms on it. It's like new. I've just had it out half dozen times but that clunky shifting sure is a turn off. I guess there's nothing I can do about it from what I've read so far. The dealer says I'll get used to it. I'm not so sure. I hope so because the bike is awesome in every other way. Not only is the shifting noisy but I seem to not be able the shift smoothly. Maybe after a few thousand kms, I'll get the hang of it.