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Greetings. This is my first post, I did a search and couldn’t hit the right words, or no one else has this problem. I’ve had the bike for two weeks, a 2016 model with 14k on the odometer. Bike seems to run flawlessly and I have had no issues after 1600 miles already, other than when I shift into first from neutral, there is a grinding and clunk. This is more pronounced if I sit with the bike running in neutral for a few minutes, like at a stop and then engage the gear. Clearly the transmission gears seem to still be spinning as I can hear the grinding/rubbing as I try to engage the shifter. Is this a potential clutch issue, or something else?
I also own a 2004 R1100S and do all my own work. It has a very clunky transmission, so I’m used to a bit of that, but I don’t get the gear grinding I get with the RS.
I’m going to bleed the clutch and check the slave, once I figure out how to do that. I don’t have any manuals yet for this bike and haven’t found all the best resources yet, so any help there is also appreciated.
Thanks!
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06-04-2024, 08:42 AM
(This post was last modified: 06-04-2024, 08:44 AM by Duckbubbles.)
A clunk going into first gear with the engine running is totally normal for the wet clutch in your RS. Your 2004 S has a dry clutch which disengages more completely that the wet clutch in your RS. Any bike with a wet clutch will clunk going into first gear, some more than others.
A wet clutch has oil between the clutch plates that allows it to spin the transmission input shaft even when disengaged. What you are hearing is the transmission input shaft stopping when the gears engage. The dry clutch physically separates the plates more and allows less input shaft rotation. Much of the time my '03 S will go into gear without any indication of engagement except for the neutral light going out.
Usually my RS will go into gear after a cold startup without any clunk, but that is the only time.
Frank
'23 R1250RS, 11,000 mi. 2 yr., '03 R1100S BCR #6/200, '85 K100/1100RS- 38 yrs. 331,000 mi., '17R1200RS- 51,054 mi. (gone), '16 R1200RS- 28,322 mi. (gone), '11 R1200RT-30,000 mi. (gone), '05 R1200ST-58,000 mi. (gone), '96 Ducati 900SS/SP-89,000 mi. (gone), 560K+ BMW miles
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A clunk into first is entirely normal when not cold.
If you depress the lever slowly it will also give the grinding/gears rubbing symptom. Better to use a firm motion.
I’ve just had to renew my master cylinder at 45,000 miles and it means removing the starter motor. Not a straightforward jog. I dropped the exhaust and I could get a short torx 30 Allen key style tool in there.
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Location: Iowa, US
As the others said, the clunk is normal.
I always stay in gear at stop signs and stop lights.
Lee
Iowa, USA
2022 R1250RS White Sport
Past BMWs: 2016 R1200RS x 2, 2011 K1300S x 2, 2003 K1200RS x 2, 1991 K75S x 2, 1987 K75T x 2, 1984 R100RT
