General topics » Using clutch with Gear assist fitted.

Hi all, I've looked through lots of Q and A's on forums but no-one seems to mention my problem . Bike is an 18 reg. RS 1200 RS with gear assist . If I disregard gear assist and change with the clutch, as per normal , the revs will occasionally rise on up changes. Almost as if I have forgotten to shut the throttle . At first I thought It was me as the throttle is very sensitive , but even if I change really slow ,as in shut throttle hard to stop , wait , pull clutch ,wait, change gear ,the engine will blip up about 500 revs. This really mucks up the change, it's exactly the opposite to what is required. Seems worse 4 to 5 and 5 to 6. I've read that the gear assist can be re booted by going through the gears while on the main stand so I will try this, but what do I do with the Throttle while trying this , Rev it or leave on tick over? Any thoughts , Bob.

Hi Bob, never experienced that. Not seen any mention of it elsewhere.

I've had something similar on my GS, which I think is actually momentary clutch slip which will cause revs to rise due to lack of load on the engine as you reapply the throttle, until the clutch fully engages after a slight delay.

I had this in hot weather on a trip to the Dolomites. I think it could be due to the clutch biting point varying with engine temperature, so if your bike normally has a biting point fairly close to the fully released position of the clutch lever, then when hot full clutch engagement can be marginal to achieve, and can be slightly delayed giving a chance for slip to occur.

I believe some early LC models did this a lot and the clutch actuating rod was found to be slightly mis-sized, and was replaced with a modified part.

I don't have this but I do get a clutch problem that has been with the '15' bike all the past 23,000 miles and may be associated.

I think it's down to the centrifugally assisted clutch. Mine sometimes doesn't disengage properly on clutched changes both up the box and down. I squeeze the lever the normal amount and it's simply like I haven't touched it resulting in a notchy and jerky change.

One or two of the early reviewers of the RS reported the same thing. It's perhaps only 2 or 3 times on a days ride and I live with it. I did adjust my lever span and it made no improvements...

The brand of oil may have some effect on gear changes.
I chose to use Penrite rather than the oil sold by BMW.
It worked fine, but it became more notchy over time. I then reverted to the BMW endorsed brand and the notchiness went away.

Bob, I too have a 2018 RS 1200 RS with gear assist, but have never experienced that behaviour.

Thanks all, just me then . I will have the dealer look at it when it's convenient and let you know the findings .

I have the same problem as cross thread, seems ok when cold but but sometimes makes for a very clunky/grindy change asked a dealer about it and he said he had heard of it but didn't know how to cure it, it's not clutch slip it's just as the transmission is unloaded .I wonder if it is the oil as a non BMW dealer serviced it when I bought and the changes are pretty good when cold

Itcoulf be the oil
On my 1200 I changed to Penrite. All was well for about 3000 k and it then became more difficult, I.e. go ding neutral. I then used the uber expensive oil from the dealer and had immediate improvement.

HI Banjo , Must be our Devon air causing the problem . You're right , definitely worse when hot , and it seems that sometimes I can ride for half a day with no problem , then the revs rise on gearchanging 4 or 5 times in a row before it stops doing it again. FYI i'm using BMW oil , I was going to mention it at the next service and see what they say . The bike came from Riders but I will use Ocean at Plymouth. Regards , Bob.

Bob, I've used Liqui Moly from break in through the 6,ooo mile service and have had no such issue on my '16. Stick.

The problem , to my mind , is almost certainly an electrical issue and not related to oil . I could eliminate the gear assist from the equation just by unplugging it and going for a ride , I might try when the weather improves.