Exhausts and Engine » Hello! Clutch problem

Hi,
First post on here, I have a 2016 R1200RS with 9000 miles on it I've done about a thousand miles since I have bought the bike and the clutch is now slipping quite badly.
Ive done a bit searching and cant see that this is known problem. I have checked to make sure the lever is returning properly, which is is.

Next step is to strip it down and find out what is happening. Would a specific brand of oil make the clutch slip?
Im wondering if the shop I have bought it from did an oil change with car oil. I wouldnt have thought so they are a motorcycle dealer.

is there anything I need to look out for? The bike is on the ramp ready to be stripped down.

thanks!

Coxy

In case it helps your investigation ...
The correct oil spec is ...
Engine oil
Engine oil, capacity max 4 l, with filter change
Specification SAE 5W-40, API SL / JASO MA2, Additives
(e.g. molybdenum-based) are not permissible
because they can attack coated components
of the engine, BMW Motorrad recommends
BMW Motorrad ADVANTEC Ultimate oil.
Engine oil, quantity for topping up max 0.95 l, Difference between MIN and MAX

And importantly the clutch hydraulic fluid is MINERAL not brake fluid.

If the clutch plates have been contaminated by the wrong oil or additive I'm not sure they can be saved.
When you change the oil send a sample in to see what was used.
At least with the liquid cooled boxer you don't have to break the bike in two to get at the clutch.

has to be something like incorrect oil. a clutch slipping on one of these after 9000 miles is unheard of! (well its not on the internet anyway!)

I might pull the clutch anyway and check the stack height, if its ok put the correct oil in, sit the clutch plates in a diesel bath (I have been informed that strips the slip additives of them) refit and see what its like.
It wasnt slipping when i got it, and has just slowly got worse.

I will report back.

Zitat von Grumpy Goat im Beitrag #3

---

Zitat von coxylaad im Beitrag #1

---

Hi,
First post on here, I have a 2016 R1200RS with 9000 miles on it I've done about a thousand miles since I have bought the bike and the clutch is now slipping quite badly.
Ive done a bit searching and cant see that this is known problem. I have checked to make sure the lever is returning properly, which is is.

---

It is not a known problem. Motorcycle engine oil is cheap. If I were you I'd remove the engine oil immendiately and see the difference after say 200 miles. If you got it second hand at 8000 miles then likely the previous owner put the wrong oil in it and then traded the bike. I can't imaging a dealer would make that mistake.

---

Update:

I checked the engine oil level last night, too much in, but not loads too much, so I let a bit out, and took it up the road to see if it made a difference. nope! slipping heavily now 3rd and up over with big throttle openings.

Next step is to remove the front and check the clutch. Maybe its got a broken spring or something. I'll measure the stack height, and if thats ok then it can only be contaminated/car oil, or maybe the slave cylinder is not fully returning and holding the clutch open a bit?
Im not even sure if that last part is possible, theres no real adjustement on the lever.

also I've just realised I put this post in the 1250 section not the 1200 section - sorry!

It's my opinion that incorrect oil might not necessarily cause an otherwise good clutch to slip as badly as you describe. If it's already past it's best it might, but that should not be at 9000 miles. The correct grade is 5W40, and BMW do not even specify motorcycle specific oil in the manual.

The slave cylinder might be worth checking before you strip the clutch to measure the stack height. It's at the back of the engine casing, but you'll need to remove the starter motor and exhaust flap servo motor to get to it. I don't think it would be too difficult to get to, not that I've done it myself.

Good luck.

Zitat von Steady Eddie im Beitrag #9

---

... BMW do not even specify motorcycle specific oil in the manual ...

---

Is it worth checking the clutch fluid - some posts have mentioned not using the wrong fluid -

If fluid was changed for Dot4/5 the rubber seals have expanded affecting the clutch release.

Vitamol / mineral oil is needed rather than Dot.. which is in the brake system

Zitat von zer0netgain im Beitrag #6

---

Zitat von Grumpy Goat im Beitrag #3

---

Zitat von coxylaad im Beitrag #1

---

Hi,
First post on here, I have a 2016 R1200RS with 9000 miles on it I've done about a thousand miles since I have bought the bike and the clutch is now slipping quite badly.
Ive done a bit searching and cant see that this is known problem. I have checked to make sure the lever is returning properly, which is is.

---

It is not a known problem. Motorcycle engine oil is cheap. If I were you I'd remove the engine oil immendiately and see the difference after say 200 miles. If you got it second hand at 8000 miles then likely the previous owner put the wrong oil in it and then traded the bike. I can't imaging a dealer would make that mistake.

---

I wonder if he should run some "engine cleaner" to purge all the oil before changing it. It might remove any residue from the bad oil (if that's the issue).

---

Zitat von coxylaad im Beitrag #8

---

Update:

I checked the engine oil level last night, too much in, but not loads too much, so I let a bit out, and took it up the road to see if it made a difference. nope! slipping heavily now 3rd and up over with big throttle openings.

Next step is to remove the front and check the clutch. Maybe its got a broken spring or something. I'll measure the stack height, and if thats ok then it can only be contaminated/car oil, or maybe the slave cylinder is not fully returning and holding the clutch open a bit?
Im not even sure if that last part is possible, theres no real adjustement on the lever.

also I've just realised I put this post in the 1250 section not the 1200 section - sorry!

---

might not be related - but there was a clutch slave cylinder recall for the early bikes..., though it's been so long, for the life of me I can't recall the why.
According to Lee - the cutoff for affected build dates was sometime in Fall of 2015 for 2016 bikes. Here's links to a couple of related threads.

Clutch Recall

https://www.r1200rforum.com/threads/r120...866/post-428353

Zitat von Ray B im Beitrag #14

---

might not be related - but there was a clutch slave cylinder recall for the early bikes..., though it's been so long, for the life of me I can't recall the why.
According to Lee - the cutoff for affected build dates was sometime in Fall of 2015 for 2016 bikes. Here's links to a couple of related threads.

Clutch Recall

https://www.r1200rforum.com/threads/r120...866/post-428353

---