Exhausts and Engine » Gear-change/linkages "binding".

G'day.
I've had a brief search through the forum but couldn't find this mentioned anywhere (doesn't mean it's not hidden somewhere), so I'll start a new thread.
My 2016/MY17 RS has now travelled nearly 20,000kms (just had it's 20K service) and the gearchange foot-lever seems to be binding, mostly noticeable when pressing down for a down-change. The mechanic who performed the 20K service suggests it's likely to be a big internal issue that will cost big $..., but I'm wondering if it's just due to worn/dry external linkage bushings or similar. I don't notice it so much while riding, but when stationary and pushing down on the lever I can feel an unnatural binding resistance. With the engine off I can hear (& feel) a slight noise as I exceed this resistance force and the lever moves down. It's certainly not a smooth, pleasant action anymore as it was when new.
Has anyone else had this issue and know of a solution?

I had a similar issue on one of my BMWs, not the R1200RS but on the R1150RT that I have. It behaved as you describe and the solution was to completely dismantle the external linkage, clean, lubricate and reassemble. Result was a perfect shift again at no cost at all!

HTH

I would go with a build up of fine dust and dirt in the linkages, strip it out and give a good clean and lubricate.

Costs nothing other than time and a dash of cleaning products.

Thanks all, I think I will strip, clean and lube. Any suggestions on what to lube it with?

BMW quote an LM grease for other uses and also advise Optimal Paste TA (basically a heavier,thicker grey grease) marketed by Castrol, other makes are available.
I use the paste TA on the RS gear shaft and also the two rose joints on the linkage.
Very easy to locate the retaining stainless retaining spring, much like a darning needle with a circular top which once you unclip. Run your fingers round the rose joint and you will feel the circular end (use your thumb nail to unclip, it's not a problem) and pull the joint open. Pack the end with TA paste, as you force them back together by hand, no tools needed, it expells the excess grease.
Doing both the shaft and the rose joints gives you a 'new' gearbox on your next test ride.
I also pack the TA paste into the wheel bearings each time I change tyres, I'd rather have some grease there than water as well as a light coating on front wheel spindle as it makes removal very easy.
.........
Just checked my haynes manual and they advise the rose joing insert is replaceable if worn/damaged. also it advises 19nM for gear linkage pinch bolt.
Cannot confirm via my bmw service disk at the moment as new computer has no disk drive. My old steam driven computer needs advance warning and time to recharge before use, perhaps someone else can confirm the torque settings for you if needed.

Thanks heaps Dave!

If after disassembly and lubrication there isn't much improvement, the trouble is likely the GSAP box on the shift shaft (if you have GSAP). At least that was the problem on my '17. On downshifts especially, the shifter would not move for a few tries. A new box under warranty fixed it.

Frank

I pulled the linkage off tonight. Didn’t look to be any visible lubricant in the rose joints. I cleaned and packed the joints with a bit of grey moly (molybdenum disulfide) grease and put the linkage back in place - wiping away all the excess grease forced from the joints. There still felt to be a bit of resistance so I removed the linkage pivot from near the foot peg, cleaned up the bushed bearing (not very dirty but little lubricant), smeared a bit of moly on the bushes and bolted it back together. Better, but still not perfect. 1150pm here now so I’ll wait until tomorrow to take it for a ride and see how it feels. If there’s still an issue I’ll pull off the GSAP box and see if the problem lies there and if I can lube anything further.

Tim, I also had this issue on my R1100S, it ended up being the little rubber bush that had deteriorated and eventually fell off. I didn't notice until I was on a long trip and couldn't barely shift (up or down). As the other suggested, I disassembled the shift linkage cleaned, and reinstalled with new shift bushes. They look like mini rubber doughnut. I've never had any issue thereafter.