R1150Rt Transmission failures

[tmgs08]

I'd like to know if or how many of you have had a trans failure on your
R1150RT's if so what it was.

Ours is rattleing again just like is was before replacement at 19k
miles, (now at 34k) It is a 2002.
I heard from BMW Daytona they have had 5 more transmissions that have
gone bad in the same manner.

Thanks

Tom tmgs@bikershut.com

 

[DDHR1150RT]

OUCH!

So far my 02 R1150RT with 43,000+ miles has not dropped its tranny (knock on wood) but, I have had multiple shifting problems (2nd and 5th gears mainly), varying electrical glitches (can we say alternator belt failure too!), and questionable durability issues on long distance rides. I only hope that this newest trip to the dealer will eliminate any of my further doubts of reliabilty issues.

I want my bike back with confidence! My dealer will try to do their best! I guess it is all I can ask for.

Good luck with your RT!

 

[tmgs08]

OUCH!

So far my 02 R1150RT with 43,000+ miles has not dropped its tranny (knock on wood) but, I have had multiple shifting problems (2nd and 5th gears mainly),

Good luck with your RT!

Let me clarify this, our trans stripped the input shaft splines, and te input shaft bearing was shot plus the complete clutch assembly needed replaced I was told due to water getting in it, (Note we have never used a pressure washer on this bike)

Thanks for the luck, I need it right now, we are having a heck of a time getting it fixed under warranty, although I think we may be making some progress on that issue right now. we will see

Tom

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

Well ,Tom I hope you get BMW pay for the tranny problem. At least the should cover parts or something. Is this a wide spread problem for the RT? I hope not as I just got my 04 RT and am very happy the way it shifts and runs.
At 3K miles I did change the tranny oil to synthetic an hope this was the right thing to do as it quieted the tranny and smoothed the shifting a lot.
Anyway I hope you get your bike fixed soon so you can ride again!!!!

 

[tmgs08]

Well ,Tom I hope you get BMW pay for the tranny problem. At least the should cover parts or something. Is this a wide spread problem for the RT? I hope not as I just got my 04 RT and am very happy the way it shifts and runs.
At 3K miles I did change the tranny oil to synthetic an hope this was the right thing to do as it quieted the tranny and smoothed the shifting a lot.
Anyway I hope you get your bike fixed soon so you can ride again!!!!

I don't know how wide spread it is, I was told a dealer had 5 more of the same problems though. this isn't a lubrication problem as far as I know, it's stripping the input shaft splines, from what I gatthered it is stripping them in the clutch area, not inside the transmission. they have a dry clutch setup.

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

Oh?!? Could it be than that there was too soft of a metal used and/or some bad machining or heat treating?That would make a bad batch of shafts and related parts.
. It would be unlike the Germans to let that go by them. I hope they fix it for all involved or have fixed it with the new 6 speeds on the newer bikes. It shows that nothing is perfect even BMW

 

[lkchris]

On would think BMW MOA would want to know and then would publish information about this in ON and possibly be there to help its members with problems like this.

 

[RevWillie]

My clutch is toast at 35K on my '96 R1100RT. I'm the 3rd owner-I've put on 23K on it since June '00. I have been pulling a Bunkhouse camper trailer behind it for about 1.5 years (less than 5K of miles with trailer). The bike will get a nice long visit to the shop in January!

A clutch going away at 35K seems pretty low to me, but I will admit that the towing a trailer is not good for clutch life or good rear tire wear. My tranny is "clunky",misses neutral a fair amount, and is a hard shift down to 1st. However, it does work and my BMW history has had it's share of rough transmissions (R75/5 & R80RT). My K75 clutches were pretty smooth and quiet---just needed the spline rebuild/lube done on both of them like all the rest of the early K75's did.

That's my two-bits on my experiences with Beemer transmissions and clutches--the R1100 tranny is a different bird than the 1150, so I'm not sure that it should be a part of this string, but it does say something about Beemer transmissions in the last 30 years!

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

Well bike tranny's are not meant to be trailered with and for that reason BMW will not repair tranny's under warranty
You should only trailer after the factory warranty has expired otherwise you are out of luck
This is not to say you can't trailer but bikes are not like cars or trucks and although quite powerfull you only ride on two weels "DUH", but transmissions and tires on bikes are not as heavy duty as those of 4 wheelers .
Well just my 2 cts

 

[RevWillie]

Well bike tranny's are not meant to be trailered with and for that reason BMW will not repair tranny's under warranty


Yeah, I knew that BMW will not cover a bike that pulls a trailer--the rig was over 5 years old when I started pulling the trailer. And I do know that pulling a trailer is not recommended for bikes (and people who do pull trailers must be extra-careful in riding their bikes--a several-hundred pound anchor attached to the rear causes a bit of a change in riding characteristics)

The fact of the matter is that the 1100RT only has pulled the trailer less than 2K miles. The rest of the miles have been solo rider miles. It would seem that my clutch would last a bit longer than 35K given the fact that the trailer has only been on it for only about 2000 miles at best. I knew that pulling a trailer would wear on the clutch and eat tires, and I will pay for that use. It just seems that the clutch should have lasted to 50K or so on this bike. I don't know, maybe its first 12K miles was not a good break-in. I didn't own it then and I do not know how it was treated. That's a risk on used bikes. I do know the 2nd owner, and he takes care of his bikes, so maybe the first owner did wheelies. I just think that BMW motorcycles should have clutches that last for at least 50K miles--they are good bikes that are made to run a lot of miles.

 

[RIDERR1150GSADV]

It is true to that towing for 2K miles is not going to wreck a clutch so, you may be right about the first owner although you can never be sure. But if one owner abuses the bike the subsequent owner(s) may find out the hard way.
The more miles are put on a bike or car, the more likely it is that previous neglect or abuse will rear its ugly head. So it does help if you know the previous owner(s) of whatever you're buying if this is possible.
50 K on a bike clutch is something that I am not sure about but it should be possible. On a BMW 733i I put 240 K miles on before it needed a new engine but the shop told me that they had never seen a clutch last that long as this was also the first time it was replaced. A lot of highway miles did this as I am sure that city driving would have killed the clutch quickly. So on a bike can it be done?
A new topic of discussion to find out how long these things last??

 

[DDHR1150RT]

Let me clarify this, our trans stripped the input shaft splines, and te input shaft bearing was shot plus the complete clutch assembly needed replaced I was told due to water getting in it, (Note we have never used a pressure washer on this bike)

Thanks for the luck, I need it right now, we are having a heck of a time getting it fixed under warranty, although I think we may be making some progress on that issue right now. we will see

Tom

Hey, did you get your issues clarified with BMW? Please keep us informed with a progress report, and I hope that it is a good one!