R1200RS - Normal Clutch Behaviour?

[bc1100s]

My 1200RS has 40k km on it now and its always done this....

Start the bike from cold, snick it into gear and its silent. Once it warms up, going from neutral into 1st I get a big "clunck" like the clutch isn't fully disengaged. Clutch has been bled (no air) and the transmission shifts as it should. Its just going into gear from neutral at a stop that's irritating. My guess is the clutch plates expand with heat.

Any thoughts or modifications from the gurus?

 

[c10950]

Common in all makes / models . The shift drum pushes a shift fork over to engage a gear on the shaft attached to spinning clutch basket.
Times when you do not get the clunk is a matter of timing . Read this article provided and see the constant mesh video . here is one of my old videos of a customers transmission in function testing before closing up the motor fully .

https://youtu.be/nG-JiF2sLAI

https://bikerestart.com/motorcycle-clunk-into-first-gear-heres-why/

 

[bc1100s]

Thanks for the response and the video. Always great to get a comprehensive answer.

I understand how the clutch works. On my other bike, a K1200S which also has a wet clutch, after it warms up if I pull the clutch and wait a moment, the gears engage seamlessly - hot or cold - no bashing of engagement dogs or gear teeth. On my 1200RS the seamless part only happens when its cold.

I'm still suspecting swollen friction plates. Any other thoughts, Folks?

 

[51797]

-My '16 and '17 did this, Initial engagement from cold, almost nothing a lot of the time and then a clunk every time when warmed up. The '23 does it too. I'd say normal.

Frank

 

[bc1100s]

Thanks for the info, Frank.

 

[brorke]

My 2019 RT does this....But more so when the bike is hot and I shut it off for a few min. (gas stop, etc.) I found that when I pump the clutch lever twice, then pull in and snick int first, very minor/normal clunk.

Other wise, when the bike is running/hot and I shift to neutral then first I get a very minor/normal sounding clunk

 

[chadhargis]

I love the "clunk".

I left BMW bikes for about 20 years and I rode a bunch of other brands. What I missed most was the quirks of a BMW. I also missed the ease of working on them. Yes...parts are expensive, but there isn't much I can do myself, so I can save a boat load on labor.

 

[rbourey]

You can search the 1200RS forums, if you want some sympathetic company.
http://www.r1200rsforum.com/
http://rswasserboxer.com/R1200RSforum/index.php

 

[bc1100s]

I love the "clunk".

A lot of folks like the rattle a dry clutch Ducati makes at idle, too. Unfortunately that particular noise is the sound of an aluminum clutch basket slowly being destroyed.

But I respect your love of the "clunk"!