08 R1200RT Quirks

[Yammy]

Just started riding an 08 R1200RT two months ago and noticing minor quirks on it with only a few rides due to winter weather, one of which is gear not shifting into first after starting the bike from cold unless I cycle the clutch handle again, is this normal?  It only has 4,000 miles on it, the rear brake rotor badly warped, BMW replacing it under warranty, while in the shop, they noticed the front right rotor warped near the limits and now will replace that too. Has anyone else had rotor issues on their Beemer?

[BobW]

"Cycling" the clutch is normal and not unique to BMW, you should develop a feel for it in time, but never have to "force" her into gear. It just helps let the hard parts align as the doG's intended.

There have been a few folks with warped rotors, again, it is not unique to BM's and it doesn't appear to be experienced by a particular type of rider exclusively (however poor skills w/dragging the brakes, extreme use at high speed/technical roads could def contribute).  I had one on my Triumph go bad and there was a guy on a Ducati getting one at the same time, my 07 r1200 never had an issue, etc., etc.

The R's are not without "quirks", but they are overall very well designed bikes you can go really fast, very safely on. A good shop will take care of you and her and most owner sites have a decent data base of history for you to review/search so you can better monitor her needs.

Good luck with her, they are sweet.

Cheers

[cruisin]

There's lots of good info over on BMW Sporttouring; if you haven't already discovered them. Just take some of the advice with a grain of salt; there are those few who seem to talk a good game but are really more stuck on their own superiority than anything else.  You'll figure out who they are pretty quickly.

[burnergold2B]

Yes, the quirks were spotted in Wiki!

http://wikileaks.ch/     Dang Clintons!!  

[DangerMoney]

... one of which is gear not shifting into first after starting the bike from cold unless I cycle the clutch handle again, is this normal?  

Both mine do that. One I bought new and the other I bought with 5000 miles on it. They do it less often as the bike gets more miles on it but still do occasionaly. It's normal.

I'm not sure what you mean by "cycle" the clutch. I let mine out about 1/4 of the way and it goes right into gear.

[Yammy]

Cycling the clutch is pulling the handle in and releasing it.

I am having two brake rotors replaced under warranty due warped, rear and front right, under normal driving with the exception of 2 quick stops from 20-30 mph in testing braking ability.

[Lawn Dart]

Rotors?  Oh goodness yes.    

On my Fourth set of fronts, second set of rears on my R1200GS.  All replaced under warranty (*yep, I do have the extended warranty).

BMW's first batch of Rotors were made incorrectly.  Something to do with the sintered metal not blending correctly, allowing hard and soft steels to warp at different rates.  My first set was toast in under 3k...while on tour.  Second, third sets have taken about 10k - 20k to warp each.  I have 45k on the GS now and the fronts are brand new - the 4th set.

When my bike goes out of warranty, I'll replace them with EBC rotors and be done with it.  

As to the gearbox shifting?  No idea.  Try replacing the gearbox oil perhaps?  Easy job.

[RBEmerson]

"They all do that" on the clutch thing.  Changing the oil can't hurt and might just help.  On the rotors, maybe you've inherited an existing problem.  At least the replacement is a warranty job.  

[ABStrommer]

The trick I read about (and works for me 90% of the time) is to drop it into first simultaneously with pulling in the clutch.

[Yammy]

Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[RBEmerson]

Um, get the timing on that wrong and you'll be unhappy.  Trust me, they all do that.  Just go with the flow.  

[Robus]

Not sure if I totally understood the question, but what I'm finding on my 2010 RT is that she drops more easily into 1st gear if I don't hold the clutch level quite all the way in.  Release a little bit of pressure on the level and she'll pop right into gear with that patented BMW "clunk."

[Mighty Kentor]

Yes, I've been calling it "pre-load".

[Yammy]

Well, I went about 1600 Kms (1000 miles) after the rear and front right rotors replaced and noticed a slight pulse in the rear brake pedal, I put the bike on the centre stand and ran it in first gear and sure enough the rear rotor appears to be warped about .026", the BMW dealer looked at it by removing it and said the rotor looks fine and think the attaching flange not square.

I had read somewhere that some had issues with mating surfaces of wheel and rotor not machined squarely. Of course now I have to wait for more parts, they have also ordered another rotor just incase, thankfully still covered under warranty.