Probable cause for difficult downshifting?

[voodooskin]

My '97 K11 commonly doesn't downshift easily. Going up through the gears is no problem. Blipping the throttle when downshifting seems to work, but I'd rather be able to downshift w/o having to do that, and I'm wondering if I'm letting a problem go un-dealt-with.

I had the local BMW shop crack this thing open and clean/grease the clutch spline about 3 months ago. I saw the bike when it was all apart and it looked like that was a job that was due (splines were pretty dry but otherwise in decent shape).

That seemed to fix the problem for about 4-6 weeks.

Before taking it back in, any likely candidates that would cause this and are any of them easily fixed

Thanks for any hints!

[Jim]

Do you preload the shifter? There's a write up on how to shift on the IBMWR K bike tech page.

Do you know what they lubed it with? Is the local BMW shop a BMW dealer? If they used the BMW spline lube, it's no good (according to my BMW guru - Anton Largiader - and a number of other people). Dealers probably still use it.

You at least want to lube it with Honda moly paste, or better yet, Guard Dog.

[Shoganai]

What you are describing is how my bike was shifting before the input shaft stripped in clutch plate.

I was told "they all do that" by none other than a BMW shop tech.
They said 'pre-load' the shifter.

That's BS and don't buy into it.

After replacing the input shaft and clutch plate the bike has been smoothe as a buttery scolded weasel.

You can keep the input shaft lubed, which is a PITA but doable, and it will help for a time, but it will not last.

[voodooskin]

The spline lube was done with Guard Dog, I ordered that based on recommendations found on K11OG.

Thanks for the suggestions on probable cause. Might have a clutch in my future sounds like... Damn, I just had the thing cracked open

[Shoganai]

Thanks for the suggestions on probable cause. Might have a clutch in my future sounds like... Damn, I just had the thing cracked open

If you can, replace the input shaft at the same time. Cost for new is $333 from BMW. (plus labor if you don't do it your self.)

The clutch plate is a wear item.

But once the splines become notchy or rounded, they'll eat up another clutch plate, but I bet you could get several 1000 miles on it.

I'd like to hear from others on that.

[voodooskin]

Thanks. I'll just ride it this summer for sure, maybe get it dealt with next rainy/cold season