[mark_ireland]

Apparently the "clunk" is a loose input shaft snap ring. Communication from Morton's:

"The bike that you rode is no longer our demo bike. I want to say that the snap ring on the input shaft came off which ultimately led to that bike being unridable. That is why you felt a clunk. It finally just got stuck in third gear. So we have another demo that Jeff Massey rode out to our rally over the weekend and has over 500 miles on it now. With limited parts to fix the problem it will take us a little time to fix the issue."

No doubt BMW production will address the issue.

Thats interesting

 

[Perdurabo]

Apparently the "clunk" is a loose input shaft snap ring. Communication from Morton's:

"The bike that you rode is no longer our demo bike. I want to say that the snap ring on the input shaft came off which ultimately led to that bike being unridable. That is why you felt a clunk. It finally just got stuck in third gear. So we have another demo that Jeff Massey rode out to our rally over the weekend and has over 500 miles on it now. With limited parts to fix the problem it will take us a little time to fix the issue."

No doubt BMW production will address the issue.

I knew you wouldn't let it go until you got to the bottom of it. :gm

 

[hombre]

I knew you wouldn't let it go until you got to the bottom of it. :gm

Clunkers? We don't need no stinkin' clunkers!

 

[Victorr]

I just got done with a 2 hour test ride and the clunk is apparent when in second or third gear and the RPM's are low and that touchy throttle is feathered in traffic. I believe that is the touchiest throttle I have ever experienced. It's like a horse that hasn't been broken, you just can't hold this bike back:k16:

 

[jasnusc]

The GTL I rode had an Obvious clunk at low speed when coming on and off throttle. Sounded like slack in the driveline.
the alignment was also Way off on the bike you could see the handle bars pointing right as you rode straight.
Pointed out both to the dealer they just blew me off.

 

[TVK]

I just got done with a 2 hour test ride and the clunk is apparent when in second or third gear and the RPM's are low and that touchy throttle is feathered in traffic. I believe that is the touchiest throttle I have ever experienced. It's like a horse that hasn't been broken, you just can't hold this bike back:k16:

Did you try all three modes? Rode the GTL again today playing with all three modes and they are different with dynamic more sensitive. I prefered Road mode for around town. If it's raining I'll definatly use Rain mode very mellow (safer). I think the clunk, I'd call it more like a clack bordering on a clank, is the self energizing slipper clutch switching from engine driving to wheels driving (coasting in gear). I found if your easy on the throttle it's not apparent.

 

[camdon44]

Who the heck can be easy on the throttle with this bike?

 

[Adrianc]

Mine had this until they changed the rear radius arm under warranty. They tightened up the final drive and it has not done that sine. There is an obvious fault with most of the first models which will no doubt be ironed out in time.

 

[GT16Fred]

The GTL I rode had an Obvious clunk at low speed when coming on and off throttle. Sounded like slack in the driveline.
the alignment was also Way off on the bike you could see the handle bars pointing right as you rode straight.
Pointed out both to the dealer they just blew me off.

I'm having 2nd thoughts about this bike already because it just does not feel right, for me, anyway. The whole drive train and ride was lacking on so many levels for me. Your observation has me concerned more than ever.

I've ridden the GTL twice and the GT once, but yet to see the RED GT. The red is going to have to impress me quite a lot to over ride the gut feeling I'm developing at this point; the jury is still out.

I flew to see and ride the GT and was quite disappointed when ALL the demo bikes were silver. The GT is definitely the bike for me but I'm down to the color deciding it (or not) for me...........Oh, well.

 

[Knuck]

Has there ever been a BMW that doesn't clunk to some degree.

If you want to cure your clunk depression take out an ST1300 for a ride and you won't notice your Beemer clunk anymore.

 

[BigBill]

I've been following this thread since it started and am thinking I should mention something to my dealer about my bike. In 2nd, 3rd, and 4th especially, the "lash" is pretty apparent, not as much in 5th and almost non-existent in 6th. As many have stated, it makes itself known in 2nd or 3rd when trying to keep up in stop and go traffic. I've compensated for it with careful throttle inputs but it's sounding like this could be an issue addressable by BMW. When my bike is parked and off in 1st gear, I can roll it about 4 inches before it catches on one "end" or the "other".

For those that have brought it to the attention of your dealership, did you have any issues explaining the problem to the service techs? Did they know what you were talking about?

 

[sfoster]

I think the clunk, I'd call it more like a clack bordering on a clank, is the self energizing slipper clutch switching from engine driving to wheels driving (coasting in gear). I found if your easy on the throttle it's not apparent.

Don't think it has anything to do with the slipper clutch. The S1000RR has a slipper clutch (and a chain drive) and exhibits none of this behavior. Of course I could be full of crap.

If you do a quick Google search on "driveline lash", you'll see about 100,000 results, representing just about every make and model of autos and motorcycles. Chevies in particular were prone to driveline lash. Gear design and longevity is a black art to me (try designing gears for a CH-47 Chinook wich can lift 50,0000 pounds).

Clunking or clanking doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong or that the drivetrain will exhibit less than optimal wear. I plan on bringing it to the dealer's attention, so I have a documented correspondence trail.

On the way to the dealership to pick up the bike, I purposefully exercised the throttle on the R1200GSA. Sure enough, there was some drivetrain lash. The GTL seems to have more, but that may only seem to be the case because the bike is so **** smooth in every other respect. There are almost no other vibrations or noises, so any form of clunk (or clank) stands out.

 

[Victorr]

I don't have my German engineering as of yet so I don't have a lot of time in the saddle, so what dose BMW say about the Clunk, Slop, Drive Train play? Because we all here it feel it, don't we?

 

[Wildrider]

Dealing with Lash

By keeping pressure on the drive line you can take out or
keep it to a minimum. This is a matter of getting use to it.
The lash is most notable when hard deceleration and then
add hard acceleration. By applying forward torque (i.e. motor)
while still backward torque (applying brakes) all the lash can
be removed. Then when accelerating, there is no clunk or
hesitation.

This is how I dealt with it on my drive shaft bikes with lash
(K1200GT and VTX1300).

 

[jong]

The GTL I rode had an Obvious clunk at low speed when coming on and off throttle. Sounded like slack in the driveline.
the alignment was also Way off on the bike you could see the handle bars pointing right as you rode straight.
Pointed out both to the dealer they just blew me off.

I have 5000+kms and still the gearbox/clutch clunks and the gears are crunchy when the oil is warm. Plus the handlebars are pointing the right. Dealer says it will check both out at second service.

 

[BigBill]

Based on a re-read of the thread and some nifty google searches, I think I'm going to wait and see. As some have indicated, the "lash" can be minimized with careful inputs and thinking back on it, my GS had some play in the drivetrain as well (I just "got used to it"). I may still mention it to the service manager when I go in at 3k miles.

 

[johnwiffen]

driveline

Iv'e had shaft drive bikes for 35 years and my K1600 is the worst of the lot by a considerable margin. I purchased a Moto Guzzi 350cc on e bay that 26 years old, the gear lever travel is a mile long with false neutrals everywhere. Up and down through the box effortlessly with out a thought, just as it should be.

 

[Wildrider]

Iv'e had shaft drive bikes for 35 years and my K1600 is the worst of the lot by a considerable margin. I purchased a Moto Guzzi 350cc on e bay that 26 years old, the gear lever travel is a mile long with false neutrals everywhere. Up and down through the box effortlessly with out a thought, just as it should be.

You must have a defective bike! Mine shifts like a dream (up and down). The lash is totally avoidable. The slipper clutch is great. Get your bike fixed.

 

[johnwiffen]

BMW don't want to know. There attitude is it's a BMW so there can't be a fault.

 

[sfoster]

BMW don't want to know. There attitude is it's a BMW so there can't be a fault.

I disagree. They may not say anything publicly, which can be frustrating (pull to the left comes to mind), but I can assure you they collect information on everything, which is fed back to the Vaterland. Like any company, they have a whole group who's sole job it is to collect all the information and feed it back to Engineering for analysis.

Doesn't mean there will be a "fix", but they are aware of it.