Neutral instead of 2nd gear

[jmardy]

This may have been covered but my search results didn't cover this or I searched badly.
Sometimes, usually when I'm accelerating pretty hard, from first to second, I land in neutral and rev the piss out of the bike.
I'm shifting deliberately (maybe not with enough force) and it doesn't do it all the time.
Bike is an '05 Boxer Cup with 25K miles and LiquiMoly 75W90 Synthetic in the gearbox.
Wondering if a different oil might mitigate this?
Or something else?


It's like this:

[Groceryrun]

Article on Rideapart.com , "Daredevil Cole Freeman Faceplanted Off Jump Ramp In Practice " ,
having the same the trouble.
https://www.rideapart.com/articles/363417/cole-freeman-failed-jump-sturgis-2019/

[N41EF]

Couple of thoughts, have you changed the tranny oil lately? Any shavings in it?

Is there slop in your shifter linkage? Does it hit 3, 4, 5, and 6 perfect every time?

[jmardy]

Originally Posted by N41EF

Couple of thoughts, have you changed the tranny oil lately? Any shavings in it?

Is there slop in your shifter linkage? Does it hit 3, 4, 5, and 6 perfect every time?

Thanks.
I changed to LiquiMoly 75W-90 Synth GL-5 about a thousand miles ago. Old stuff looked fine, just the regular tiny dark particles on the magnet. All other gears are perfect up and down.
Linkage does seem to have a little slop in it. I'll take it apart and see what I can find.
I also need to lower it slightly which may help.

[terrym]

I sometimes miss the 1>2 upshift and hit neutral. Same with the K75S I had before. I've read that putting pressure on the shifter ahead of the shift helps but I can't tell much difference. Being more decisive with the shift helps more.

[Alfa145V6]

Love the photo! I know that feeling too as it sometimes (too often-but don’t tell anyone) happens to me.
I put it down to trying to shift too fast and not using enough force with my foot.
I think it’s part of the gearbox character.
I have a possible bad habit when I’m ‘on it’ of not using the clutch for gear changes from 2nd onwards. It just makes me feel like Vale for a day!

[Trex]

Try a little "pre-load" on the shift lever when going from first to second. Lift your left
foot up, onto the underside of the shift lever just a bit and apply pressure. Certainly not enough to shift gears. Just a little upward pressure before you' re ready to shift. THEY ALL DO THAT. Welcome to BMW. The rest of the gears will be fine. Any syn in the Tran is good. I like syn in the pumpkin, too.

[wswartzwel]

^^^^^^

THIS.

After awhile preloading becomes a subconscious thing where you don't even think about it.

[jmardy]

Thanks all!

[tomvv11]

Originally Posted by Trex

THEY ALL DO THAT. Welcome to BMW.

It's twue, it's twue!

[jmardy]

I switched to Motorex 80W90 Hypoid gear oil and haven't missed a shift yet, nor have I had a false neutral between 5th and 6th which happened fairly often.

[rsrxc700]

Mine infrequently does this 5th to 6th. Does preloading shifter help as well?

[jmardy]

Originally Posted by rsrxc700

Mine infrequently does this 5th to 6th. Does preloading shifter help as well?

I think it helps, if for no other reason than to remind yourself to shift it with conviction.

[flatbutt]

I used to leave a wee bit of pressure on the lever for a milli second or two after feeling the clunk.