BMW Motorcycle Transmissions

Your BMW motorcycle's transmission manages your gear changes as you either accelerate or decelerate. Most feature a sequential gearbox where you change gears by means of a foot-shift lever. This means that you can shift directly from neutral into first or second gear, and then need to maneuver through the higher gears in sequential order.

BMW motorcycles offer a variety of gear boxes, with four-speed, five-speed, and six-speed manual transmissions offered over the years. Motorcycle transmissions and their automotive counterparts operate in the same general way. You ease off the throttle, engage the clutch, change gears, and let off the clutch as you re-add throttle. One major difference, though, is in the gear pattern. With a motorcycle, you typically shift down into first gear and then up to change to the higher gears.

How to Identify Transmission Problems

Eventually, though, your transmission may begin to act up. Rough gear changes can cause damage, or gears can wear or corrode over time. When that happens, you need to repair the problem as soon as you can in order to be sure that you're riding safe and smart. Signs of trouble include:

• You can’t find neutral
• You hear a metal clashing, growling, clanking, or screeching sounds when you change gears
• You slip out of gear as you're riding

Genuine BMW Motorcycle Transmissions Work Best

If you start to have trouble changing gears, inspect your transmission for signs of trouble. If you do need to replace any parts, you'll want to be sure to choose the right ones for your model. They're right here in our online BMW Motorrad parts department, in stock and ready to be shipped to your front door. Search by model and model year to narrow your selection. Then complete your order and sit back, secure in the knowledge that your solution is on its way.