Gearbox options for a 1998 R850R?

[CRazyCam]

Hi folks.

I got my R850R as a shopping/carrying the wife bike, but having now owned it for a year I am seriously in love with it, and hope to keep it till it (or I) falls apart. (My money is me falling apart first!)

Anyhow, the gearbox is not the slickest changing unit ever installed in a motorcycle.

Certainly, I have no current problems with it, since I have learnt to ride my BM in a gentlemanly fashion, but I am curious about possible replacements.

Somewhere, possibly here) I have seen comments that the gearbox in the R850R/R1100R was changed somehow, in 1999.

Was this true, and if so, is that a viable upgrade for my bike.

Also, the later R1150R/R850R had a six speed box, anyone know if that is a straight bolt-in job?

regards, CrazyCam

[omg1010]

Hi crazycam,

the gearbox was changed in late 1998 because the earlier gearboxes had some problems which appeared more often ... However the newer gearbox was equally "rough" than the older one hence no need to look for a change. The gearbox for the later models (R1150 and alike) does not fit on your R850/R1100 (Model 259) as you would also have to change your final drive.

Smooth shifting is not easy and in my experience the best technique would be to pre-load the shifter with your foot, then pull the clutch and shift.

A good reading about the gearboxes: http://www.roadkill.com/~davet/moto/trans.articles.html

Kind regards from sunny Germany
Oliver

[CRazyCam]

Thanks, Oliver for your input (again!).

So I'll just stick with changing gear like a gentleman.

regards,CrazyCam

[omg1010]

That would be my suggestion. Only start looking for a change when troubles appear and then be ready to open your wallet big time. Here is another good reading with estimated cost of a repair: http://www.largiader.com/tech/oiltrans/

In some cases it is cheaper to get a second hand gearbox either thru some auction platform or second hand dealers like beemerboneyard or alike.

Best regards
Oliver