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Lt_Scout

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I hope I'm a ways away from replacing my 2010 GS at 49k km. But I do some off road with it and do slip the clutch here and there to get through soft spots, I try to keep RPM low when slipping.

Q: If there is a clutch replacement in my future, is this something an average skill level can do if there is no rush, with a manual? Has anyone done it and recommend against doing it themselves? Does the saying "inch by inch anything is a cinch" apply here?

I'm going to put new reservoir shocks in this bike so I might keep it a while, in part, this is why I'm asking. Thanks!
 
You have to split the bike. Not a difficult job but is time consuming. Also while you are in there should look at the seals and the clutch slave cylinder.
 
Is a clutch replacement able to be done by the home mechanic, yes.

With that "average skill level" could mean many different things. Is changing oil and bleeding brakes at or near you limit then this is not a DIY project If you are comfortable diggin into a motor or trans then this will not be an issue.
 
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I think the key is, as you said, no rush. That being said, once you start the job, stay with it until it's done. Don't pull it apart and let it sit for a month or two, stay with it, as best you can until it's done.
It will be a learning opportunity and will build your confidence in your abilities. I see no downside to doing it yourself.
 
I don't think you will need a clutch anytime soon. I was the third owner of a '06 GS and that bike was ridden a lot off road by the previous owner. I didn't need a new clutch until it started to slip but that was at almost 100K miles. My mechanic suggested I trade it in as the cost for him to do the work would be more than the bike was worth.
 
I have a 2009 GSA. I am the third owner and the bike has 63000 miles on it. I have had the bike about a year and have put just shy of 10000 miles on it myself. No clue on how the previous owners were with the clutch. I have had a few instances of "smelling clutch", mostly when it was new to me. I instruct and we use our own bikes for demonstrations, and I drive in Seattle traffic a good amount of time (which is no friend of a dry clutch!). However, my clutch still feels solid.
I consider myself 'above average' mechanical-wise as I have worked on several of my own bikes for the past 25 years. I am planning on keeping this bike for a long time, so I have done some homework on for when the inevitable clutch slippage happens. I have seen a few videos on how to do it, and read a couple shop manuals. It has been decided that I am NOT doing it myself. We have a really good independent shop here in Seattle. They have good reviews and they service all the BMW bikes for the Seattle Police Department. He quotes $2500 for the job assuming nothing else is found during the process. I have literally started a separate savings account to cover this.
 
I have done other dry clutches in the past, but never needed to on a 1200 yet. Mine has 85,000km with no signs of issue yet. When the time comes, I'll have a crack. It seems to be a big job in terms of time and the number of parts that need to be removed, but not actually difficult.

 
Is a clutch replacement able to be done by the home mechanic, yes.

With that "average skill level" could mean many different things. Is changing oil and bleeding brakes at or near you limit then this is not a DIY project If you are comfortable diggin into a motor or trans then this will not be an issue.
You are describing the two situation at the extreme end of the scale. But it woul dbe interesting to know what the average skilled person can or shouldn't do. " changing oil and bleeding brakes" isn't a big deal to me but I am not "comfortable diggin into a motor or trans". So should I attempt this job or not?
 
You are describing the two situation at the extreme end of the scale. But it woul dbe interesting to know what the average skilled person can or shouldn't do. " changing oil and bleeding brakes" isn't a big deal to me but I am not "comfortable diggin into a motor or trans". So should I attempt this job or not?
Each person has to know their limits. If you are not comfortable with more complex disassembly/reassessembly then a a BMW dry clutch replacement is probably not something to attempt.
 
You are describing the two situation at the extreme end of the scale. But it woul dbe interesting to know what the average skilled person can or shouldn't do. " changing oil and bleeding brakes" isn't a big deal to me but I am not "comfortable diggin into a motor or trans". So should I attempt this job or not?
I think the clutch replacement isn’t complex as much as it is very involved. Lengthy process that makes it easy to forget a nut or bolt, pinch a harness or forget to torque something.

In my mind this is a job that takes a mental commitment to see through, take a few deep breaths but stick with it to recall what goes where. Everyone values there time differently so this is one where sending to a independent mechanic or dealer is no shame (vs an oil change which is shameful because it is so easy :ROFLMAO: )

As @ricky racer said you can’t let this one sit. If watching the videos don’t scare you off and you have tools, time, patience and perseverance it is definitely doable.
 
I will often take a bunch of pictures with a camera as I do complex disassemblies. Makes it much easier to come back later and put everything back just as it was, especially for tube/wire routing, multiple different bolt lengths into a cover, etc. For more extensive stuff I'l even lay out the parts as they should be re-assmbled and take a picture for future reference. It's fast so if you don't need the pictures, haven't wasted much time. Taking a few pictures periodicaly from a larger distance has also saved me when I didn't have the exact picture I needed to figure out how something went back together. The date/time stamp also provides you with the exact sequence of re-assembly.
 
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