The gear shifter seems to be sticking when changing down gears, meaning you can't jump a couple of gears you have to tease it up a bit to change back down. Also, every now and then the dashboard panel thingy (technical term obv) shows its in first when its in neutral or neutral but its in gear.

Do you reckon it just needs stripping and cleaning?! And does anyone know how to do it and would be willing, with a bribe of beer or bacon butties or maybe both, to show me how to do it?! :)

Cheers

Me. :)

before you start stripping the gearbox [  big can of worms ] check the simple things first. have you got enough oil in gearbox? does gear linkage need greasing ?[ if it has one ] . i had a kawasaki that did the same thing.....it was the gear lever moving up the shaft and rubbing on the casing. i just had to loosen it and moved it out a bit then tighten it again..... damn could have got a butty out of it lol

Also remember that getting the gearbox out of an oilhead BMW is a major job indeed. Not for the fainthearted, and to be done properly needs a hoist to lift the whole bike off the engine/gearbox/final drive.
If an oil check and a regreasing of the external linkages doesn't do the trick, then I'd take further advice, possibly from one of the independent BMW specialists. Roy Gardener at RGM Motorcycles is helpful over the phone, I've found, but he's over in Lancashire. Google has the details.
If you're new to BMWs, remember too that gearboxes have always been clonky and teutonic compared with Japanese bikes and even old Brits.                                                                                                                                                                              

Mmmm....I'll leave it....it'll be fine. Lol :)                                                                                                                                                                             

  If you bring the bike over to me (I'd come to you but no wheels at mo) I'll have a look at it   It might be something I can sort for you very quickly   If not I can more than likely tell you what it needs to sort it out   If it's not working as it should it isn't fine   Struggling along with a bike that's not as it should be is very laudable   But if there is a quick "fix" then I think you should at least try the option   Let me know if you'd like some help                                                                                                                                                                               

Squirt of oil on the linkages first and see if that helps. And make sure the lever isn't catching on anything.
I've had both problems on bikes, on needed the oil, one had a trig stuck in the stopping the linkage going full action!
                                                                                                                                                                             

tricky buggers them trigs Steve lol did you use a trig spanner?                                                                                                                                                                             

it might have been a trig point.
big concrete bugger usually found on top of mountains...                                                                                                                                                                             

    What the  were you doin up a mountain wi yer bike FFS                                                                                                                                                                              

If you're out tomoz Emzed I'll have a chat with thee then. Might just need a can of wd40! :D

I just need to get under it and take a look....I'm just worried I might not get back up again - wish I had a ramp. Lol                                                                                                                                                                             

Have you got this sorted yet