So spent the weekend riding about 600 miles in the worst weather conditions, low visibility, freezing temperatures, salty, slippy surfaces, miserable shit, and all on motorways so it was boring as well.

Flashy Braketec iron rotors are brilliant in the summer combined with Brembo monoblocs.....but in the wet, rain, cold they are absolute shit. There's a heart-wrenching, butt-clenching second delay when they're wet and on motorway speeds this is really bad news. I have to constantly hoild the front brake on with one finger to clear the water and keep some temperature in them. If you don't - and then suddenly need to brake, then it's frightening. Need to investigate further, otherwise I'm just swapping them out for the standard rotors for the winter months.

Anyway, I also had a new gearbox problem. Not read much about the SD gearbox over the years on this forum, you get the impression they are pretty bulletproof. Anyone know any advice on this I'd appreciate it.

So, the bike has aHM quickshifter which has worked faultlessly for two or three years, also Rizoma rear-sets fitted which have quality bearings and have always delivered precise, slick changes. The SD has a great gearbox with nice movement and effortless clutch free changes.

but lately this has been getting worse and on this journey it really became a major issue so I need to find out what is up with things. I can basically use the gearbox fine up to 5th gear but then to change up to 6th it feels stiff and hard work. I can get into 6th with effort but on a fast acceleration with the quick-shifter and no clutch it often won't go up into top. It's like the box only has 5 gears. But if I do get into top then it often will not change down. This is bad news at high speeds when you really need to slow and get down through the gears fast. Worse still is that when you put more force on the lever it goes into a false neutral and you find yourself coasting at 100 mph speeds - not nice I assure you. The only possible way to achieve a down shift is to clutch in, blip the throttle, match the revs to predicted gearbox speed, and out with lever. (old style downchange technique). But it doesn't always work well.

Obviously, I checked the oil level and external mechanical gear linkages, everything is as normal. Oil changes a few thousand miles ago at most.

I suspect that this is something to do worn gear selector mechanisms but not sure.

Any ideas?

Heere's a few pics of the only good weather over the weekend. Went on a nostalgia run through the north of Lancashire tracing all the roads I used to ride as a lad in the '70s. Tarmac and roads not what I'm now used to, my track set up suspension is not good and I spent most of the time jarring about and trying to stay on the seat. Needs a total suspension rework to ride up there!

I know its not going to help you but i was gunna post my own thread about my gearbox problems.
Ive just returned from sunny spain last night and after a 1000 mls on some superb roads im afraid ive a problem with getting into 3rd and 4th,going from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th respectfully.
It dosent do it everytime but its getting more regular.It seems to do it when wheelying but also when just going fast.
My initial thoughts are that something is worn and obviously it just depends where the cog teeth or selector arm are when i go for the change.
Dont mean to jump ya thread and any help appreciated.
Also is it a big job to work on the gearbox.

That was what I was hoping to find out too. how big a job is getting work done on the gearbox? How much cash at a KTM workshop for time and labour to remove, work on the engine and replace? Gearbox work is not something I have time to do myself, not any more.

Talked to The KTM Center in Hemmel Hempstead and they say that they have never had a Superduke in over all the years with a gearbox problem. Some of the earlier ones have had a few issues with gear selector forks but this was in the lower gears not 5th and 6th. They say that in their opinion it is much more likely to be something to do with the HM quickshifter and its settings and that I should have a word with HM about this as they fitted it. They have had a few SD race bikes fitted with quickshifters and haven't had too many problems but enough that sound a bit similar to mine for them to suggest that this is more likely the cause than actual gearbox.

What they did say was that if it's a gearbox issue the engine comes out and its a big expensive job. Couldn't even give me an idea of cost over the phone!

Oh dear that dont sound too good,seems like the gear selector forks for me.
Was hoping that the repair could be done with the engine in the bike.Had hoped it could be just slid out cassette style.
At least it sounds better for you and hopefully the quickshifter adjustment will sort it.

Spoke to a couple of dealers, etc and ditto, no experience of major gearbox problems on the LC8 - understand major gearbox work requires split crankcase etc - suggest talking to HM re quickshifter.

Def engine out if they need to get into gearbox proper. Easy way to find out is remove the HM Bic. 30 min job.