don't leave your bike running in the parking lot

[jonathanwhitwell]

The other night I left my parking lights on and killed the battery. So today I jumped it, and just let it run in the parking lot. My neighbors were all sitting around out there and I live behind locked gates, so I wasn't worried about it. A while later, maybe a half hour, someone came pounding on my door. My sight glass had melted, and then the motorcycle shot quite a bit of oil out of the hole where the sight glass goes. POS motorcycle. You'd think for ten grand bmw would make a motorcycle that's ok to leave idling for a while. Does it say to not do that in the owner's manual? I was reading around on the forum for how to replace it; I gather that I just have to press a new one in, since the old one took the liberty of removing itself.

I just put that oil in last week too, full synthetic valvoline. According to my neighbor's accounting of the events, it ran for maybe 20 minutes after the oil blow out, until I came down and shut it off. Douchebag neighbors apparently don't know how to turn a key to "off." Well at least they came and told me. I don't think I have any internal engine damage since my new oil should make a pretty good tribo-layer on my metal parts, which should last more than a couple of minutes. And it was just idling. Someone agree with me please. If you think I've toasted my bike, please keep it to yourself, I'm trying to stay positive here.

[Boxer]

You probably should sell it as soon as possible and just stick with water cooled bikes.

[RedRyder]

I knew a guy who left his Yamaha FZ idling on his driveway while he helped his wife in the backyard and came out to witness a melted lump of motor. Idling any bike for extended period of time, even a water cooled one, is not a wise move. When an oilhead sits in a traffic jam, you should turn it off is 8-10 minutes and then restart. Not a big deal... besides it saves gas. Why on earth would you want to leave an air cooled bike idling for that long? Calling your neighbors "douchebags" is also a strange thing in my world. The word neighbor is defined as: any person in need of one's help or kindness (after biblical use) : love thy neighbor as thyself. My advice is sell the R and get a cruiser. Might be a better fit. That is my positive spin for you.

[Mrchips]

it ran for maybe 20 minutes after the oil blow out

How long had it ran before the oil blew out ?

Good lord !

[omg1010]

Sir,

I believe you are aware that our oil- and hexheads are oil/aircooled. Once there is no air vent the engine will heat up to unhealthy levels very quickly. One should never leave the bike idling in a parking lot for more than a few minutes. Would that not be common sense?

If as a consequence you have an engine damage I'd say too bad for you.

Brgds
Oliver

[kirby]

You maybe need to rethink your relationship with things mechanical.
kirby

[BoxerSteve]

I'm thinking we are being trolled. Is "jonathanwhitwell" another alias for Uncle BS?

[Ol' Jeffers]

So you want us to remain positive?
In your Owner's Manual, page 60 Section 3 in bold!
By the way try the same thing with any air-cooled bike and you'll
probably end up with an unhappy motor.
Sell what's left of your bike and buy a Ford!!

[Duc750]

Oh jesus, I think this is serious and its not the first time I've heard of it!

To be fair 20 minutes with no oil is probably not the end of the world. Stick some oil back in it and ride it.
Just try and learn a bit of mechanical sympathy. When it does go bang which it will your penance should be to rebuild the engine so you understand why you screwed it in the first place

[garr2]

From a R1200 Rider's Manual.
I remember a similar warning from the 1150 manual.

[Dr. Strangelove]

just let it run in the parking lot. ... I wasn't worried about it.

Uh, yeah. well
don't do that
and
you should've been

live and learn

[swamper]

20 minutes with no oil and overheating, sounds like burnt toast to me!!!!!!!!!!!

[sweatmark]

This thread is useless without pictures.

But seriously, if this guy's not a troll...

[omg1010]

He (the troll) has probably applied anti-heat instead of antifreeze and it was just a test?

I'd call this brainless.

Brgds
Oliver