R1150R Anti-Freeze change

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cgguy09
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R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by cgguy09 »

Hey gents,
I'm rolling on a sweet 2004 BMW Rockster with 16,000 miles on her.

So I was doing some reading around the forum and saw many notes with regard to Anti-freeze change. I'll admit my ignorance & say I had no idea this bike even had any coolant in it. 8-[ (I always thought the oil was pumped up and through the radiators). :shock: :shock: :shock:

I've been looking for a guide to flush/change the coolant all morning & all I've found were people noting about how important it is! I looked in my official/non-official manuals, the ADV Wisdom Page, and my JVB videos and nothing mentions it.

I assume it's likely not that difficult. However, if anyone can point me in the right direction as far as a guide or steps, I would greatly appreciate it.

When I rode this morning it was 38*F so it's getting near the time when I should inspect/change the stuff.

Thanks guys!

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riceburner
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by riceburner »

All I can really say is that it's important - and Towerworker is the main man on it. He can explain the process much better than I can.
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cgguy09
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by cgguy09 »

riceburner wrote:All I can really say is that it's important - and Towerworker is the main man on it. He can explain the process much better than I can.
I've seen his yearly edicts in my searches...lol

This almost sounds like when I was on the ship and we would send the new seaman looking for the "prop-wash" or keys for the "sea chest"...essentially just sending them on a wild goose chase.
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peels
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by peels »

Hey, while youre looking for the propwash, find me a bundle of electricity.

My dad was an avid Navy guy, and would go on and on and on... :lol:
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towerworker
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by towerworker »

Yes indeed! It's very important to service the antifreeze. It's a rather involved process and it would take me a very long time typing here (I'm now a two finger typer) so my best advice would be to go to your local BMW motorcycle dealer and ask the service manager to explain the process.

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vwdoctor
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by vwdoctor »

You still got time anyway. It is not down to freezing temperatures yet.
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by pebmr »

Make sure you select the correct Viscosity.

And don't use any of that that Metric stuff! [-X
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cgguy09
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by cgguy09 »

"Make sure you select the correct Viscosity.

And don't use any of that that Metric stuff!"

This is beginning to sound a lot like prop wash....lol
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by skylarmav1 »

And make sure they inspect the carflucation circuit-easy to do while the flatulence lines are being re-soldered
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peels
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by peels »

vwdoctor wrote:You still got time anyway. It is not down to freezing temperatures yet.

hitting 25 tonight here. Stopping by the parts store after work for some. Its ALWAYS freezing on halloween here. Growing up in silicon valley, it was always decent. 8)



on a more serious note. i actually SHOULD do this for my boat. its way overdue havent had much time.
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Re: R1150R Anti-Freeze change

Post by CycleRob »

cgguy09, Yes, it is indeed nothing but prop wash. The radiators have nothing but engine oil in them (when the bike is hot and running).

On another note, I am in the process of completely changing the antifreeze and all the many hoses on my 1998 2.4L Nissan Frontier, all for just over $120 worth of specially formed curved rubber hoses, a gallon of coolant and another of distilled water. It is a real P.I.T.A. accessing the clamps, radiator and block drain plugs but that weak feeling group of 17 year old pressurized rubber hoses had me really worried. OTOH, Your OilHeads air/oil cooling system is historically trouble free and nothing to worry about.
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