BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

So I've been reading the last hour or so of the benefits & merits of the Red line Shock proof oils.
I'm switching my 04 R over. anyone ? Trans & FD.

Some friends and I have run it in both, for on the road I prefer it. On the track I like lighter...

Does it meet the GL5 specification?
Some BMW owners have had problems with oil seals when using synthetic oils. I'm currently using a different and cheaper big brand brand of synthetic 75w/140, GL5, and it has noticeably lessened the characteristic clunk. That's all I can input so far.

I have used in an old Guzzi of mine in the past. It really smoothed out the shifting a bunch. The stuff has some propriety ingredient that makes it so slippery that its is not recommended for auto(car/truck) transmissions that use syncro type gear changes 'cause there is not enough friction to spin the rings up to shift.

Not a problem with the constant mesh we used in the getrag.

Another good thing is the color,,,pink. (it looks pink to me). The reason for this is if the trans mission is leaking (if used in just the trans) it is quite obvious where a leak is originating. Engine or rear drive regular gear oil will look completely different. Guzzi specified a 2oz molly additive to the rear drive (ball bearing) which made it black as tar and engine oil is more brown in color, and smells completely different.

The GL5 requirement(mostly) is for a friction and Red line exceeds this by a bunch,(much more slippery) .

However they do not claim it to meet the API standard.... its implied that it exceeds GL5.?!

Bottom line is it worked in the old Guzzi W/O problems for MANY miles. I don't use it in my beemer but would have no reason not to. The Guzzi needed help and it seemed to work well...

Not an endorsement, just stating my experience.

BTW, I have seen folks run the red line in airhead and oil head and K bikes and have heard of no problems associated with same.

kirby wrote:...It really smoothed out the shifting a bunch...

+1

I've run conventional gear oil in two R's. 80/90 Lucas. I tried changing over to a synthetic in my first, an '03 when it had 18K. Within 1000 miles it developed a leak in the input shaft seal. BMW replaced seal and I then went back to the Lucas. No further problems till I totaled the bike at 44K. I now have an '04 with right at 90K. I'm still running the Lucas 80/90 conventional gear oil. I'm afraid to try synthetic because of my past experience. If started out with syn it most likely would have been OK. I've too many trouble free miles now to risk changing.

Just found out that Opie Oils sell, the expensive, Red line products in the UK and their site gives Specifications and Manufacturer Approvals
API GL-5
API GL-6
for both the heavyweight and lightweight grades.

I used it once and didn't have any problems in a Harley but never thought it did anything special. Went back to the standard oil.

Just ordered a quart of heavy duty shockproof from Opie at £27. It better be good!

Tried it out in hot weather over a 1000 mile return trip. It's marginally better in reducing clunks. But silly money really.

Best thing I've found to lessen the gearbox clunk sound in my '04 R is to turn my music up louder.........

I found the standard grade works fine. It's way less clunky than the Harley.