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

Hello all,

I've been lurking for while and decided not to post until I bought a R1150R. I picked up a 2004 with 12K on it and I love the bike.
I thought all the talk about oil level checking was a product of user error, but now Im convinced; you guys were right.
I checked my bikes oil when I test rode it (at the dealership) and it seemed OK. Picked it up two days later and I could not get a reading even when hot. Poured a whole quart into it to get it to the uper half of the window!

I come from a K-bike background and they have their own oil checking quirks, but not as extreme as this.

However I look forward to being a regular here.

Ebincia.

Poured a whole quart into it . . .

YOUR OIL IS NOW OVERFILLED.

My 2004 has 23,000+ now and hardly uses any oil at all: prolly 1/4 quart every 6000 or so. Down from nearly 1/2 every 3000!!! Switched to synthetic at 6000 miles - prolly too early?

Great bike though. Don't be afraid to bounce it off the rev limiter regularly!!

CycleRob wrote:

Poured a whole quart into it . . .

YOUR OIL IS NOW OVERFILLED.

Actually I thought it would be , but it is now consistently in the middle of the window.
I'm somewhat troubled that it was a quart low, but I doubt any damage was done.

You'd have to try really hard to damage it...but overfilling it will do it. Just add small amounts over a longer period. Welcome to the world of oil level paranoia!

ebincia wrote:

CycleRob wrote:

Poured a whole quart into it . . .

YOUR OIL IS NOW OVERFILLED.

Actually I thought it would be , but it is now consistently in the middle of the window.
I'm somewhat troubled that it was a quart low, but I doubt any damage was done.

Like Rob said, "You've overfilled your oil!!!!" If you're not careful, you're about to cost yourself a ton of $$$. There is NO way that the R bike used that much oil between you picking it up and riding it home. Please listen to those who know.

Here's what can happen with that much oil in the bike: You're going to blow the rear main seal which will dump oil all over your clutch. That's right -- you're going to need a new clutch and that's going to cost you a ton of $$$$.

ebincia - despite all the paranoia about the oil, welcome to the forum!

ProductUser wrote:

ebincia wrote:

CycleRob wrote: YOUR OIL IS NOW OVERFILLED.

Actually I thought it would be , but it is now consistently in the middle of the window.
I'm somewhat troubled that it was a quart low, but I doubt any damage was done.

Like Rob said, "You've overfilled your oil!!!!" If you're not careful, you're about to cost yourself a ton of $$$. There is NO way that the R bike used that much oil between you picking it up and riding it home. Please listen to those who know.


Here's what can happen with that much oil in the bike: You're going to blow the rear main seal which will dump oil all over your clutch. That's right -- you're going to need a new clutch and that's going to cost you a ton of $$$$.

I think I may have misinterpreted the first (oil level) reading at the dealership. It is possible there was no oil in the window and I thought it was full as it had the opaqueness of new oil.
Since adding a quart the level is consistently in the middle of the window. That is after several trips and many checks following the steps outlined in other posts.

Actually I was more worried about the fact that it was a quart low and was ridden that way by the previous owner.

Either way happy with the bike and cannot wait to get wrenching on it. The maintenance appears pretty simple compared to the K bikes I've had.

Ironically I have have gone through this same learning process with BMWs K bikes. Love the bikes, but the quirks are troublesome at times. However, I ride BMWs because I actually enjoy the quirks.

wncbmw wrote:ebincia - despite all the paranoia about the oil, welcome to the forum!

Van,

Thanks for the welcome. I am grateful yuo guys are here as I make the transition to the "R" bike.

wncbmw wrote:ebincia - despite all the paranoia about the oil, welcome to the forum!

"Only the paranoid survive." -- Andy Grove

ebincia.....Yes, first and foremost welcome to the board.

I must advise you that most of the guys/gals here have, like you with the K bikes, gone the route of experiencing the quirks of the oilheads. So that being said, you will find a fair amount of knowledge lurking about on the site.

Why don't you post some pics of the new baby......

Possibly it was on the side stand at the dealership? I'm probably telling you something you know, but it reads high on the sidestand.

I just got mine and was paranoid about my oil being low, so I searched this forum for oil checking techniques. The one that seems to work for me is to first warm it up well (ride it for 10 miles or so), kill it and put it on the side stand for a few minutes, and then put it on the center stand. You should get the right reading.

By the way, mine was low after I brought it home and it took about 3/4 quart to get it up to the middle of the window. And that was after telling the guys at the shop to make sure it was good on oil. Either I burned 3/4 quart of oil in 400 mi, or it was low as I suspected.

Welcome to the board - I think you will find it most beneficial - as have I.

Some interesting points on checking the oil level:

a. why is the owner's manual so vague about saying, "the bike should be level." Level on which stand?

b. and what happens with the new bikes when someone does not purchase the optional center stand? How is the oil correctly checked then?