I bought my 2005 R1150R one week ago and have been shocked by the amount of oil I've been burning. I've lost a half quart in 220 miles. It smokes heavily on cold starts, but NOT when it's warmed up and I rev the motor.
The dealer doesn't want to do much of anything until the 600 mile service.
They claim that the rings need to wear in enough to seat properly etc.
I've only owned a K75 in the past and it never burned oil.
Is this a common problem with the R's, or could I have bought a lemon?
I've now got 300 miles on it.
Thanks for any info.
Harry
New bike burning oil
Moderator: Moderators
Harry,
Are you leaving it on the sidestand or centerstand? Leaving it on the sidestand will cause heavy smoking upon startup, due to the oil seeping past the rings on the low side(left) perfectly normal for the R259 motor.
Relax, she'll use oil for the first few thousand miles. BMW uses a hard coating for the cylinders so it takes a while for the rings to seat, as far as a half-quart, its ok for now, and be sure to check the oil on the centerstand about 15 min after engine shut-off for the most accurate reading.
50 grand on mine and she runs better everyday....enjoy and welcome to the joy of the R.
Roger
Are you leaving it on the sidestand or centerstand? Leaving it on the sidestand will cause heavy smoking upon startup, due to the oil seeping past the rings on the low side(left) perfectly normal for the R259 motor.
Relax, she'll use oil for the first few thousand miles. BMW uses a hard coating for the cylinders so it takes a while for the rings to seat, as far as a half-quart, its ok for now, and be sure to check the oil on the centerstand about 15 min after engine shut-off for the most accurate reading.
50 grand on mine and she runs better everyday....enjoy and welcome to the joy of the R.
Roger
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soggybottom
- Basic User
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:02 am
- Location: Scottsdale AZ
Some have reported using oil at 20K others are saying it takes 12k to break in. My 04 is 9 mos old, may have used a qt or more in first 2500 miles, At 2500 I switched to mobil 1 and now has 5500 miles and have added about 10 ozsince oil change at 2500. I did not babie mine fom new, I pressurized the rings at about 75 miles and at least once during every ride before 1st service. Give it a few thousand miles before you panic.
As many people that panic over oil useage, you'd think BMW would change their components to something that consumes less oil. My 04 Rockster uses around a quart every 1000 miles and it's no bfd to me.
However, alot of people tend to think it's a very big deal and I imagine BMW loses sales over this misconception. I think they should change for marketing reasons alone. Just my .02.
However, alot of people tend to think it's a very big deal and I imagine BMW loses sales over this misconception. I think they should change for marketing reasons alone. Just my .02.
Harry, ride the crap out of it - after the initial break in period just rev that sucker. It'll love it. You really do need to seat those rings. Mine drank oil for the first several thousand miles and it slowed down at around 12K, and now at 25K consumes almost nothing. One of my riding buddies is my dealer's service manager and this advice comes from him.
If you do go on long rides just pack a quart of oil in your case.
If you do go on long rides just pack a quart of oil in your case.
Tony
Lifetime #156
2013 K1600GT
Lifetime #156
2013 K1600GT
New bike burning oil
I know about the extra smoke on start ups when the R is left on the side stand, so I always leave it (and check the oil) on its center stand.
It's "good" to know that burning some oil is not uncommon with the R.
It IS an exceptional bike!! It handles incredibly well and is extremely responsive and powerful.
I live just outside of D.C. and was out riding today. I saw three other bikes on the road; an R and two K's.
The only Harley logos I saw were on the back windows of pick-up trucks;)
You can see my new ride at:http://www.toddlaneart.com/motorcycle/
Thanks, bros.
Harry (Harry's my middle name)
It's "good" to know that burning some oil is not uncommon with the R.
It IS an exceptional bike!! It handles incredibly well and is extremely responsive and powerful.
I live just outside of D.C. and was out riding today. I saw three other bikes on the road; an R and two K's.
The only Harley logos I saw were on the back windows of pick-up trucks;)
You can see my new ride at:http://www.toddlaneart.com/motorcycle/
Thanks, bros.
Harry (Harry's my middle name)
It was in the mid 40's in North Jersey today; I also took a ride.......
To my dealer to look at a new bike.........went looking for a leftover '04 GT
but there are none to be had. I must say I'm warming up to the ST.
I'm gonna go back and test ride one in a few weeks.
To my dealer to look at a new bike.........went looking for a leftover '04 GT
but there are none to be had. I must say I'm warming up to the ST.
I'm gonna go back and test ride one in a few weeks.
Tony
Lifetime #156
2013 K1600GT
Lifetime #156
2013 K1600GT
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DJ Downunder
- Honorary Lifer
- Posts: 4776
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:26 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Is that a baby bib... 
...yes very cute... 
....and is that snow...
...what's it like???
Congrats and welcome...don't worry about the oil thing..just keep an eye on it and try and keep it about half full.
DJ
...yes very cute... ....and is that snow... ...what's it like??? Congrats and welcome...don't worry about the oil thing..just keep an eye on it and try and keep it about half full.
DJ
Last edited by DJ Downunder on Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:00 am, edited 4 times in total.
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DJ Downunder
- Honorary Lifer
- Posts: 4776
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 3:26 pm
- Location: Melbourne
Oil-burning experiences seem to vary--I bought my Rockster Feb this year as a demo with 125Km on the clock-got the balance of the first 500k up in the first night, had the first service done next morning, then off home. (I live a long way from the nearest dealer) Ran between 3000-4000 rpm the 600km home, not staying on the one speed too long, and as I got towards the 1000km mark, gave it the odd faster , but brief , burst, as per service managers suggestion. And it has never burnt a drop of oil-had a service done at 5,500km, now up to over 7000, mostly highway riding , 4000 to 5,5000 rpm usually, engine is free revving and smooth. Oil level always stays at the very top of the window. My overall mileage is probably pretty low for the time I've had it, as I'm away from home a lot with work, tho sometimes it IS the mode of transport away if I can arrange it.
Cheers
Ralph
R1150RR
Laser Y-pipe and can
Wunderlich Sports screen
BMW soft tail pack
My overall mileage is probably pretty low for the time I've had it, as I'm away from home a lot with work, tho sometimes it IS the mode of transport away if I can arrange it.Cheers
Ralph
R1150RR
Laser Y-pipe and can
Wunderlich Sports screen
BMW soft tail pack
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socalrob
- Lifer
- Posts: 796
- Joined: Sun Mar 20, 2005 1:30 am
- Location: Los Angeles-by Angeles Crest Hwy
Old advice from this board, which I use is:
Don't overfill. Add oil only to hit center of sight glass with bike on center stand and after a hot ride. Oil can and does hide in the oil coolers, need to really get the motor hot (for a broken in bike, a minimum 10 mile ride with some full throttle high RPM runs in there) in order to make sure you have a real correct oil level reading. If I checked the oil 2 days ago, & it looked fine, & I check it today, & its gone, I wait until another hot ride to check it for confirmation before adding. Any oil above the center mark in the sight glass gets burned off very fast. At center or below oil usage should be much slower. Old advice was to check oil after about 10 minutes on center stand, I don't see much difference after about one minute. Wait until oil is at bottom of sight glass before adding. This is only an couple of ounces below the desired center mark, so, IMHO, especially in winter, it is better to be a few ounces low than a few ounces high. The enemy of these bikes seems to be carbon deposits, its pretty rare when you hear about siezed engines from lack of oil.
If you are getting smoke at startup when the bike has been on the center stand, IMHO either you are overfilling the oil (like keeping it at the top of the sight glass), are not reading the sight glass when the bikes been riden hard enough to be truly hot & oil is out of coolers (and thus are really overfilling it), or you may have a real problem of some sort.
For a bike after breakin, I think the whole "always use the center stand" is highly overrated. If I remember correctly some of the RxxxxS bikes came without centerstands, & also, when CycleRob from the board here tore down his bike, the carboned up side of the engine was the "uphill" cylinder from the side stand. Go Figure.
With a over 13,000 miles on her my bike is often parked on the side stand, never blows a puff of smoke on startup, and uses little oil. I'm adding maybe 2 to 4 ounces every 500 miles. I do think oil usage is very much corolated to trip length. Longer trips, lower usage. I think if I ran my bike 1,000 per day it would use no oil, if I ran it 2 miles per day, lots of oil. My theory is the oil usage is primarily when cold.
Don't overfill. Add oil only to hit center of sight glass with bike on center stand and after a hot ride. Oil can and does hide in the oil coolers, need to really get the motor hot (for a broken in bike, a minimum 10 mile ride with some full throttle high RPM runs in there) in order to make sure you have a real correct oil level reading. If I checked the oil 2 days ago, & it looked fine, & I check it today, & its gone, I wait until another hot ride to check it for confirmation before adding. Any oil above the center mark in the sight glass gets burned off very fast. At center or below oil usage should be much slower. Old advice was to check oil after about 10 minutes on center stand, I don't see much difference after about one minute. Wait until oil is at bottom of sight glass before adding. This is only an couple of ounces below the desired center mark, so, IMHO, especially in winter, it is better to be a few ounces low than a few ounces high. The enemy of these bikes seems to be carbon deposits, its pretty rare when you hear about siezed engines from lack of oil.
If you are getting smoke at startup when the bike has been on the center stand, IMHO either you are overfilling the oil (like keeping it at the top of the sight glass), are not reading the sight glass when the bikes been riden hard enough to be truly hot & oil is out of coolers (and thus are really overfilling it), or you may have a real problem of some sort.
For a bike after breakin, I think the whole "always use the center stand" is highly overrated. If I remember correctly some of the RxxxxS bikes came without centerstands, & also, when CycleRob from the board here tore down his bike, the carboned up side of the engine was the "uphill" cylinder from the side stand. Go Figure.
With a over 13,000 miles on her my bike is often parked on the side stand, never blows a puff of smoke on startup, and uses little oil. I'm adding maybe 2 to 4 ounces every 500 miles. I do think oil usage is very much corolated to trip length. Longer trips, lower usage. I think if I ran my bike 1,000 per day it would use no oil, if I ran it 2 miles per day, lots of oil. My theory is the oil usage is primarily when cold.
07 1200GSA & 08 Ducati Hypermotard S
& Honda XR400
Past-04 R1150R
& Honda XR400
Past-04 R1150R
Socalrob:
The service manual describes the middle mark in the site glass as the "minimum" and the top of the circle as "max." When I picked the bike up from the dealer, it was filled to the top of the circle. So that's where I thought the oil level should be kept.
It looks like I'll need to change my thinking on oil levels from now on...
The service manual describes the middle mark in the site glass as the "minimum" and the top of the circle as "max." When I picked the bike up from the dealer, it was filled to the top of the circle. So that's where I thought the oil level should be kept.
It looks like I'll need to change my thinking on oil levels from now on...
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soggybottom
- Basic User
- Posts: 157
- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:02 am
- Location: Scottsdale AZ
Harry,
I'll second what Rob says about checking oill hot. It sounds anal but these bikes require special attention to do a simple task of checking oil. I'll only check it after a good ride and when I pull it in garage I imediately put on centerstand and then let it run for a minute before shut down, wait 5 minutes before checking. If you don't follow this weird ritual you will be getting false readings, adding oil, overfilling, causing smoke from overfill. Mine only smoked when left on sidestand for a few hundred miles and stopped after after I gathered this info from this website about oil checking proceedure.
I'll second what Rob says about checking oill hot. It sounds anal but these bikes require special attention to do a simple task of checking oil. I'll only check it after a good ride and when I pull it in garage I imediately put on centerstand and then let it run for a minute before shut down, wait 5 minutes before checking. If you don't follow this weird ritual you will be getting false readings, adding oil, overfilling, causing smoke from overfill. Mine only smoked when left on sidestand for a few hundred miles and stopped after after I gathered this info from this website about oil checking proceedure.
Harry, congratulations on the new baby.
Oil in the middle of the glass. BUT!........Sometimes it is not really in the middle when it look slike it is...and sometimes it's not really empty when it looks like it is. My advice would be to keep a sharp eye on it and always check it the same way each time. Develop a routine and do it the same each time. If you happen to forget to take oil with you on a ride and look down to discover it is empty, just tilt the bike over on the side stand and see if there's oil covering the glass. If it is, then you're still okay for a while. Don't panic. And as others have said it appears that the rings seat faster if you really run it pretty hard occasionally after the initial 600 mile break-in.
I babied my '03 and it has finally stopped using oil at 45K. Some I know I was losing through leaky cam chain covers but it seemed like it would never stop burning the stuff.
Oil in the middle of the glass. BUT!........Sometimes it is not really in the middle when it look slike it is...and sometimes it's not really empty when it looks like it is. My advice would be to keep a sharp eye on it and always check it the same way each time. Develop a routine and do it the same each time. If you happen to forget to take oil with you on a ride and look down to discover it is empty, just tilt the bike over on the side stand and see if there's oil covering the glass. If it is, then you're still okay for a while. Don't panic. And as others have said it appears that the rings seat faster if you really run it pretty hard occasionally after the initial 600 mile break-in.
I babied my '03 and it has finally stopped using oil at 45K. Some I know I was losing through leaky cam chain covers but it seemed like it would never stop burning the stuff.
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fallingpines
- Basic User
- Posts: 76
- Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2005 12:45 pm
So, I get that checking oil on a warm bike thing, but as I keep mine on the centerstand, shouldn't the oil level as seen in the window be accurate as it sits there? I mean, after a week or more (not much winter riding in Cleveland) sitting on the stand, hasn't all of the oil pretty much found it's lowest spot?
BTW, with about 4k on the clock I hardly see any oil use, I did break the bike in fairly aggressively though. Under 4k rpms for the first 600 miles. Not easy to do with the shorter 6th gear.
BTW, with about 4k on the clock I hardly see any oil use, I did break the bike in fairly aggressively though. Under 4k rpms for the first 600 miles. Not easy to do with the shorter 6th gear.
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soggybottom
- Basic User
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- Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2005 12:02 am
- Location: Scottsdale AZ