Oil level and exhaust question

[paroyboy]

Had the bike's 6K service done on tuesday. Looked at the oil level last night about 20 minutes after I got home. The sight glass was totally full. Started it up for about 10 seconds and shut it back down. Took about a minute for it to fill back up past the top. Drained at least a cup out to get the level to the top of the red circle. What are symptoms of an overfill?

Now for the exhaust question.... I looked on some of the paperwork I got with the bike and found the old owners phone number. The bike has a Staintune on it but the restrictor was missing. Called the guy up, said yeah, he had it and the stock muffler. Also gave me the $80 battery charger that is specific to the 2004 gel battery. (?) I like the Staintune better with the restrictor in. Quieter. Would I like the stock muffler even better? How quite are these bikes stock?

[chris]

Can't comment on the difference as mine is stock and I've never heard another one, (never even seen another roadster come to that!) but the stock muffler is VERY quiet. With my ear plugs in I can't hear the bike at all, all of which feels very odd when you're riding along at 80mph...
I'd prefer a little more noise to be honest!

[dwayne]

... the stock muffler is VERY quiet. With my ear plugs in I can't hear the bike at all, all of which feels very odd when you're riding along at 80mph... ...

I know what you mean. I use to ride, well as of three weeks ago, a Suzuki Intruder 1500 LC with Vance and Hines Longshot pipes. That thing was loud, really loud..obniouxly loud. I actually prefer the quiter exhaust; I use to get headaches from riding the big Intruder, and I too was wearing ear plugs and a full face flip up helmet.

...DAMN, I love this bike. I have never had a motorcycle that could carve the corners like this. Despite the always being nervous about the oil, I still will not give this bike up...though she is at the dealership now for the 1000K service.

[BlueBlurr]

Stock exhaust on these is VERY quiet! Before I put on the Two Brothers pipe I could hear more valve noise than exhaust noise!
I also wear ear plugs & like to be able to hear what the motor is doing to some degree otherwise I loose my perception of speed!
Very easy to look down on this bike & be going 20-over the limit… it’s just that smooth.
I’ve been told by the dealer not to fill the oil past the half way point in the sight glass…. But he also said the bike would run with only a quart in the crankcase!
I don’t think I want to try that one out. I have filled mine to the top of the sight glass before & experienced no problems. I can’t see it being that big a deal but who knows

[Pat]

Check your oil level as often as you want, under a variety of conditions, hot OR cold......

- BUT -

There is only one correct time/way to check and be assured of having the proper amount of oil:

1) The engine must have been running for at least 20 minutes around town or on the freeway.
2) Swing your bike onto it's center-stand, and walk away for ten to fifteen minutes.
3) Slither on yer belly within eye-shot of the inspection window. The ideal level will be mid-way of the glass, but so long as it's visible above or below, you're good to go.

Oil expands and contracts and can give false readings unless done as outlined above. There is a thermostat in the oil coolers that can trap oil if the engine was not allowed time enough to warm. There are nooks, channels, and crannies for oil to hide in..... gotta ride the bike to get stuff circulating correctly.

Exhaust? Don't alter your exhaust in anticipation of performance gains..... it ain't gonna happen significantly enough for the thousand dollars you gotta dish out. BMW, quiet - Quiet, BMW. The only advantage of removing the CAT' eliminator will be the relief found ridding the source of heat at your ankles and heating an already hot transmission. The only loss found eliminating the factory can is weight, Weight, WEIGHT. Don't mess with your exhaust, the bike runs best overall with the factory system.

[leno]

A lot of people do over fill with oil thinking that the sight glass should be full. But I don't think that they are doing any harm apart from wasting some oil. I don't do any fancy checking procedure. I always park in the the center stand and check the oild before I ride off in the morning. I reason that any draining should be done by then. The main thing I think is to be consistant. As long as you have given it 20 minutes then I don't think it matters much how long it is. Well 20mins after I get home I'm sitting in the garden driniking a cup of tea, no crawling around on my knees under a dirty bike.

Exhurst, I'm a fan of my road legal Remus. It's only a little louder then standard, just enought to cover the sewing maching noise. But the bike does breath out a bit easier, just a bit fitter. It's not faster but seems to do what it does a bit freer. It's also lighter and looks better in black than the shiny standard one. Black engine, gearbox shiny exhurst? no!

[paroyboy]

Don't mess with your exhaust, the bike runs best overall with the factory system.

Thats why I was asking about the staintune vs stock. Got my bike and it already had the Staintune. I work for Harley in York, PA and am SURROUNDED by loud obnoxious bikes! (and no, they dont sound like that leaving the factory!) I think thats why I like my bikes quiet. Got the Staintune baffle and the stock pipe from the previous owner over the weekend. Now that I put the baffle in the Staintune, I think I'll be happy with it. Man, that stock pipe is about a ton isnt it!

[coyofmo]

Hi all...great discussion about checking oil...now to throw a fly in the soup....What if you don't have a centerstand? I know I know..I never should have bought a bike without one and I plan on adding soon. I checked it about a week ago..rode home so it was good an hot, parked with the front wheel slightly uphill, waited 15 min. then balanced the bike off the stand and had my wife steady it while I "Very quickly" looked at the sightglass. Was full to the top and she did'nt go for the insurance and drop the rock on me. Anyone have an easyer (safer) way or ideas? Ride safe.