Do you think I’ve done any damaged ?

[Attleborough]

It seems opinion is divided!

My dealer said "Try not to take it over 4k revs for the first 600 miles - bring it back and we'll change the oil and make sure everything is tight. Take it away and ring it's neck".

So that's what I've done - I'm now ragging it (on private roads of course - just love that 5th gear 60 mph full throttle acceleration - are you sure they don't have a turbo kick in?) so far it's done near 3k miles and I've added about 1/4 pint of oil and to be honest I wasn't sure it needed it!

 

[GrinningGSer]

There is (allegedly) a link between running in and high oil consumption later in life. If you are too gentle with the engine early on, it doesn't bed in properly and you may be stuck with burning a lot of oil for the rest of its life. Just get on with it.

My first GS, an 05 1200GS, was nursed like a baby for a few thousand miles and it continually drank oil thereafter. I seemed to be putting a cupfull in every time I went for a ride. My current 07GSA was ridden like normal, not thrashed, but reasonable speeds and reasonable rpm right from the day that I left the showroom....and it really doesn' t drink oil. I've just returned from a short French sortie of 1500 miles and oil level is still at the top of the glass, Pleased as punch

p.s. suffered a rear wheel bearing failure at 2000mls though

 

[Deleted account 210609001]

I still can't believe some of these comments.

Everyone who recommends thrashing it from the off, explain this to me: what possible motivation is there for an engine manufacturer to recommend a relatively gentle running-in period if there is no advantage to it? I really can't see why they would do this - and all motor manufacturers recommend a running-in period of one sort or another.

I imagine BM (in common with all the othe rmanufacturers) have the odd engine designer of their own knocking about the place, who would recommend thrashing it if there was a benefit to it. If it stopped oil usage later in the engine's life, wouldn't they want to stress this as a marketing ploy?

Are you seriously suggesting it's all pointless and done by the manufacturers as some sort of collective practical joke?

Everyone can come up with individual experiences to prove the point either way. I've had three new bikes, run them all in as per manufacturer's instructions, and have never had to top up oil between changes. That doesn't mean every bike will be the same, though.

 

[R1200GSA]

Oh FFS, here we fcuking go again Hiz this no been dunn to death awready?

Ride it like a big poof......dont ride it like a big poof!

Wring its fekn neck..........dont wring its fekn neck!

Want it to drink oil...........dont want it to drink oil.
etc.etc.


Go look through the archives, you will find mountains of opinions on exactly how much attention to pay to what the manual says about running the engine in. Some based on proven facts.....and others, on fanni stories an bullsh!t. I know what I do and am happy with it.


Life is full of choices and at the end of the day, its your toy, do what you want with it. BMW give you a warranty on everything for 2 years at least. Go figure Sherlock.

 

[Marty Hill]

I've had an '05 for 34k miles/an '06 for 30k miles and now an '07 with 20k. I thrash them after 100 miles. Have gone on 5k mile trips and never added oil. In europe two years ago, I rode 7988 miles and added about 1/5 of a qt. Others who follow the book use oil in large amounts. Same results with my '02/'03' and '04 1150 RT's.

Cheers.

 

[nedflanders]

I still can't believe some of these comments.

Everyone who recommends thrashing it from the off, explain this to me: what possible motivation is there for an engine manufacturer to recommend a relatively gentle running-in period if there is no advantage to it? I really can't see why they would do this - and all motor manufacturers recommend a running-in period of one sort or another.

I imagine BM (in common with all the othe rmanufacturers) have the odd engine designer of their own knocking about the place, who would recommend thrashing it if there was a benefit to it. If it stopped oil usage later in the engine's life, wouldn't they want to stress this as a marketing ploy?

Are you seriously suggesting it's all pointless and done by the manufacturers as some sort of collective practical joke?

Everyone can come up with individual experiences to prove the point either way. I've had three new bikes, run them all in as per manufacturer's instructions, and have never had to top up oil between changes. That doesn't mean every bike will be the same, though.

I bought one of the 2004 ZX10r's when they first arrived, being one of the first 10 owners in the country I was invited to Kwak HQ to meet the designers from Japan, when the engine designer was asked why the running in period was so gentle he said it was to reduce possible warranty claims, and he suggested riding normally after the first 200miles. Next time your in the dealer ask what amount of oil is acceptable before the word 'excessive' is used, pretty shocking really. I'll stick with the advice from someone who designs bike engines

 

[davegs]

Damage

Take no notice of Greg he's a tight wad, being a genoreous fellow who likes to help I'll offer you £525.00 CASH!. (also cant spel). Take this generous
offer and put it towards an 1150.

 

[Backmarker]

You have seriously compromised its long term reliability. But as it is a 1200 GS, you will have broken down so often before 50k that reliability after that will be someone elses problem.