I have just had the 12K service done on my 1200GS and when I got home I noticed that the Oil sight glass was showing less that ½ full, I checked the level 1 hour ish after a 20 mile ride, the bike was on the centre stand on level ground.
While I was dropping the bike off for the servicing I mentioned to the Service Manager that I hadn’t noticed that my bike was burning any oil. He said that they are now using Castrol BP20/50. I assumed that his oil has a higher viscosity than the ‘usual’ oil and that this oil is being used to slow the rate that the oil was being burnt. I don’t think that oil even this thick would take that long to drain into the sump.
I got home after the service dept closed, so I could not discuss the seemingly low oil level with the service manager. What does everyone think, should the sight glass ever be less than ½ full.
Another thing, my bike doesn’t have the usual toys i.e. no ABS and the service bill came to the £300 region (£200 was labour!) – welcome to the world of Bee Emm, I hear you say. I looked at the schedule of work that was conducted on my bike, using my engineering background, I think that I would be able to do the servicing myself. I am not sure that having a full compliment of dealer stamps in the log book is that much of an advantage, for instance aside from depreciation, will I get the money I spent on the servicing back when I sell if I have a full dealer service history.
I know that if I do the servicing myself I will not have the ‘diagnostic tool’ and if something expensive were to go ‘pop’ I would not have any leg to stand on in my attempt to get them to assist with the repairs.
What does everyone think
While I was dropping the bike off for the servicing I mentioned to the Service Manager that I hadn’t noticed that my bike was burning any oil. He said that they are now using Castrol BP20/50. I assumed that his oil has a higher viscosity than the ‘usual’ oil and that this oil is being used to slow the rate that the oil was being burnt. I don’t think that oil even this thick would take that long to drain into the sump.
I got home after the service dept closed, so I could not discuss the seemingly low oil level with the service manager. What does everyone think, should the sight glass ever be less than ½ full.
Another thing, my bike doesn’t have the usual toys i.e. no ABS and the service bill came to the £300 region (£200 was labour!) – welcome to the world of Bee Emm, I hear you say. I looked at the schedule of work that was conducted on my bike, using my engineering background, I think that I would be able to do the servicing myself. I am not sure that having a full compliment of dealer stamps in the log book is that much of an advantage, for instance aside from depreciation, will I get the money I spent on the servicing back when I sell if I have a full dealer service history.
I know that if I do the servicing myself I will not have the ‘diagnostic tool’ and if something expensive were to go ‘pop’ I would not have any leg to stand on in my attempt to get them to assist with the repairs.
What does everyone think
