Now I'm panicking!!
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Bendy toy
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Ride one of these bikes from new like Miss Daisy and it will be tight and use oil.
But give it a good working and it will quickly bed in and free off nicely. Mollycoddled bikes are therefore more likely to burn oil. If yours was treated with kid gloves just get out and really USE it.
By all means check the oil level but don't get wound up about it.
If you want more evidence have a look at the Dickerhammer engine rebuild thread. The bike was REALLY well used with IIRC 150K on the clock., yet original cylinder bores were just polished.
As for the sight glass - it's just another bike tradition. For some reason a more reliable car engine style dipstick is just so not suitable for bike designers.
But give it a good working and it will quickly bed in and free off nicely. Mollycoddled bikes are therefore more likely to burn oil. If yours was treated with kid gloves just get out and really USE it.
By all means check the oil level but don't get wound up about it.
If you want more evidence have a look at the Dickerhammer engine rebuild thread. The bike was REALLY well used with IIRC 150K on the clock., yet original cylinder bores were just polished.
As for the sight glass - it's just another bike tradition. For some reason a more reliable car engine style dipstick is just so not suitable for bike designers.
Myke Rocks
Registered user
Either way you need a new donkey!
Myke
Bendy. Are you implying that if your GS drinks oil (as my TC does and I believe it was run in too sympathetically by the first owner). if I rag it, it will resolve the issue and save me pounds in oil top ups???
bikemad
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Deleted account 200502001
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Right, Ive been in the kitchen for the last several hours, eating humble pie. Yes, you heard. I pushed the kill switch, I panicked, as far as I was concerned she was burnt out...NOPE you were all right, I was wrong! Took her for a ride (yep 'her) stuck her on the side stand for half an hour then popped her on the centre stand and the oil has risen to around 1/3 up the looking glass, remember she was showing base line yesterday at the point I thought I needed to change my grundies! Thank you all for posting. I think a 'not to panic' thread should be created for new BMW owners....
Bendy toy
Registered user
Mine had 30K miles on the clock was properly looked after and properly used. It uses no oil.
Brother's was mollycoddled and the engine was still tight at 10,000. It used oil though not a serious amount. It's now got 25K on the clock uses no oil and is a lot more free revving.
Heisenberg
Registered user
Stand easy, pack the C4 away.....nothing to see here lads.
PS: Glad you're feeling better about life.
Oil check Golden rules
Oil Check Golden Rules
General level check:
Is it low?
Help. It’s all vanished.
Oil Check Golden Rules
General level check:
1. Ensure engine was good and hot on the last run
2. Centre stand, level (ish) ground
3. Can you see oil? You’re good to go.
2. Centre stand, level (ish) ground
3. Can you see oil? You’re good to go.
Is it low?
1. As above but seems low
2. Go for a ride and make the sure the engine is properly warmed up before even thinking about another check.
3. Still low? Wait until its cooled and have another look.
4. Still low? Think about topping up. Top to bottom is about 0.5l but I would suggest never using more than 250ml in one top up.
2. Go for a ride and make the sure the engine is properly warmed up before even thinking about another check.
3. Still low? Wait until its cooled and have another look.
4. Still low? Think about topping up. Top to bottom is about 0.5l but I would suggest never using more than 250ml in one top up.
Help. It’s all vanished.
1. Was there oil last time your rode?
2. Is there oil sprayed all over the rear of the bike and on the tyre?
3. If the answers to those are “Yes” and “No” respectively, there is a 99.99% chance there is plenty of oil in the bike. It has just chosen to scare you by hiding it all in the various nooks and crannies.
4. Relax, go for a ride and have another look.
2. Is there oil sprayed all over the rear of the bike and on the tyre?
3. If the answers to those are “Yes” and “No” respectively, there is a 99.99% chance there is plenty of oil in the bike. It has just chosen to scare you by hiding it all in the various nooks and crannies.
4. Relax, go for a ride and have another look.
Never said they were the only Golden Rules. 
But there are so many panic stricken postings about vanishing oil I thought it might help.
Out of interest, how do you do it?
But there are so many panic stricken postings about vanishing oil I thought it might help.
Out of interest, how do you do it?
Never said they were the only Golden Rules.
But there are so many panic stricken postings about vanishing oil I thought it might help.
Out of interest, how do you do it?
Same as you, except at the end of a ride, I leave on the sidestand for 30 mins - before putting on the centrestand, on level ground to check the level
If leaving overnight for a morning check, do not start the bike, after you have stopped it - push into the garage and leave on centrestand overnight and check in the morning
Ahh - OK. That's virtually the same as me except that I can't be arsed to muck around with the sidestand 
. I wasn't clear about timescales. I take a more relaxed approach; I'll normally check it when I stop simply because I'm there but, if there's nothing visible, I'll have another look at some point once it has cooled before the next ride. And you're absolutely right about not starting the bike, there is zero point in checking the oil level unless the engine was fully warmed up when it was last run.
. I wasn't clear about timescales. I take a more relaxed approach; I'll normally check it when I stop simply because I'm there but, if there's nothing visible, I'll have another look at some point once it has cooled before the next ride. And you're absolutely right about not starting the bike, there is zero point in checking the oil level unless the engine was fully warmed up when it was last run.
I used to do it your way, but now ride the 30 mins on the sidestand, before centrestand............... is a more reliable indicator
Don't you find the sidestand on your 30 minute rides a bit of a challenge on the left handers?
Don't you find the sidestand on your 30 minute rides a bit of a challenge on the left handers?
Now that made me chuckle..
What is an average amount of oil to use over each 1000 miles? I know there will be folks here that say they never touch it until the next change, but as an average?
I have no real idea what an average is and I suspect any average is going to cover some quite wide extremes between those who use none and a few which are quite thirsty. But anecdotally I would guess an average might be around 100 -150ml per 1,000 miles. E&OE. YMMV. And any other caveats that may be relevant.
I reckon to top up the RT (2014) a cupful between 6K services. The GSA (2009) uses a little more. Compared to several 1150's I've owned, I'd say the 1200's generally use less.
One important thing to stress, as mentioned by others above, is to get the engine hot before making meaningful comparisons. If you just trundle a mile or two across town, the oil & engine don't get thoroughly hot, & as a consequence the oil doesn't all drain back.
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