Hello all, I've got a 1250GS, had it 3 years and it's been no problem. When it went in for a service recently, I test rode the 1300GS for the day. It was different for sure but I really liked it. I have heard about oil consumption 'issues' and wanted to know from any happy to reply, if this has been their experience?
Oil consumption
- Thread starter Johnny M
- Start date
My experience has been no oil use (3k miles 2024 bike). Having said that I spoke to a chap recently on the IOM who was using huge amounts of oil for a bike with less miles than mine. Seems very random but others might have more info on this.
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2015
- Messages
- 13,066
- Reaction score
- 5,027
Mine doesn’t use any, neither did my 1200
No oil use at 8.5k miles. Brilliant bike.
No oil usage, even with a 600 km run down the French autoroute from Caen home
Does it depend on what type of oil is used?
Or how it's run in? Certainly, on older bikes, if not done correctly, you risked glazing the bores and/or rings that weren't bedded in properly
J biker
Registered user
There may be an element of luck, but none of my bikes needed an oil top-up between services. 1200, 1250, 1300. And other makes.
One thing though, while I dont thrash them from day one, I do not run them in gently. This on the basis that I had a car yeras ago that was run in very carefully…it used too much oil. The suspicion being glazed bores.
First hundred miles steady. Then avoid over revving and labouring and just ride the thing. Only caveat, always make sure the engine is up to temperature before working it.
One thing though, while I dont thrash them from day one, I do not run them in gently. This on the basis that I had a car yeras ago that was run in very carefully…it used too much oil. The suspicion being glazed bores.
First hundred miles steady. Then avoid over revving and labouring and just ride the thing. Only caveat, always make sure the engine is up to temperature before working it.
piston rings need an amount of abuse to bed in - and then need continued hard use on a regular basis for them to remember how to their job...
so many ideas on running in, if machined OK then the old world very gentle wear off the rough bits should now be history - early CX500's were the last with clearly the wrong sized mains and big ends - where some owners just coped or others self destructed early on.
temps on high spot is an issue, so running in all at once with high loads and temps is not as clever as a number of 25 min runs where after warming up to up temp, allow to cool for 20 mins, then gentle bit of ragging, then let go fully cold should end up a better way
its more how hard you worked it at the wrong point that will drive excessive wear - won't do much harm to keep the first 300 miles gentle with varying revs and light load, cool a smidge then bit of proper exercise before you park up each run to bed the rings nicely
on a two strokes motocross bikes with roller bearings (that don't really need to run in) - the fast boys used to do a gentle warm up, rag to death for 30 to 60 seconds - allow to go cold - do that three times all done....
one should never forget I think all factories do full power runs before you ever get the bike
so many ideas on running in, if machined OK then the old world very gentle wear off the rough bits should now be history - early CX500's were the last with clearly the wrong sized mains and big ends - where some owners just coped or others self destructed early on.
temps on high spot is an issue, so running in all at once with high loads and temps is not as clever as a number of 25 min runs where after warming up to up temp, allow to cool for 20 mins, then gentle bit of ragging, then let go fully cold should end up a better way
its more how hard you worked it at the wrong point that will drive excessive wear - won't do much harm to keep the first 300 miles gentle with varying revs and light load, cool a smidge then bit of proper exercise before you park up each run to bed the rings nicely
on a two strokes motocross bikes with roller bearings (that don't really need to run in) - the fast boys used to do a gentle warm up, rag to death for 30 to 60 seconds - allow to go cold - do that three times all done....
one should never forget I think all factories do full power runs before you ever get the bike
Last edited:
There are so many 'theories' on running in - the handbook basically tells you the best way for engine longevity - ragging it like a two-stroke motocross bike is probably not the best for large capacity 4-strioke twin - after all two-stroke motocross bikes get stripped down and re-furbished every 10-20 hours of running and don't come with a two year warranty
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2015
- Messages
- 13,066
- Reaction score
- 5,027
I always run in as specified in the manual, varying throttle and load and choosing windy roads, don’t thrash or labour the engine
When I bought my scooter I asked how you run in a motor with a CVT transmission, apparently Honda just say you shouldn’t use full throttle for more than half an hour at a time to start with
The service guy said that the small engines work hard and can use a little bit of oil, mine never has and it does work hard
When I bought my scooter I asked how you run in a motor with a CVT transmission, apparently Honda just say you shouldn’t use full throttle for more than half an hour at a time to start with
The service guy said that the small engines work hard and can use a little bit of oil, mine never has and it does work hard
7000miles, no issues with oil consumption
15;000 miles done on 1300 its using a small amount of oil. Nothing to worry about . First water cooled that’s ever used oil.
No oil used on my 2024 4500mile R1300GS so far and not on my previous 2021 R1250GS or 2011 R1200GS TC either. Though when I bought a new R1100RT back in 1995 it used a lot and I had to carry some with with me on longer trips, then at around 15/16k miles it stopped using oil and never needed topping up again.
Similar threads
