The G450X manual does not tell you to avoid synthetic oil. All the manual says (Page 92) is as follows: "Mineral oils of API classification SF to SH. BMW Motorrad recommends not using oil additives becuase they can have a detrimental effect on clutch operation."
Indeed Vines of Guildford advised me to use the Castrol Power1 Off Road which is synthetic. But the off road version is tosh as explained below:
I was v confused by the oil specifications in the G450X manual, so I called up the Castrol technical help line in Swindon and spoke to a knowledgable chap who also rode motorbikes off road, and was informed that:
- the manual actually refers to outdated API oil classifications. I believe the API specs cited by BMW are ~10 years old! Modern engines required modern oil, so why BMW are specifying oil based on old specs is beyond me, particualarly as the bike is a temperamental competition bike.
- the relevant oil spec is JASO. And this is not referred to in the manual.
- the Castrol Power1 GPS, Off Road & Racing all meet the same JASO specs. The Racing variant is fully synthetic and high quality synthetic at that too. The Off Road version is also synthetic, but slightly lower quality synthetic than the Racing variant. THe Off Road version claims to have additives for the clutch, but actually all the Power1 GPS oils have this same clutch additive. In fact, the tech guy informed my that its just marketing that is differentiating the off road version.
- The Power1 GPS and the Racing varian is available in 1 & 4 litre cans, whereas the Off Road is only available in 1 litre cans. If you are doing regular oil changes, then the better quality fully synthetic Racing variant works out cheaper if you buy it in 4 litre cans !
- So long as the engine is run in, then synthetic is fine. Non synthetic should be used during the run in process to "encourage" the piston rings to wear, bed in and seal. Then synthetic can be used. If synthetic is used from the outset, the rings wont wear and seal, and oil will continue to be burnt.
- Where the manual says don't use additives in the oil, it means don't add your own to the oil. The additives already in the oil are fine; in fact you'd be hard pushed to find any engine oil without additives.
Now on the basis of this advice I bought a 4 litre can of the Racing variant with the intention of using it in my G450X, but didnt get around to doing an oil change 'cos of all the starting problems I've had and has been at a dealer for sooo long now.
Pls don't flame me if you dont agree or believe me, but instead pls call Castrol in Swindon on +44 (0)1793 512 712 and ask for their tech support department.
