Service Intervals

Gavin Buckle

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Jun 30, 2012
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Gauteng, South Africa
I have a 2008 R1200GS and sadly due to work commitments it remains a weekend bike. According to the manual it requires a service every 10 000km or 12 months. Due to it being a weekend bike it doesn't accumulate 10 000km per year. The computer informs me when a service is due, either every 10 000km or 12 months, which ever comes first. What are the dangers of not having it serviced every 12 months, but every 10 000km?
 
Age-related wear and tear, such as seized brake caliper pistons from a lack of cleaning, items not being inspected such as checks for loose bolts, rougher running due to throttle bodies not being balanced, risk of engine damage if valve clearances close up, accumulation of acid and combustion by-products in the oil, sludge forming in the filter.

Why not just learn how to do the relatively simple servicing yourself and invest in a few simple tools to do the job. Thats assuming you have somewhere under cover to work and can read a manual and use a spanner/feeler gauge and can pour oil into a filler hole.

My GSA only does about 4k a year due to a similar work/life pattern so it gets "over serviced" by myself. I own a well equipped garage plus a GS911 and Harmonizer and I am lucky to be an engineer by trade (not automotive but the same skill set).

I change the oils and filter once a year and check the valves/balance throttles, all the other stuff like brake cleaning gets done roughly every 6 months (or sooner if needed.) except for mileage/condition based items like spark plugs, tyres and alternator belt.
 
Wot he said!

Similar story for me, including being an engineering type. Common sense needed. Not main dealer charges. An annual oil and filter change costs pennies in the grand scheme of things. Air filter and plugs as needed. Along with all other consumables of course.

Like most things in life though, it's best to "use it or lose it".

I've been caught out for a new battery recently as it didn't survive 10 months on the optimate.
 
Not too sure how valve-clearances "close-up" on a non-running engine? :nenau

Never heard of that one before............ :confused:

Al
 
Not too sure how valve-clearances "close-up" on a non-running engine? :nenau

Never heard of that one before............ :confused:

Al

Is this a BMW thing,
The missus and I both have TL 1000s's as well as our gsa's
She's not ridden hers since Sept 2011 because of her back operation last year,
It's was started for the last 3 BMF's at peterbourough to get it onto the bike trailer with mine, I think I gave the battery a short charge last Sept,
Last week I changed the tyres, oil and filter, chain and sprockets (because it was clicking a bit when being moved) general check of brakes etc, took it to the mot station using the 19 month old fuel that was in the tank and it ran perfectly. All ready for our 1,700 mile weekend to Germany next weekend.
I've had my BMW serviced at he dealer since I bought it as has she, but the tls's get what they need at home and are both good as gold. Go figure.
 


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