Trip and oil

[petkostas]

Quick question, might sound bit stupid, but never had the experience...
I change the oil of my bike (currently R1150 GS changing next week to a 1200 GSA 08) every 5000Km's.
I am planning a trip which will be around 12000 Km's next summer...since I have never done such a lengthy trip, I would like to ask what other riders do in such occasions? do you plan / schedule / book a service somewhere in between? How many Km's do you ride (while on a trip) before changing?

 

[Sgt Bilco]

Depends on the weather conditions but an oil change is a must on a trip like that in my opinion. I've done trips of that length and an oil change is a minumum requirement but if you prep your bike properly up front, that's all you should need to do on the road. Make sure you have new brake pads as well before you leave.

Take a filter with you and change the oil yourself halfway through

 

[Mr K]

Change it before you go and when you get back.

 

[petkostas]

Take a filter with you and change the oil yourself halfway through

That was my initial thought, but wanted to know how other deal with this (simple yet never encountered situation).

 

[petkostas]

Change it before you go and when you get back.

Obviously the oil will be changed before I go...but I am kind of reluctant riding 12000Km's without an oil change, especially in summer days...

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

TBH I'd have fresh oil and filter before I went and leave it at that. If you're not happy with that just drop the oil and put in fresh, then do the filter when you get home.

Mine's an '05 with quite a few miles on it now and is none the worse for the odd occasion when I've done similar

Andres

 

[Wapping]

I change the oil of my bike (currently R1150 GS changing next week to a 1200 GSA 08) every 5000Km's.

I am planning a trip which will be around 12000 Km's next summer...

what other riders do in such occasions?

do you plan / schedule / book a service somewhere in between? How many Km's do you ride (while on a trip) before changing?

As the song goes: Let's start at the beginning, it's a very good place to start.

The service interval on a 1200 series bike is every 9,600 km's (6,000 miles).

Your planned trip is 12000 km's or 7,500 miles.

You are perhaps planning on overstepping the service interval by 2,400 km's (1,500 miles).

Will the bike die if you miss the service due date and overun by 2,400 km's? No

Will the bike need a top-up with fresh oil during it's 12000 km journey? Probably yes

May there be other things to check at what would be the normal service interval date? Yes, the brake pads for instance. But I guess you will be checking these sometime on your journey anyway.

Is it easy enough to change the oil and a filter when away? Yes. See the sticky on tools that are wise to take on a reasonably long journey.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134046

Will you need an oil filter tool? Yes. You can always drive a screwdriver through the old filter to use as a lever to get it off. This method is less satisfactory for a new filter going on.

http://www.nippynormans.com/product...ench-r1200gsrtstsrk1200rsf800-series-oil-1200

Will you need something to catch the old oil in? This depends on your environmental greenness and social conscience. As they say in Life of Brian, "Don't wear your best sandals".

Will you need to take a full container of sufficient fresh oil with you? Maybe yes, if on the day you chose to make you oil change you cannot buy any.

Can you pre-book services away from you home country? Yes. Do people do it? Yes. Can you just turn up at the door? Yes but they may not be able to help you just at that moment.

Where / how do I find a dealer in a foreign country? Via the BuMW Motorrad webpage and / or a Google search.

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/index.html

Have a great trip.

PS Where are you going and for how long away? I am very jealous.

 

[Andy Davies]

Along with certain others from this parish, I did a 8,600 mile trip from up here to Eastern Turkey (going east of Van). The 1200 was serviced before I went. Temperatures got up to 43C. I took 2ltrs of oil but hardly had to put a drop in. Bike was serviced on my return.
Do the prep and don't worry - just enjoy the trip (but keep a look out for leaky final drive seals!).

Andy

 

[Martyn H]

There are others far more technically qualified than I but my take is this.
Your oil performs for the full Service interval, with the usual combination of short journeys, commutes to work, a few long trips thrown in, perhaps sitting unused for a few weeks at a time. All catered for by both BMW & the oil specialists who produce modern lubricants.
Your trip will presumably mean the bike doing a good daily total, getting up to temperature, & burning off the byproducts of combustion & any water.
I suspect the oil will be in better condition than it would be at the end of a "normal Service interval". Obviously you'll keep an eye on the level on a daily basis, & may or may not do a bit of topping up.
Enjoy the trip.

 

[Dainese Brave]

I went on a trip last year that threatened to exceed the 6,000 mile service interval....I contacted the dealer, and he said being 1,000 miles over would be ok.

Obviously you're exceeding that interval by 1,500 miles, so you'd be pushing it.

I never risked it in the end....if I was in that situation again I'd arrange a service abroad (depends where exactly you're going, but if you're in Europe I'm sure they're as good, if not better, than the UK)...either that or service it yourself (oil and filter) if you're mechanically minded. (keep in mind you'll have to find somewhere suitable to do it)

I'd have a word with you're dealer first

 

[petkostas]

As the song goes: Let's start at the beginning, it's a very good place to start.

The service interval on a 1200 series bike is every 9,600 km's (6,000 miles).

Your planned trip is 12000 km's or 7,500 miles.

You are perhaps planning on overstepping the service interval by 2,400 km's (1,500 miles).

Will the bike die if you miss the service due date and overun by 2,400 km's? No

Will the bike need a top-up with fresh oil during it's 12000 km journey? Probably yes

May there be other things to check at what would be the normal service interval date? Yes, the brake pads for instance. But I guess you will be checking these sometime on your journey anyway.

Is it easy enough to change the oil and a filter when away? Yes. See the sticky on tools that are wise to take on a reasonably long journey.

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134046

Will you need an oil filter tool? Yes. You can always drive a screwdriver through the old filter to use as a lever to get it off. This method is less satisfactory for a new filter going on.

http://www.nippynormans.com/product...ench-r1200gsrtstsrk1200rsf800-series-oil-1200

Will you need something to catch the old oil in? This depends on your environmental greenness and social conscience. As they say in Life of Brian, "Don't wear your best sandals".

Will you need to take a full container of sufficient fresh oil with you? Maybe yes, if on the day you chose to make you oil change you cannot buy any.

Can you pre-book services away from you home country? Yes. Do people do it? Yes. Can you just turn up at the door? Yes but they may not be able to help you just at that moment.

Where / how do I find a dealer in a foreign country? Via the BuMW Motorrad webpage and / or a Google search.

http://www.bmw-motorrad.com/com/index.html

Have a great trip.

PS Where are you going and for how long away? I am very jealous.

Thank you very much for the answer, I am planning a trip from Greece to Nordkapp, I am ok with the rest of Europe (you find everything anywhere), but since the end of the journey is Northern Norway and I had friends failing the trip at that part of the country (2 friends missed Nordkapp only for 2000 Km's) I was kind of anxious and off course skeptical as to what everyone else does in such trips.

 

[petkostas]

I went on a trip last year that threatened to exceed the 6,000 mile service interval....I contacted the dealer, and he said being 1,000 miles over would be ok.

Obviously you're exceeding that interval by 1,500 miles, so you'd be pushing it.

I never risked it in the end....if I was in that situation again I'd arrange a service abroad (depends where exactly you're going, but if you're in Europe I'm sure they're as good, if not better, than the UK)...either that or service it yourself (oil and filter) if you're mechanically minded. (keep in mind you'll have to find somewhere suitable to do it)

I'd have a word with you're dealer first

Thanks mate, no problems servicing on my own, I do it on the 1150 as well, so a change of oils would not be that much of a problem (I believe I could perform that if I asked some local workshop just to dispose the old oil), my main concern was oil wise, because the biggest trip I have done abroad was around 5000Km's and I was spot on back home to change oil and everything (no topping needed during the journey), also since I usually ride on the fast side (and my country usually has high temperatures as well) I am casual with my oil changes.

 

[jonnywave]

Quick question, might sound bit stupid, but never had the experience...
I change the oil of my bike (currently R1150 GS changing next week to a 1200 GSA 08) every 5000Km's.
I am planning a trip which will be around 12000 Km's next summer...since I have never done such a lengthy trip, I would like to ask what other riders do in such occasions? do you plan / schedule / book a service somewhere in between? How many Km's do you ride (while on a trip) before changing?

Where are you going? Buy service on route if available, if not do basic oil swap


Very hot or cold county? Extreem temperatures will degrade oil quicker


Off road? If so your bike maybe working harder change oil and pads more regular

Very long days at high speeds? Iron butt style ? Change more often.

Last trip we did 1200 gas : 18000 miles. Service before, one in Alaska 7k miles apx and one when we got back.. bike sounded a little rough in last few days 40+ degree so could of done another service about 16k in an Ideal world.

3 sets of tyres- replaced brake pads near end of trip.
Duration 4 months.

 

[petkostas]

Where are you going? Buy service on route if available, if not do basic oil swap


Very hot or cold county? Extreem temperatures will degrade oil quicker


Off road? If so your bike maybe working harder change oil and pads more regular

Very long days at high speeds? Iron butt style ? Change more often.

Last trip we did 1200 gas : 18000 miles. Service before, one in Alaska 7k miles apx and one when we got back.. bike sounded a little rough in last few days 40+ degree so could of done another service about 16k in an Ideal world.

3 sets of tyres- replaced brake pads near end of trip.
Duration 4 months.

Thanks mate!
This year I am for a smaller trip (around easter) towards Cappadocia in Turkey (this should be a trip of around 4000Km's I believe) the big trip is next year from Greece to Nordkapp

 

[thornley]

As the song goes: Let's start at the beginning, it's a very good place to start.


Will you need an oil filter tool? Yes. You can always drive a screwdriver through the old filter to use as a lever to get it off. This method is less satisfactory for a new filter going on.

That had me chuckling for best part of an hour. Thank you, thank you, thank you

 

[Deleted account 211025001]

......................
Obviously you're exceeding that interval by 1,500 miles, so you'd be pushing it.

I never risked it in the end....if I was in that situation again I'd arrange a service abroad .....................

Where are you going? Buy service on route if available, if not do basic oil swap


............................

You're both serious aren't you

Andres

 

[AberdeenAngus]

Its only a few miles over the recommended interval
Such intervals are VERY conservative.
Also, it's the first few cold minutes on start up that fecks oil up. A few thousand long distance miles will have less effect on the oil than a few hundred miles on a daily commute.

It'll be ok. Try not to worry about it.

Bigger question is why the hell are you going to Nordkapp ?

 

[Dainese Brave]

You're both serious aren't you

Andres

If it invalidated my warranty then yes!

Like I said...my dealer suggested 1,000mile over wouldn't be a problem. If BMW said 1,500 would invalidate my warranty, then yes I'd find alternative arrangments.

If I didn't have a warranty, then I'd either leave it til I got back, or do it on the road.

 

[petkostas]

Its only a few miles over the recommended interval
Such intervals are VERY conservative.
Also, it's the first few cold minutes on start up that fecks oil up. A few thousand long distance miles will have less effect on the oil than a few hundred miles on a daily commute.

It'll be ok. Try not to worry about it.

Bigger question is why the hell are you going to Nordkapp ?

Why not?
I am in love with the place...I got a GS because I combine photography with travelling like never before...
For us (Greeks) Nordkapp is a challenge (distance, weather, days of travel), Turkey is like nearby, Jordan (which is another trip I am planning) is bit cautious destination for the moment, since middle east is on fire, Turkey and Italy are minimal (toured last summer Tuskany from the edge to the North) in terms of distance...Europe is close so Norway, which in my personal opinion has one of the most "virgin" landscapes (among North Scotland - Isle of Skye) is one of my favorite European destinations...

 

[Wapping]

(among North Scotland - Isle of Skye) is one of my favorite European destinations...

...and you were doing so well up to then