Ride report from a BMW NOOOB and an oil question

[gregsfrontporch]

Hey Folks,
I officially joined your ranks this week with an 09 R1200GS, with only 1991 on the clock and almost a whole second skin of TouraTech. I was told the guy's grandmother only rode it to church on Sundays.
Now this is my first ride on a BM'er so this is a first impression. I picked up the bike outside of Dallas and rode across that lovely (not) 287 from Ft worth to Clayton (was 90+ and windy)
My first question is:
oil consumption. The bike was a bit low when I picked it up. I stopped in to the FT Worth BMW dealer on the way out of time, and he suggested out of the blue to keep my eye on the oil. Now my last few bikes never leaked oil (two Triumphs and a Bandit), so I wasn't expecting oil loss but the girl drank about a quart over the 900 mile trip.
Lakewood BMW also confirmed that about a 1qt of oil per 1,000 mile before the 6,000 mile maintenance is not out of line.
Does this sound right?
The bike isn't leaking, and as far as I can tell, I don't see it burning it either, though I guess tit must be.
As for the bike, she's a dream. She came with a Sargent seat which I took on the trip, as well as the stock and a low seat.
After the first day in that tractor seat set to high in front and back, I was losing circulation in my feet. I talked to the guy I bought it from and he suggested setting teh front to high and the back to low setting me deeper in the seat. This helped out quite a bit on day to from Clayton to Denver.
As for the sound, well... she doesn't have the growl I'm used, actually sounds more like a seamstress with bad gas, but she does handle and has plenty of Gid -Dee- Up for my tastes.
I throttle lock and fastway pegs are already on order, and can't think of anything else she needs (to dog into my pockets that is) beyond this, (for now).
She handles great, and I'm grinning from ear to ear.
Last question has to do with squirrels:
Besides the fact that I may hit neighbor kids, is it wrong to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun in the back yard?

[R-1150-RS]

Originally Posted by gregsfrontporch

Hey Folks,
I officially joined your ranks this week with an 09 R1200GS, with only 1991 on the clock and almost a whole second skin of TouraTech. I was told the guy's grandmother only rode it to church on Sundays.
Now this is my first ride on a BM'er so this is a first impression. I picked up the bike outside of Dallas and rode across that lovely (not) 287 from Ft worth to Clayton (was 90+ and windy)
My first question is:
oil consumption. The bike was a bit low when I picked it up. I stopped in to the FT Worth BMW dealer on the way out of time, and he suggested out of the blue to keep my eye on the oil. Now my last few bikes never leaked oil (two Triumphs and a Bandit), so I wasn't expecting oil loss but the girl drank about a quart over the 900 mile trip.
Lakewood BMW also confirmed that about a 1qt of oil per 1,000 mile before the 6,000 mile maintenance is not out of line.
Does this sound right?
The bike isn't leaking, and as far as I can tell, I don't see it burning it either, though I guess tit must be.
As for the bike, she's a dream. She came with a Sargent seat which I took on the trip, as well as the stock and a low seat.
After the first day in that tractor seat set to high in front and back, I was losing circulation in my feet. I talked to the guy I bought it from and he suggested setting teh front to high and the back to low setting me deeper in the seat. This helped out quite a bit on day to from Clayton to Denver.
As for the sound, well... she doesn't have the growl I'm used, actually sounds more like a seamstress with bad gas, but she does handle and has plenty of Gid -Dee- Up for my tastes.
I throttle lock and fastway pegs are already on order, and can't think of anything else she needs (to dog into my pockets that is) beyond this, (for now).
She handles great, and I'm grinning from ear to ear.
Last question has to do with squirrels:
Besides the fact that I may hit neighbor kids, is it wrong to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun in the back yard?

I have heard of such high oil consumption rates during break-in, but I never experienced it on my 2002 R-1150-RS. There are variations in telerances, and yours might have been a little on the 'loose' end of the spec range.

I suggest the usual drill during the first 6000-miles of avoiding constant highway speeds and varying the engine RPM; put a load on the engine by giving it open throttle acceleration periodically; avoid lugging at low engine speeds.

It is possible your piston rings still need to wear-in to where they pass less oil.

I have also heard that it is not good to change out the factory installed 'break-in' oil until the 6,000-mile service, and to avoid synthetic oil for the first few changes until the rings are well seated.

Like I said, my experience was not a lot of oil consumption initially, and I am now at the point where I add maybe 1/2 litre or so between 10,000-km oil changes.

I now use 20W50 synthetic.

These bikes are great machines IMHO, as I rarely need to touch the valve lash adjustment when I check them every 10,000-km. Seems to run like the day I bought it and I have almost 100,000-km on it now.

Hopefully your oil consumption will go away with higher mileage.

You may want to pull the spark plugs and see if there is evidence of more oil being burned on one side or the other.

Is there still warranty remaining on the bike? I believe mine had 3 years unlimited KM as I recall...

Might want to have your local dealer check it out.

Best of luck!

Gary
:) :)

[Abenteuerfahrer]

Originally Posted by gregsfrontporch

Hey Folks,
I officially joined your ranks this week with an 09 R1200GS, with only 1991 on the clock and almost a whole second skin of TouraTech. I was told the guy's grandmother only rode it to church on Sundays.
Now this is my first ride on a BM'er so this is a first impression. I picked up the bike outside of Dallas and rode across that lovely (not) 287 from Ft worth to Clayton (was 90+ and windy)
My first question is:
oil consumption. The bike was a bit low when I picked it up. I stopped in to the FT Worth BMW dealer on the way out of time, and he suggested out of the blue to keep my eye on the oil. Now my last few bikes never leaked oil (two Triumphs and a Bandit), so I wasn't expecting oil loss but the girl drank about a quart over the 900 mile trip.
Lakewood BMW also confirmed that about a 1qt of oil per 1,000 mile before the 6,000 mile maintenance is not out of line.
Does this sound right?
The bike isn't leaking, and as far as I can tell, I don't see it burning it either, though I guess tit must be.
As for the bike, she's a dream. She came with a Sargent seat which I took on the trip, as well as the stock and a low seat.
After the first day in that tractor seat set to high in front and back, I was losing circulation in my feet. I talked to the guy I bought it from and he suggested setting teh front to high and the back to low setting me deeper in the seat. This helped out quite a bit on day to from Clayton to Denver.
As for the sound, well... she doesn't have the growl I'm used, actually sounds more like a seamstress with bad gas, but she does handle and has plenty of Gid -Dee- Up for my tastes.
I throttle lock and fastway pegs are already on order, and can't think of anything else she needs (to dog into my pockets that is) beyond this, (for now).
She handles great, and I'm grinning from ear to ear.
Last question has to do with squirrels:
Besides the fact that I may hit neighbor kids, is it wrong to shoot squirrels with a pellet gun in the back yard?

Welcome....

You're in the wrong forum. This is a ride report forum.

Go to "GSPOT".. >> "oilhead Boxers"...where tons of info will be given regarding your oil consumption. Your oil consumption is perfectly normal.

cheers...