Wow! That is one loaded post ... don't know where to start, and I hope others will chime in as well. I will start with my reply to your last bit.
(12-30-2024, 12:09 AM)Neptune Wrote: HI is insane prices and shops refuse my bike saying bc it is a BMW. Another shop Montgomery Powers Sports said they’d only do oil if I brought oil and filter for $460.
...
I started changing my own oil instead of the dealer. OEM oil.
You can say that again ... those prices are insane. You never said where exactly you live but looking up
Montgomery Powersports and
Cycle City it appears that you live on Oahu. If I Google "
,[21.30452610785986,-157.916476553425]]]BMW motorcycle dealerships in Hawaii" I come up with several hits - not all being actual BMW Motorrad dealerships - so your choices appear limited on Oahu. There are other dealerships on the other islands, but I have no clue how convenient it would be to bring the bike there and it would certainly add to the cost.
Montgomery Powersports does not appear to be a BMW Motorrad dealer, and they sound like they are a joke if they are quoting you $460 for an oil / filter change - that is too much for maybe 5 oil changes if not more. I change my oil and filter for maybe $50, doing it myself. I get my
oil by the box of 6 on Amazon. I may buy a BMW filter if in the dealership and the price is decent. I bought BMW oil once then I got wise. I don't typically pay for logos. I buy the cheapest brand-name oil with the spec called for in the manual (SH or better), and the RS is happy. I would stay away from this dealer.
Cycle City states they are "mainly a Harley and Kawasaki dealer", and being a Harley dealer in a limited market space, I would not be surprised if their prices are not similarly ridiculous. At least they also carry new BMW bikes so they may actually be a BMW Motorrad dealer, but being a multi-line dealer carrying HD, BMW, Aprilia, Ducati, Triumph and KTM (among others) their prices are likely to be high.
So, it looks like you need to get handy with the tools - you do know that
my YouTube channel has several videos on RS maintenance, right? Oil change is one of the first. The good news is that BMW boxers are not a hard to work on from an access point of view. Get a Haynes Manual.
(12-30-2024, 12:09 AM)Neptune Wrote: It felt off riding, 5,200 miles and 18 months since last oil change, no check lights, so I changed oil myself pulled out 3.35L. Put in 4.0L to top ring. It feels way better. I’m at 23,500. 2016 RS. Used a GS911 to change oil light.
Is that low to pull out? Post new fill it sounded weird left side, rode it a lap, now sounds better than pre change. Should I change before 6k miles from now on?
Not sure what you meant by "It felt off riding", but you cannot feel oil wearing out so if it "felt off" then that was something else. I change my oil at 6k miles because that is what is recommended and is what I am accustomed to. If it takes 2 years for you to do that then that is fine also. The RS's engine is robust and will not complain if run longer than 6k before the next oil change, but go with the manufacturer's recommendation to be safe. At that rate you may see a puff of smoke while starting the bike if it has been sitting for a while - normal with BMW boxers as the oil collects in the low-side cylinder; just keep an eye on oil levels within that 6k mile interval - it may need a little top up.
As for the amount of oil - don't overthink this. The oil and filter change is the easiest job (but one of the most important) to do on the bike but it is not rocket science. I have no clue what volume I pull out and have no time or intent to measure it either. Just start with a warm bike and let it drain well - whatever comes out comes out. I don't recall ever putting 4 quarts in my RS; my RS will take like 3.5 quarts and be good. You do not want to have too much oil in the bike. Check my video for more details on oil changes.
(12-30-2024, 12:09 AM)Neptune Wrote: Can I skip valve & spark check? Last done at 12k dealer no change. In HI now no dealer Cycle City only will touch it and wants 4 grand to check valves and spark plugs. CA original dealer wanted $1,400. Way to do this myself if it matters?
You can skip everything - its your bike - and at your rate of riding nothing might happen. We all have different opinions on caring for our bike, and this whole post is mine. Following the recommended maintenance schedule is best for the health of your bike, BUT it also has some profit built into it, in my opinion.
There is no need to
change spark plugs according to the schedule in the manual - that is my opinion. Checking and cleaning and gapping the plugs every 12k is good enough. The most important thing is to pull the plugs and check the condition - that will tell a lot about the health of your engine. Since it is only 2 maybe treating the bike to new plugs every 24k would be nice, if all is well with your combustion. Replacing the plugs should only take 30 minutes tops.
As for the valves - they should be checked periodically and thanks to the boxer design it is not hard to do - easy access. I have 60k+ on my bike and the gaps have never shifted. Checking the valves should take maybe 2 hours, so I don't see where Cycle City gets off quoting $4k for plugs and valve check. Maybe you pissed them off or something ...
Skip Cycle City as well.
(12-30-2024, 12:09 AM)Neptune Wrote: Side question, any way to change tires myself? Here in HI Cycle City wants $480 rear only on a 5 year old Michelin road 4 and San Diego wanted that for both tires Michelin road 6.
Of course there is a way to change tires yourself - check YouTube for lots of videos. I think $480 is excessive to supply and install any tire on any motorcycle. Here in Houston if one removes the wheel and brings in the wheel and the new tire to the dealer, they would charge less than an hour to install and balance, so say under $100. Ask any lesser shop in your area that works on motorcycles for a quote on that basis. There are tire changing apparatuses you can but that would pay for itself in under 2 changes at the Cycle City rate.
