BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Hi
I usually ride in NYC short runs. Bike heats like crazy after 10-15 minutes in normal traffic.
20/50 BMW oil, checked carbs with Twinmax. All seems to be in order. Spark plugs may be a bit dusty with gray, not white.
No problem on highway. Seems like the pump is not pumping oil on idle. There's also noticeable power decrease possibly after a sever overheat. Bike has only 9K miles.Anybody had something similar?
Thanks for replying

I doubt it has anything to do with the carbs. If you checked that your exhaust is not clogged then its gotta do with your cooling circuit (oil pump / oil valve / oil filter). There is a valve which should open the oil flow to the coolers at around 60°C. Check that (touch the lines after some riding ...). If thats not the cause you need to get your oil pump /engine checked. If you suspect overheating don't continue excessive riding.

Brgds
Oliver

By "normal" NYC traffic, you mean stop and go? Bike is air cooled and won't do well in this situation. Better to use a scooter in town.

Are your oil coolers working? Cautiously feel them when bike is up to temperature (remember hot surfaces can cause actual physical discomfort and injury. Like McDonalds coffee). The rise in temperature will be obvious when the thermostat has opened.

Checked, oil does get to radiators when hot just not cooling. Obviously abnormal - 15 minute ride gets it iron hot, although the city, still moving... should not be this bad. Any suggestions?
R1150R has no oil temperature gage - any ideas for that?

The motorcycle is an oilhead, a large amount of engine cooling is done by the oil system, if you don't get sufficient airflow through the oil coolers, the heat is not removed from the engine .
Like you said, they get iron hot, so the hot oil is getting to the coolers .
But on the highway everything is normal .
You're type of city riding is not suited for this motorcycle from the sounds of it .
I've ridden my '02 R in air temps of 120 F here in Phoenix, with no problems the last 12 years .

AZBMWRIDER wrote:The motorcycle is an oilhead, a large amount of engine cooling is done by the oil system, if you don't get sufficient airflow through the oil coolers, the heat is not removed from the engine .
Like you said, they get iron hot, so the hot oil is getting to the coolers .
But on the highway everything is normal .
You're type of city riding is not suited for this motorcycle from the sounds of it .
I've ridden my '02 R in air temps of 120 F here in Phoenix, with no problems the last 12 years .

Yeah but maybe your speeds are higher

BTW I don't disagree with the comment about unsuitability of the 1150 for mostly city driving.

Seems to me a 650 to 800 with a smaller wheelbase is more nimble and geared quicker for city riding

Rags

You'll need to keep the bike moving to keep the air-flow over the heads and the oil-coolers.

If you're not filtering (lane-splitting), you're going to overheat.

how do you know u are overheating? i see boxers in london and paris commuting every day with no problems. is there a way to check oil temps in the city? that would give u a good idea of what is going on. i would think with synthetic, an oil temp of 240 or under would be acceptable. what are t he symptoms of the overheating?

here's something u might try. i bought the af-xied from beemerboneyard for $220. it tricks the cpu into giving at least 5% more gas and is adjustable. a richer mixture is a cooler engine. it also stopped most pinging and let me run at 2500 rpm in 6th gear. just lift the tank and plug the thing inline with the oxygen sensor wires. i love it................

What oil are you running? Synthetic oil would be better when running in hot temps which translates to better engine protection. Also evidence of overheating is severe engine pinging when lugging the motor.

Thank you all for your input. Problem is not resolved. It is obviously abnormal when your engine pinging after only 15-20 minute ride in a cool weather even if you had a few red traffic lights on the way. I would welcome any suggestions.
And also, how do you know if you burnt your oil?

Burnt oil will have a darkened color, much like molasses, and have an off smell. If you are running the correct amount and type of oil you shouldn't be having issues with the heat. I ride my bike in stop and go traffic here in Colorado often and have only had a few problems. I will admit if you find yourself sitting without moving for more than a minute or two it does start to get a bit uncomfortable. I try to get some space between me and the car in front so I can keep the bike moving at least 5mph or so. Has anyone mounted a few little 12v cooling fans on those coolers before? How does the RTP keep from overheating with the police just sit on them running radar?

Showmaster wrote:
20/50 BMW oil, checked carbs with Twinmax.

Your R1150R has carbs?

martinjmpr wrote:

Showmaster wrote:
20/50 BMW oil, checked carbs with Twinmax.

Your R1150R has carbs?

yours DOES'NT?

Unless you have an engine oil after market temp sensor installed as Cyclerob did years ago, you are realy just guessing on the oil temps. However, if your headers start to glow red hot, then it is time to shut it off. This was one of the very few negative aspects of the RR bike that always caused me constant worries when traveling and having to sit in traffic. My water cooled Rotax 798cc GS engine is much more worry free, gets 60 mpg of regular gas, and NEVER uses a drop of oil. 3 quarts out. 3 quarts in.