Spring Mods

[BLAIR1200R]

Used my Christmas and Birthday gift certificates at Adventure Designs to buy Weiser LED turn signs and JPR shorty levers.

Picts of lights never seem to show a realistic view, but these are actually brighter than stock. They remind me of the flush mount turn signals on my CBR1000RR. I also liked that they remove the reflector, giving the turn signals a more blacked out look. Very nice product, high quality solder joints, thick PCB, and precision fit. I didn’t have any grease for the levers, so maybe next weekend...

Also did an oil change with the Castrol TWS 10W-60... good weather all week... hope everyone is enjoying the Spring!

[ammolab]

Have you used TWS before? While I use TWS in my car...I have been happy with 5W-40 in the R1200R for the last 2 years.

[Steve H.]

TWS do you really need that grade(60) in your R12R? In my book it says 5-40,10-40 15-40.......50 upper grade.60 is a special oil for special demands on special engines.If I am right.It should be perfect for racetracks.For "normal"using of the bike BMW recommended oils just OK.So,racetrack users,go for TWS...60.May try 75w90dif. oil in yor engine-it is ewen thicker ........Seriously,there is no need for that oil thickness.Definitly.Yust ask Harley guys with boiling rear cillynders.They mostly running their bikes on 10W40,15W40 oils.Any ill affect?? Never hear about them.
Southern states,I would run 15W50,or 10W50,5W50....But ..W60...no need for that.But this is personal opinion.Just doo whatever you like
BRGDS,Steve H.

[BLAIR1200R]

There's a nice discussion on TWS if you do a search. No real reason other than I needed an oil change, so thought I'd give it a try. Summer heat in North Texas can be fairly brutal too. Many days where the temp reads over 100 on the commute home... but it's a dry heat ...agreed, the spec oil is just fine.

Regardless of the oil type, it's always funny how I think the bike runs better after a change... just needs a wash now!

[deilenberger]

I believe the TWS idea may have been mine.

The HP2 spec's the use of TWS, and that's the high performance version of our engine. My experience with TWS includes a lot of testing done by Blackstone after use in a BMW S54 M car engine. The most impressive result was how well it maintained viscosity, both hot and cold. The result is the "new" oil feeling lasts for the entire use of the oil, 6000 mile change intervals.

Cost when bought at a BMW car dealer with a BMW Car Club discount is about $13/liter. The BMW partial synthetic from the BMW motorcycle dealer is $15/quart. Better for less appeals to me. I'll be sending a sample from the bike off to Blackstone shortly and will report the results. They have previously tested the BMW motorcycle oil for me so we'll have a real basis for comparison.

I also use it in my 2001 silver M-coupe, simplifying my oil stocking.

[deilenberger]

BTW, Steve,

75w-90 gear oil is very close in actual viscosity to a 15w-30 motor oil. The numbers on the label don't directly relate to actual viscosity, real viscosity numbers are generally given in centipoise (sp?). The top number is a reflection of what the thickness of the oil would match at a certain temperature. IE: the oil would be as thick as straight 60 weight oil when the 60 weight reached that temperature. It's not as simple as it might seem, and I'm probably not explaining it well. A Google on multiviscosity oils will likely turn up a much better explanation.

My goal was to use an oil that resists viscosity breakdown with use. The tests I had done on the TWS indicate that it is better in this regard than what the motorcycle dealers are selling.

[celticus]

"Cost when bought at a BMW car dealer with a BMW Car Club discount is about $13/liter.
The BMW partial synthetic from the BMW motorcycle dealer is $15/quart."
I'm going to need a lot of convincing that this TWS is that much better than Mobile one. When you can find a 5 quart jug of Mobile one for 25 (or so) dollars.
If money is no concern to you go for it. Money is tight for me right now. I hope your engine lasts forever, I hope mine does too.

[motoracer8]

Don, You are very close with your numbers on gear oil vs motor oil. There are different numbers for gear oil vs motor oil.

Back in the day before multi vis gear oil. SAE 90 gear lube was very close to SAE 50 motor oil. We used the same base stocks to make both products. The chemistry, chlorinated solvents and etc. made it look, smell and pour different.

Today 75w/90 gear lube, and 20w/50 motor oil are very similar in viscosity.

Back in the day when someone said, that oil pours like 90wt. That's because gear lube didn't have to meet the same low temp specs as motor oil. So lower viscosity index base oil was used so gear lube was alittle slower moving when cold.

The viscosity index number shows the base oils resistance to thickening and thinning at temps 0 and 210 deg. the higher the number the number the more stable the base oil.

Sorry, I don't want to start another oil thread I know where that leads. I was in the oil business for a long time, sometimes I just can't help myself.

Ken

[mogu83]

Sorry, I don't want to start another oil thread I know where that leads. I was in the oil business for a long time, sometimes I just can't help myself.
Ken

Sorry ??? Why - Some of the great assets of this group are people that actually worked in the business, not someone that read something once or heard someone say something. People like you are a great resource -- thanks for sharing
Harry

[Steve H.]

Don E.and motoracer8 are apsolutly right!
If you are in hot climate should use the upper grade oil.That is fact.I would do the same.But here in Canada I do not bother with it.

Steve H.