Do you change your own oil?

[Hondagirl]

I've had my R1150R since October 2001, and it still looks and runs like new.

Very true. I can vouch for that. All your bikes look brand gleaming new .
But you do put in time almost every day caring for them and fixing and checking every little tiny detail to keep them like that

[HYPERR]

I've had my R1150R since October 2001, and it still looks and runs like new.

Very true. I can vouch for that. All your bikes look brand gleaming new .

Except for the KLX...

[Hondagirl]

Except for the KLX...

The KLX wouldn't be a dirtbike that was having a good life if it didn't have a few bruises. It still gleams by comparison to many dual purpose/off road bikes.

[totalmotorcycle]

Our R1150R is quite an easy bike to do maintenance on.

I always look how easy a bike is to work on before I consider buying it myself. It is amazing how changing a battery, sparkplugs, oil filter or air filter can be made so much harder by the manufacturer putting a plastic bit, fairing, part or by putting X in a weird location.

My 2001 Kawasaki ZR750F's battery is a PITA to change as Kawasaki put the battery under the air filter box, which requires partial side pannel removal, partial gas tank removal and air box removal. Drives me crazy. Although the oil filter and spark plugs are easy to get at (thankfully).

That's where non-faired bikes really shine IMO is easy to do maintenance on.

Mike

[HYPERR]

Our R1150R is quite an easy bike to do maintenance on.

I always look how easy a bike is to work on before I consider buying it myself. It is amazing how changing a battery, sparkplugs, oil filter or air filter can be made so much harder by the manufacturer putting a plastic bit, fairing, part or by putting X in a weird location.

The funny thing is, on the R1150R, to change the battery or the air filter, you are supposed to remove the gas tank which requires removal of a million things including the two oil coolers.
I've figured out a way to just tilt the gas tank when changing the battery. And to change the air filter (or clean and oil my K&N), I figured out a way to do this without removing anything whatsoever.
I can actually change the oil and filter on my CBR without removing a single piece of fairing as well.

[Wrider]

I always look how easy a bike is to work on before I consider buying it myself. It is amazing how changing a battery, sparkplugs, oil filter or air filter can be made so much harder by the manufacturer putting a plastic bit, fairing, part or by putting X in a weird location.

The funny thing is, on the R1150R, to change the battery or the air filter, you are supposed to remove the gas tank which requires removal of a million things including the two oil coolers.
I've figured out a way to just tilt the gas tank when changing the battery. And to change the air filter (or clean and oil my K&N), I figured out a way to do this without removing anything whatsoever.
I can actually change the oil and filter on my CBR without removing a single piece of fairing as well.

Mike that is a great thing to do...

Hyperr, I know this isn't the hating thread but I hate you for figuring how how to do that on those beemers! haha.

I had a guy come in on a K1200RT once to get a new tire. I'd never worked on a BMW before and it took me a little bit because I didn't realize you had to pull the exhaust can to get the stupid tire off!

The other thing that took forever was getting a sport touring tire off of, patching, and putting it back onto a 17 inch street rim... WITH NO TIRE MACHINE!
Never again...

[HYPERR]

I had a guy come in on a K1200RT once to get a new tire. I'd never worked on a BMW before and it took me a little bit because I didn't realize you had to pull the exhaust can to get the stupid tire off!

Yeah the stock can is in the way, for a single sided swing arm, the BMW takes longer than it should. My Hypermotard on the other hand, it takes about 6 seconds to remove the rear wheel. I mentioned that on the Ducati forum and some guys (not the Hyper guys but the Superbike guys ) complained that they didn't have the strength to remove that one big axle nut.

The other thing that took forever was getting a sport touring tire off of, patching, and putting it back onto a 17 inch street rim... WITH NO TIRE MACHINE!
Never again...

That is the only thing I don't do on my own. I take it to my Honda dealer and they mount and balance for $25 per wheel. Tubed dirtbike tires like the KLX tires I mount on my own just using tire irons. I still wait for a hot sunny day so the tire gets softer.

[Grey Thumper]

The funny thing is, on the R1150R, to change the battery or the air filter, you are supposed to remove the gas tank which requires removal of a million things including the two oil coolers. :shock

On the R1200R, the battery is right under the seat and seems pretty accessible. Looks like with every upgrade, you win some, you lose some.

[HYPERR]

The funny thing is, on the R1150R, to change the battery or the air filter, you are supposed to remove the gas tank which requires removal of a million things including the two oil coolers. :shock

On the R1200R, the battery is right under the seat and seems pretty accessible. Looks like with every upgrade, you win some, you lose some.

Oh is it? They must've listened to all the complaints from R1150R owners.

I use the accessory port for the battery tender and the battery really requires no other maintence so it's not much of a detriment anyways.