brake fluid change

[vizslaowner]

I'm a newbie so I hope I'm doing this right! I have a R1200RT (Leibshen). I need my 3rd 6000 mile check up, adj. valves, sync. throtle bodies ect. I'm not a very good mechanic and the bike is under warrenty. The shop tells me I should also change the brake fluid. Is this needed? I have never changed it in any car ,truck or whatever. Please advise me on this! Thanks.:dunno

[marcopolo]

Brake fluid changes are time, not mileage, based. Wheel circuits are to be flushed every two years; control circuit is every four years -- that's for bikes with steel braided brake lines which your R12T has. How long has the bike been in service?

It would also be a good idea to get the maintenance schedules, either from your dealer, or downloadable online from places like A&S BMW.

[vizslaowner]

Thanks for the reply Marcopolo. I was begining to think I was doing something wrong on here. My bike has almost 19000 mile on it, most of which have been put on in 1 1/2 yrs. The dealers service manger called this an anual type thing? Tis is my first BMW and I'm just getting back into biking after about 25 yrs so I'm outta touch.

[Polarbear]

You can change the brake fluid in the resevoirs "only" more frequently and leave the brake fluid alone for years and years. I've done it on many bikes without any issues. Your choice. Its a homebrew remedy, so be it:). At least some of the fluid is constatntly changed and its cycled this way. I do not believe the fluid is a required item for complete changing, by my standards. Automobiles do not think so either, go figure. Moisture and sunlight are the two biggest enemies of brake fluid and a sound system, lines, etcetc., the fluid will go a very long time without a change. Anybody else know more. I would like to read it too:). I've owned two ABS bikes, with no brake fuid changes, other than the resevoir thing I mentioned and both went way over the 100000 mark with no issues in the brakes area. Happy Trails, Randy:thumb

[Bob1100RTC]

I'm a professional mechanic. I like the fact that no one changes their brake fluid. Makes me $. As for my vehicles, I change all the fluids. For what it's worth.

[soffiler]

You can change the brake fluid in the resevoirs "only" more frequently and leave the brake fluid alone for years and years. I've done it on many bikes without any issues.

That is anecdotal. I would not call this sound advise.

Your choice. Its a homebrew remedy, so be it:). At least some of the fluid is constatntly changed and its cycled this way. I do not believe the fluid is a required item for complete changing, by my standards. Automobiles do not think so either, go figure.

Not entirely true. There are some European marques that specify brake fluid service. As to why most auto mfgs do not require brake fluid change, the answer lies partly in the "100,000 mile tune-up". The marketing departments want the vehicles to appear to be ultra-low maintenance. Another part of the answer lies in the fact that fluid tends to get serviced when the brakes are serviced. Yet another part of the answer lies with the relatively large and forgiving nature of automotive brake systems, that can tolerate some reduction in fluid boiling point due to moisture ingress. Motorcycle systems are less tolerant.

Moisture and sunlight are the two biggest enemies of brake fluid and a sound system, lines, etcetc., the fluid will go a very long time without a change.

Believe it or not, moisture can permeate rubber brake lines. BMW revised the brake fluid service schedule when they went to non-permeable SS lines.

Anybody else know more. I would like to read it too:). I've owned two ABS bikes, with no brake fuid changes, other than the resevoir thing I mentioned and both went way over the 100000 mark with no issues in the brakes area. Happy Trails, Randy:thumb

I strongly suggest following BMW's advice rather than Randy's. These are your BRAKES, folks. Not an area to be trifled with. Oh, and by BMW I mean the official factory service information, which might not match what the dealer tells you. It's profitable for the dealer to change fluid every year, and before the SS lines were introduced, that was the factory-recommended service interval. It is now 2 years for wheel circuits and 4 years for control circuits for SS lines. Since this is the Hexhead forum, as far as I know, ALL hexheads have SS lines... anyone?

[rmeisen]

What is meant by Wheel and Control Circuits? This has been mentioned in a couple of the posts so far. Doesn't this refer to the earlier 1150 powered ABS systems? Far as I know, my 07 1200RT has only one circuit like automotive ABS. On my 04, I always noticed the fluid in the upper system was mostly black (moisture) each annual change while the lower looked like new.

[deilenberger]

What is meant by Wheel and Control Circuits? This has been mentioned in a couple of the posts so far. Doesn't this refer to the earlier 1150 powered ABS systems? Far as I know, my 07 1200RT has only one circuit like automotive ABS. On my 04, I always noticed the fluid in the upper system was mostly black (moisture) each annual change while the lower looked like new.

Earlier (Whizzy, aka - servo-assist) brakes used two circuits. An upper control circuit that fed fluid to a hydraulic pump assembly - and a lower circuit that actually send fluid down to the brake calipers (wheels).

Starting in 2007 BMW gave up on this example of over-engineering, and went to a much simpler, single-circuit ABS system. Your '07 has the single circuit.

[vizslaowner]

Thanks to everyone. It's getting changed this service! I just didn't know why it was to be done. Thats cleared up now. Since the bike is 2 years old( almost ) I will have it done. I think I kinda like having you guys around on this forum!
Thanks again:wave

[Polarbear]

Randy's BMW' s have traveled almost a million miles now and have little failures, other than FD's from BMW. My brake fluids have "never" turned black and have usually been quite fresh every time I have removed it from the resevoirs only and refreshed with new. Its only a thought to consider, as I have done with mine throughout the years. All of my trucks, cars have never had the brake fluids changed and used hard, towing horses and weight without fail. NO manuafacturer is going to tell you otherwise, to not change your fluids, because of liability, period. 4 years now on radiator fluids now, from BMW. It keeps getting longer, these intervals, why? I agree, that the Brake Fluid can become compromised, with moisture and its time to get it changed, but my suggestion above has always served my vehicles, including bikes without issues. Your money, spend it as you wish. I am a heavy on maintanence kind of guy and keep my stuff in great working order(myself). I would never be able to afford any vehicle if I had to service it, by manufacturers standards. My miles are my witness:). Happy Trails, Randy:thumb :usa

[soffiler]

Randy's BMW' s have traveled almost a million miles now and have little failures, other than FD's from BMW. My brake fluids have "never" turned black and have usually been quite fresh every time I have removed it from the resevoirs only and refreshed with new. Its only a thought to consider, as I have done with mine throughout the years. All of my trucks, cars have never had the brake fluids changed and used hard, towing horses and weight without fail. NO manuafacturer is going to tell you otherwise, to not change your fluids, because of liability, period. 4 years now on radiator fluids now, from BMW. It keeps getting longer, these intervals, why? I agree, that the Brake Fluid can become compromised, with moisture and its time to get it changed, but my suggestion above has always served my vehicles, including bikes without issues. Your money, spend it as you wish. I am a heavy on maintanence kind of guy and keep my stuff in great working order(myself). I would never be able to afford any vehicle if I had to service it, by manufacturers standards. My miles are my witness:). Happy Trails, Randy:thumb :usa


Clovis, CA? Pretty dry out there, eh? I want to point out again to the readers of this forum, and future keyword-searchers, that Randy's experience is anecdotal. It works for him - more power to ya, Randy. It's still not good advice in general.

[47512]

I have been a German auto tech for 35 years, all of them recomend brake fluid change every 2 years. Brake fluid is hydroscopic, will retain moisture, it is designed that way. Not only will moisture lower the boiling point, at some point corosion resistance is overcome. Just changing fluid at the master cylinder dose not do much down stream at wheel cylinders. California may not have as much of an issue with moisture as other parts of the country, but motorcycles have such a small amount of brake fluid compaired to cars, just change it, be safe, and your brake system will live a long happy life.

Ken G.

[Polarbear]

Right is right and I back off:). My "desert" climate DOES indeed have a lot to do with this issue. I forget:(. Bad of me. Moisture is a huge issue in many parts of the globe and its a point well received. My humid days are maybe 10% humidity on good days of the stuff! No rain here either for nearly 6 months now:(. Wishing for rain anytime now, as its due. Our average is around 9 inches, yearly. Deserts and the brake fluid are much more friendly partners, for longer life of the fluid, so I am wrong about many many other areas of this country and should have wised up earlier. Another day, Happy Trails, Randy"Polarbear":thumb :usa