High mileage Oilheads

[hwunger]

Since the oilhead has been around for over a decade now, there must be some high mileage oilheads out there ... 100K, maybe 200K or moe ... I'd like to know what you found along the way, mechanically - any top end work, new cylinders, etc ?

Thanks for any and all info.

[GSAnderson]

I think Voni Glaves has over 225,000 on her RS.

[DarrylRi]

Yeah, I have 185,000 miles on my '94 R1100RS. I love the RS, it fits me and my riding style very well. So well that I have a 2002 R1150RS that I'm now using for my everyday riding, and the 1100 is stored in Germany (http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/europeriding.htm).

However, it hasn't been perfect. Things I have had to pay for (all mileages very approximate):

140,000 needed new front disks; replacements cost $400 each so I bought a used wheel (with a small wow in it) for $300 and moved the disks over.
150,000 got the dreaded "skip in 3rd gear" problem and bought a refurbished tranny (this is the 4th one, but there's a long story and the previous ones were free under warranty, back in the 40,000 mile time frame). I put a new clutch in at this time, too, though the one in there was only about half used up.
157,000 front driveshaft U joint self destructed.
182,000 left piston skirt broke (http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/2004TheEnd.htm) which led to the total destruction of the inside of the motor. I was able to buy a nearly new R1100RT motor (30,000 kms) and have it installed for about $2600.
I expect to go a long way further now with little trouble. This bike does not get babied, it started life as a demonstrator, has now seen a number of track schools (http://darryl.crafty-fox.com/motorcycles/1999Nurburgring.htm), lots of fun time on the backroads, and of course, a certain amount of time at redline in 5th on the autobahn (the motor actually gave up while I was doing about 110 mph on the 'bahn -- it was completely undramatic, just a brief bit of vibration and then the motor stopped). The costs for these repairs are dwarfed by the cost of tires every 5,000 miles or so.

I don't do anything exceptional for this bike, just the routine services on time. I keep the oil topped up with Castrol GTX 20W50 and have never put synthetic oil in the bike. (I did try synthetic gear lube in the trans/final drive once, but didn't notice any smoother shifting.)

BTW, I think Voni must have waaay more than 225k on her bike!

[username]

Originally posted by DarrylRi
The costs for these repairs are dwarfed by the cost of tires every 5,000 miles or so.

excellent perspective, IMHO. that's been my big shocker of owning a motorcycle - new tires. im just grateful that BMW doesnt make tires. ;)

this is fantastic information, thanks. i hope it's a glimpse into the future for my '02.

[DarrylRi]

Originally posted by username
excellent perspective, IMHO. that's been my big shocker of owning a motorcycle - new tires. im just grateful that BMW doesnt make tires. ;)

this is fantastic information, thanks. i hope it's a glimpse into the future for my '02. I used to buy tires at the dealer. I know that's not the cheapest way to go, but A) changing tires is a dirty, sweaty job that I don't enjoy, and 2) I would rather give my business to a local.

However, the bay area dealers get $85/hour and more for their labors, routinely charge a full hour for mounting and balancing, and also charge full retail for the tires. New rubber front and rear can easily surpass $400.

There's a local accessory shop that will sell me tires at a price that's competitive with the mail order guys, will mount and balance for $5 if I buy the tire from them (or $20 if I bring my own tire in, like I need to do with some of my vintage bikes), has tires for my R1150RS and R90S routinely in stock, and is open 7 days.

I understand that the dealer has to make their profit to stay in business, something I definitely want them to do. But I simply can't overlook that there's a 45% difference in the cost of tires every 5,000 miles (which is every couple months or so for me).

Regarding your '02, my 2002 R1150RS now has 52,000 miles on it. The only thing I've had go wrong is just recently the big caged ball bearing in the final drive self destructed on the way to the Spokane rally. Otherwise it has been tires and service only.

(The bearing failure required me to rent a truck and schlep it 250 miles back to -->!! Ozzie's BMW Center !!<-- in Chico, California, who dropped everything, fixed it in 3 hours, along with changing the lube saturated brake pads and rear tire, got me out the door for $460, and then two weeks later sent me a check for $89 they wrestled out of BMW NA for "goodwill" (the bike being out of warranty). Oh, and they UPSed a box with 8 tie downs to me for free.)

[bikerfish1100]

FWIW, Voni is in the 350K range at this point. But with Paul doing all her servicing:bliss that is not entirely unexpected.

[Voni]

It's Paul's K bike that has 350,000.

Mine has 307 thousand indicated plus another 8 thousand - when the spedometer was broken.

One fine bike - And one fine mechanic add up to lots of sMiles.

In fact, I love the R11RS so much I bought another just like it - only redder. Big Red Too has 143,000 on it now.

Voni
sMiling

[hwunger]

Thanks so much .... looks like my 2001 Roadster has a long life ahead ... tires, yes, I'm running some Michelin Sport Pilots and really like them ... wear not too bad, but will try Roads or BT-020 next time around.

Thanks again for all perspectives!

[Voni]

I've gone to a high mileage touring tire - the Metzler ME880. Got tired of wearing them out so fast.

I'm getting 14,000 on the rear and 22,000 on the front. I was used to changing tires prematurely if I was going on a trip so I wouldn't have to buy them on the road. Tire life used to be my only complaint about the R11RS. No more . . .

Voni
sMiling

[dbrick]

Voni, what pressures do you run on the 880s?

[Voni]

40 front, 42 rear.

And I've never (knock on wood) bent a rim.

Voni
sMiling

[BradfordBenn]

Hmmm, I am about due for a tire change on the RT. Let's see ME880 for the 02 RT looks like they have some...

Front 120/70R17 M/C 58V TL ME880 Marathon Front Steel Radial - 2.50 BAR
Rear 170/60R17 M/C 72V TL ME880 Marathon Steel Radial - 2.90 BAR

Hmmmmm someone around here must have a good recommendation for purchasing these......

[Voni]

They don't have an ME880 to fit the RS's 18 inch stock rear wheel, so I changed to an early K12RS 17 inch wheel. Loving not having to change tires so often.

So is Paul ; )

Voni
sMiling

[BradfordBenn]

I wonder if Paul makes house calls... other than Voni's place.

[DDHR1150RT]

Originally posted by BradfordBenn
Hmmm, I am about due for a tire change on the RT. Let's see ME880 for the 02 RT looks like they have some...

Front 120/70R17 M/C 58V TL ME880 Marathon Front Steel Radial - 2.50 BAR
Rear 170/60R17 M/C 72V TL ME880 Marathon Steel Radial - 2.90 BAR

Hmmmmm someone around here must have a good recommendation for purchasing these......

Yep, I highly recommend the Metzler ME880's for the RT. Long life, good "bite"on the twisties (I've pounded the Dragon with these tires!), and nice, straight, stable ride in the rain, grooved roads, and dirt (yes, I have ridden the RT in dirt with ME880's. Not an "off-road" tire by any means but will get you through the somewhat loose kind of dirt with no real worries if ridden properly).

Buy em, you'll like em!

Oh, and I have since started using a Michelin Road Pilot on the rear since my ME880 finally bit the dust while riding to the Spokane rally. I don't have the exact mileage for the ME880 tires in front of me right now but I will say that I have experienced the same miles and a bit more in which Voni has with her RS and ME880's.

[dbrick]

Originally posted by DDHR1150RT
Oh, and I have since started using a Michelin Road Pilot on the rear since my ME880 finally bit the dust while riding to the Spokane rally. I don't have the exact mileage for the ME880 tires in front of me right now but I will say that I have experienced the same miles and a bit more in which Voni has with her RS and ME880's.
How do they feel in comparison to the ME880s?

[Andy VH]

I have 115,000 miles on my 94 R1100RS. Replaced the clutch assembly, replaced the rear main seal, replaced a fried ABS modulator, replaced the front disc mount buttons (yes they really do wear out). Beyond that the rest has been general maintenance. I do have a 96 spec tranny in my bike that BMW NA gave me to replace the original tranny, at 68,000 miles. No cost to me as BMW warrantied it, and I did my own work. I'm not a BMW mechanic by the way, just a determined CAB (Cheap A$$ Biker) who likes to turn his own wrenches and know his bikes.

[OUTBACKUFO]

As of today... 02 1150GS got 129K bought it in Feb of 2002... been for the $$ the best of any vehicle...

I get 10-11K out of rear metz tourances with mixed riding on some gravel and up to 15K out of fronts is i am riding only road.. in australia i pulled 22K km (13.75K miles out of a rear once somehow)

The Damage List

50K the input shaft went out out of the blue...
3 front mounting brakets in the first two years under warranty...
70K replaced rear stock shock with a Wilber... still on oringal front shock
88K orignal fianl drive bearing went...(unfortunately it went out in Beaver UT on I15 at 230am... $450 tow job to Vegas plus $900 repairs) the again under warranty at 96K and 120K... bad metal i was told.. BMW of Denver has been amazing with the final drive warranties...
88K replaced pinon bears with first final drive bearing
2 of the plastic covers on the right side of the tank
3 rear mud flaps... gave up after thrid one came loose and custom painting it even with lock-tight.
96K Front Disc breaks.... all that granite dust in the yukon
115K Rear Dist break
two left system case lugage rack bars...
replaced orignal windscreen with Z-technik at 108K
5 low beam bulbs... 1 high beam bulb... Need to replace high beam bulb glass... got cracked at 110K.
on my second set of crash bars... really did not like the Touratech... went to Wunderlich...
two sump gaurds

as we speak.... both throttle bodies and a new fuel pump

Since 50k i do all my own fluids and filters...