K Bike Motor Oils

K Bike Motor Oils

Since K bikes have a dry clutch, you do not need to buy special motorcycle oils or worry about additives. It is perfectly acceptable to use plain old automotive motor oil.

From the owner's manuals:

From a notice put out by BMW in 2007:

FWIW, I generally use one of the following oils on a 10,000 mile change interval:

Mobil 1 15W-50 Synthetic

(generally least expensive in the five quart jug from Wal-Mart or Amazon)

Mobil 1 10W-40 High Mileage Synthetic

(generally least expensive in the five quart jug from Wal-Mart or Amazon)

I've recently started using a 50-50 mix of this and the Mobil 1 15-50. Mobil's high mileage oils have cleansing and rubber seal restoration additives that will hopefully keep the starter sprag clean and keep the rear main seal from drying out and leaking.

Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 Synthetic

(relatively inexpensive everywhere including auto parts stores)

Low Mile Engines:

Castrol GTX 20W-50

For bikes with 20,000 or less miles, use a good regular motor oil like Castrol GTX 20W-50 in order to let the rings seat properly.

6,000 mile change interval

Oil Filter: Don't use Fram oil filters. I use Bosch 72161 oil filters. They are good oil filters that have the same dimensions and use the same oil filter wrench as the overpriced BMW oil filters.

Unlike some cars, it's normal for K bike motor oil to turn dark very soon after an oil change.

K Bikes "Burn" Oil: The amount varies by individual bike, but it is normal for K bikes to use oil, generally up to a quart every 2,000 miles or so. (The allowable maximum oil consumption according to BMW specs is 2.55 quarts per 1,000 miles - which is an insane number.)

Topping Off: Put the bike up on the center stand on a level surface, let it sit for a few minutes and then fill it to about 3/4 full in the oil sight glass on the right bottom of the motor.

Touring: When traveling long distances, I use a 16.9 ounce plastic Coke bottle to carry top-off oil. They're good because they are readily available, sturdy and don't leak in your luggage. (Just don't drink it by accident.)