instrument cluster adjustment and engine cover and cold 12K(3 topics!) 2016 R1200RT

[rick601]

1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ADJUSTMENT: P 75-6 of my manual says the instrument cluster can be adjusted by firmly pressing on the mid top or bottom to adjust (I assume) the tilt. My service manager has heard of no such thing.Mine does NOT adjust; It would be helpful riding away from a setting or rising sun...what say you?

2) In my enthusiasm to protect the engine when I got the bike, I got the BMW engine covers, since then I've gotten the Ilium engine guards (and rear case guards too!) as well as Ilium highway pegs. Would you remove the engine guard and sell it or leave them on for added protection? Does the engiine look better without them? is there a compelling argument for keeping them on or removing them?

3) Having the 12K service done on Friday, the dealer is 60 miles away and I'm riding there and waiting. I assume they will start the service when I arrive, will the engine cool enough while they do the rest of the service to get an accurate valve clearance reading when they do that?? The service writer says, "No problem". I am skeptical but willing to go along if the well-informed BMWMOA brain trust agrees with him. After my warranty I am looking forward to doing my own basic service, till then I prefer to be dealer maintained- so DIY advocates need not weigh in, though I agree with you!!

 

[alegerlotz]

1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ADJUSTMENT: P 75-6 of my manual says the instrument cluster can be adjusted by firmly pressing on the mid top or bottom to adjust (I assume) the tilt. My service manager has heard of no such thing.Mine does NOT adjust; It would be helpful riding away from a setting or rising sun...what say you?

2) In my enthusiasm to protect the engine when I got the bike, I got the BMW engine covers, since then I've gotten the Ilium engine guards (and rear case guards too!) as well as Ilium highway pegs. Would you remove the engine guard and sell it or leave them on for added protection? Does the engiine look better without them? is there a compelling argument for keeping them on or removing them?

3) Having the 12K service done on Friday, the dealer is 60 miles away and I'm riding there and waiting. I assume they will start the service when I arrive, will the engine cool enough while they do the rest of the service to get an accurate valve clearance reading when they do that?? The service writer says, "No problem". I am skeptical but willing to go along if the well-informed BMWMOA brain trust agrees with him. After my warranty I am looking forward to doing my own basic service, till then I prefer to be dealer maintained- so DIY advocates need not weigh in, though I agree with you!!

1. The adjustment is minimal, but it is possible as the manual describes. The adjustment is only a couple of degrees, and you need to press pretty firmly to get it to do that. Your service manager must be new to BMW. My bike is also a 2016, and I have adjusted it myself.

2. The illium works crash bars should be sufficient. Its up to you in terms of how the engine looks without the bmw covers. Personally, I have the illium works, but no other engine covers. I included a pic below of the bike with the illium works crash bars, clearwater lights, and naked valve covers.

3. I don't see why it wouldn't cool down enough to do the valve clearance check. When I've done my own service on my 2005 RT, I had other things to do for the service while the bike was cooling. By the time the oil was drained and the valve covers off, the engine had cooled down quite a bit. I would trust the dealer on this... even the service manager who knows nothing about how to adjust the angle of the instrument cluster on your RT.

 

[lee]

Besides changing the oil as mentioned above, the air filter will be changed and it may be due for a brake fluid change.
The valve check will be the last thing they work on.

 

[ncpbmw1953]

1) INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ADJUSTMENT: P 75-6 of my manual says the instrument cluster can be adjusted by firmly pressing on the mid top or bottom to adjust (I assume) the tilt. My service manager has heard of no such thing.Mine does NOT adjust; It would be helpful riding away from a setting or rising sun...what say you?

I've said this before and others didn't see it the same, but the mechanism they use for this adjustment is such that one is either not quite sure there is an adjustment as you have just clearly shown, OR that one is fearful they may break something while doing the adjustment because it lacks clear and simple detents and one has to indeed FIRMLY press or rock the thing to the point you aren't sure if you're doing it correctly. I've yet to try to see exactly what is happening when I have made the adjustment, but yes, it is adjustable. I think there are 3 positions possible with it, as fuzzy as it is telling what you're doing.

 

[rick601]

I've said this before and others didn't see it the same, but the mechanism they use for this adjustment is such that one is either not quite sure there is an adjustment as you have just clearly shown, OR that one is fearful they may break something while doing the adjustment because it lacks clear and simple detents and one has to indeed FIRMLY press or rock the thing to the point you aren't sure if you're doing it correctly. I've yet to try to see exactly what is happening when I have made the adjustment, but yes, it is adjustable. I think there are 3 positions possible with it, as fuzzy as it is telling what you're doing.

So my take away is show the dealer the manual, and let HIM break it?They seem to have no trouble breaking panel tabs! (sorry, some of the shine is off my relationship with my dealer)

 

[rick601]

So my take away is show the dealer the manual, and let HIM break it?They seem to have no trouble breaking panel tabs! (sorry, some of the shine is off my relationship with my dealer)

OK so I gave it a healthy push and indeed there seem to be two positions, I risked all the force I care to...maybe the third position is "unattached to the bike" Anyway I'll be curious to see the difference in positions while riding- or determine it's an unnecessary feature.

 

[alegerlotz]

OK so I gave it a healthy push and indeed there seem to be two positions, I risked all the force I care to...maybe the third position is "unattached to the bike" Anyway I'll be curious to see the difference in positions while riding- or determine it's an unnecessary feature.

There isn't a big difference in the positions, but depending on your height and seat position, one may be better than the other.

I prefer the highest position available.

 

[captainmarko]

They seem to have no trouble breaking panel tabs! (sorry, some of the shine is off my relationship with my dealer)

HAH!

My dealer has had to replace TWO right front panels because the techs broke the tabs.