tranny oil type?

[samo]

I have a 2003 r1150rt, and was curious what type and wt. of oil everyone is using in their transmissions.

Thanks !

 

[jfremder]

I have a 2003 r1150rt, and was curious what type and wt. of oil everyone is using in their transmissions.

Thanks !

Synthetic GL-5 gear oil in tranny, Dino in F/D 80W-90

 

[69ZEFF65]

I've always used the OEM dino stuff

It might be the premium $$$ but I put the BMW recommended and supplied Hypoid 80W/90W gear oil, get two quarts and do tranny and FD. I also drain the old stuff into a clean container and then put it through a paint strainer to check for foreign objects or reasons to be concerned.

 

[MarkM]

Castrol Hypoy C or Spectro Hypoid

I am currently using Mobil 1 Synthetic LS 75W-90 in my R1100RS. It is spec'd API GL-5. I've only had this bike since August and put this in both the transmission and final drive when I bought it.

HOWEVER, Tom Cutter (transmission expert at Rubber Chicken Racing Garage) recommends *against* Mobil 1. I respect his opinion and will be switching to his recommendation of Castrol Hypoy C 80W90 (non-synthetic) GL-5 gear oil next time around. He also uses Spectro Hypoid 80W90 (non-synthetic) gear oil, so I might use that if I can't get my hands on the Castrol.

 

[cycleman2]

I'm currently using the Honda Dino GL5 80-90 gear oil in both tranny & final drive. Seems to work well, no BMW dealer in my area so this stuff is easy to find locally. Honda rear drives are noted for not blowing up so I figure it should work fine in the BMW.

I change both the engine, tranny & final drive every 6000 miles, unless I'm on longer trips than I'll just change the engine oil and do the tranny & final drive yearly.

Do a search you'll find lots of threads on this type of stuff. General consensus is just follow the manufactures recommendation & you'll be fine.

 

[motorbike]

Gear Oil

I have had good luck with RED LINE Syn. gear oil.Change every 6K.

 

[pbrokaw]

Guys and Gals:

Does the synth gear oil seem to help with shifting by chance?

Mine is a little rough at times for only having 47k on it.Thought maybe some synth would help a bit...

Perry

 

[bikerfish1100]

I have had good luck with RED LINE Syn. gear oil.Change every 6K.

curious.
why do you change it at 1/2 the interval recommended by the manufacturer?
i had always heard that RedLine was top end stuff, and would think that extending service intervals would be more likely, rather than shortening them. (unless of course 6k is your yearly mileage, in which case: a) never mind, and b) you need to ride more)

 

[bikerfish1100]

Guys and Gals:

Does the synth gear oil seem to help with shifting by chance?

Mine is a little rough at times for only having 47k on it.Thought maybe some synth would help a bit...

Perry

at what rpms are you shifting?

fwiw- my R11S has the early 6-speed transmission, and always shifts buttah smooth. Usually Castrol or Valvoline semi-synth, GL-5.

 

[pauls1150]

Red synth (Bel-Ray Gear Saver 85W-140 API GL-5 hypoid) in the tranny, and BMW 80W-90 GL-5 hypoid dino in the rear.

I like the idea of different colors - if something leaks, it's easier to say where it's coming from.

The red synth shifts easier when the bike is cold, but seems to have a lot less "cush" in shifting than dino when it's hot. Also, the difference in "feel" when I do a trans oil change is more pronounced with the synth than when I was using dino.

 

[pbrokaw]

at what rpms are you shifting?]

Usually around 4K rpm depends if I am loafing it or riding it sporting. I think the real problem lies in my halfhearted shifting vs the "smack it with athourity shifting that beemers need. I need to retrain the left foot for a BMW style shift. It's been 2 months and about 700 miles since this bike was new to me. Before that it was a Triumph Sprint ST(fairly smooth shifter with synth in the crankcase.

Perry

 

[bikerfish1100]

at what rpms are you shifting?]

Usually around 4K rpm depends if I am loafing it or riding it sporting. I think the real problem lies in my halfhearted shifting vs the "smack it with athourity shifting that beemers need. I need to retrain the left foot for a BMW style shift. It's been 2 months and about 700 miles since this bike was new to me. Before that it was a Triumph Sprint ST(fairly smooth shifter with synth in the crankcase.

Perry

try north of 5K (or even 6), see how it responds. I have asked this question whenever someone complains about clunky shifting, and i have always gotten responses of "4K", or even lower.
mine is not as smooth as my old 900SS Duc, but mostly due to the R11 having a longer throw.

 

[cycleman2]

Guys and Gals:

Does the synth gear oil seem to help with shifting by chance?

Mine is a little rough at times for only having 47k on it.Thought maybe some synth would help a bit...

Perry

I've tried Mob 1 75-90 sync for a short time and didn't find it helped. If anything in my view it may have been slightly worse when it warmed up.

 

[ANDYVH]

My 94 RS has over 154K on it. The tranny is a 96 spec unit, replaced by BMW under extended warranty at 68K. Rear drive is original and untouched other than fluid changes. I have used Castrol full synthetic 75W90 GL5 hypoid gear oil for all of those miles. I change the tranny and final drive oil about every 20k.

 

[flymymbz]

I have had good luck with RED LINE Syn. gear oil.Change every 6K.

Same here. use it in the BMW's and the Guzzi's and the Honda's.

 

[Olsensan]

Post #2 says it all, that is what the manual recommends. Aside from the fact that the manual also says change it at 24, or 12k miles, I change mine each year just for the piece of mind. Some may argue it is a waste of $ but after spending 20k or so on the bike, the extra $10 per year seems to be a minimal expense for longevity of the bikes workings.

 

[boxwrench]

Amsoil 75w-90 severe use gear oil

 

[kantuckid]

Post #2 says it all, that is what the manual recommends. Aside from the fact that the manual also says change it at 24, or 12k miles, I change mine each year just for the piece of mind. Some may argue it is a waste of $ but after spending 20k or so on the bike, the extra $10 per year seems to be a minimal expense for longevity of the bikes workings.

Trust the mfg's intervals until you learn differently-on multi$$$ aircraft the intervals are honored, why not do the same on a bike? I know it's your machine, but my 2cents...

 

[RMcMillan]

I am currently using Mobil 1 Synthetic LS 75W-90 in my R1100RS. It is spec'd API GL-5. I've only had this bike since August and put this in both the transmission and final drive when I bought it.

HOWEVER, Tom Cutter (transmission expert at Rubber Chicken Racing Garage) recommends *against* Mobil 1. I respect his opinion and will be switching to his recommendation of Castrol Hypoy C 80W90 (non-synthetic) GL-5 gear oil next time around. He also uses Spectro Hypoid 80W90 (non-synthetic) gear oil, so I might use that if I can't get my hands on the Castrol.

Mark,
where can I find some info about Tom Cutter's recommendations? I currently use Mobil 1.

thanks

 

[PGlaves]

Mark,
where can I find some info about Tom Cutter's recommendations,I currently use Mobil 1.

thanks

He has posted his opinion re gear oil on the IBMWR Tech List on several occasions. When he rebuilds transmission or final drives Castrol Hypoy C is what he recommends his customers use.

So to get his recommendation directly I suppose the thing to do is ship him a trashed transmission.

For what it might be worth, I agree with him.