New Bike - The ICBM K1200R

[the_priest]

The new exhaust sounds great, with a rather mad howl at the higher revs range.

Err ... it sounds like that to someone who's deaf?

The car I was overtaking dived for the hedge....

[the_priest]

Still loving this. Had a short ride the other day to Crystal Palace and back to pick up an old Remington Typewriter as it reminded my wife of one her grandfather had, and she wrote her dissertation on that one. I fitted a plank of wood to the rear of the bike and then bungied the typewrite to that. Worked perfectly. No rain and a lovely ride there and back.

[the_priest]

Looks like I need a battery! Last rode it a week and a bit ago. Went to it today, no lights, not a flicker. Plugged in the charger and it sees it as a 6V battery. So I'll look for either a lithium or Motobatt replacement now. Have taken the battery out and have it near a radiator to warm it up a bit and see if that helps with the recovery...

[Rockburner]

Looks like I need a battery! Last rode it a week and a bit ago. Went to it today, no lights, not a flicker. Plugged in the charger and it sees it as a 6V battery. So I'll look for either a lithium or Motobatt replacement now. Have taken the battery out and have it near a radiator to warm it up a bit and see if that helps with the recovery...

Ok - that's a worry - I put a new battery in it just before you took it away.

Personally I'd suspect the alarm system, maybe you could get it removed?

[the_priest]

Alarm system has been off. I only used it when the bike was on the front protection tender. Sort of belt and braces. But yes, I'm thinking it needs to come off and leave me more space for tools.

[the_priest]

Apparently I can remove alarm as it does not have TPMS on the bike. So that is a quick win. No blanking plug required. I'll tape the plug to keep it clean though. Motobatt on the way. Found the receipt RB provided and emailed the supplier as I would not expect a Yuasa battery to be dud when it was bought 23/7/2020 and fitted shortly after. I've kept the bike in the garage, not heated, but I have used a battery tender for some of the time. I have also done some longer rides as well, so it would have charged up on the bike as well. Just a minor thing, but at least I know how to get the battery out using cable ties to make a handle through the terminals.

[Bigjawa]

They all do that, mine is in storage with the battery out, any more than a week and it won't start if you leave it connected.

[the_priest]

I used to leave my bikes for a couple of week, ie over Christmas period and it would start straight off. Motobatt in those ones though, not Yuasa. It is a tricky one. I am not overly bothered as it is my fun tool, not my commuting vehicle.

[Supermofo]

I've left my 690 3 weeks or sometimes more and it's started. In winter though the battery lives under the stairs.

[the_priest]

One Motobatt installed. One BMW K1200R alive again! Instant turnover and great cold starting power from Motobatt. I've put it on the "frost" protection setting and will see how we go. It is a shorter than the Yuasa, but I have styrene filler pads for that.

[Taipan]

Do you have a motobatt specific charger or do you use an optimate or suchlike? I know motobatt say to use one of their chargers, but the motobatt is a agm battery same as many others i've used an optimate on?

[Supermofo]

My brother has a motobatt I'm sure he uses the same Oxford charger as me.

[the_priest]

My charger is a Lidl one I think with "frost" protection setting. So i just stuck it on that. Works fine, been checking it and battery is not hot, bike still starts, so no issues in my books. Garage is rather cold too!

[the_priest]

Been out for a ride today. Sun shining, roads not too bad, but the bike will need a good wash down. Still heading out again this afternoon, so will do that later or tomorrow. Was fun being out and the Rukka gloves are aces. Started on the button with the Motobatt and no issues at all after taking alarum thing off. Much simpler!

[the_priest]

Bought the Castrol drive oil and Moly grease to do the final drive oil change and grease the splines. Delivery is next week sometime. I'll do the work once it is a bit warmer and will run the bike for 15 minutes to warm things up nicely first. Also need a torque wrench so I can set things properly, and some loctite. So have to spend just a little more and then I can do a decent job.

[KungFooBob]

Does it use standard EP90 gear oil (to GL-5 standard) in the FD and the gearbox?

On my K1200RS I read some rather mixed messages about using more modern multi-grade oils, which seem the more widely available.

I used some £6 a litre single grade EP90 (GL5) from Eurocarparts, there's enough in a bottle to do both FD and gearbox.

So far so good.

Not done the splines yet, apparently it's only really the FD end of the drive shaft you have to do because the gearbox end doesn't have as much play because it's all clipped together?

[the_priest]

I am going with Castrol Syntrax Longlife 75W-90 75W90 Axle Fluid Gear Oil - 1 Litre 1L for the FD. Not touching engine oil as it was done recently enough. The Moly is, as you know, for the FD Splines. It was covered by Vines, but over two years ago, so due now. Should be simple enough to sort out. I'm getting a new magnetic (update) plug for the FD sump and washers as well. Not much money in it and worth doing. Others use a 90/140, but I'm sticking with the consensus of 75/90 as that will suit my riding.

[KungFooBob]

Yeah I read that the multi grade 140 can froth up and some people claim it knackers the seals.

[the_priest]

Oil, grease, new sump plugs with magnets and now I just wait for it to warm up a bit and also turn on the oil heater in the garage overnight next to the bike..... Brrrrr

[KungFooBob]

BMW don't use copper washers on the drain bolts, so you can't anneal them

The K12RS now has some PTFE tape stopping the oil leaking cos I forgot to buy new washers.