tonk Posted November 4, 2011 Report Share Posted November 4, 2011 I wonder if some of the boxer owners (TomF, Gretch) could help with a couple of questions? Telelever forks - how much oil is acceptable on the forks - the shiny bits? None at all? I have what I can only describe as a smear on each side but it catches a lot of road crud and looks worse than it is. I keep cleaning it off but logic dictates the oil must be being depleted over time, even by a tiny amount. And for those wondering why I'm so dim, 1) I haven't had a telelever front end before and 2) I haven't had forks at all for 7 years, my last 2 bikes had hossack front ends. Servicing - what does a minor service cover? Is it just oil and filter? I can't see anything else on the bike that would need attention and the standard air filter is a washable cotton thingy. Shame such emphasis is put on service history, I could do most servicing myself. S'pose I could make a dealer stamp from a potato... Exhaust valve - this is just before the silencer, under the seat and has a bowden cable/pulley arrangement running back into the guts. It's out in the muck and rain and suffers endless heat cycles - do they need any sort of TLC between services? It's right over the back tyre so I'm reluctant to put anything squirty on or in it. Er that's it for now. If it helps it's got 5,500 miles on it. And if Dodgy Tom is reading, did you get some yellow bulbs recently? What are they and do they work? I had four separate twats pull out on me in one journey today in the dim light so I'm looking at alternate ways to get seen (my old HID kit doesn't fit. Poo.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomfoolery Posted November 5, 2011 Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Can't help you with the exhaust valve or servicing as mine doesn't have the valve and I do all my servicing myself. A dealer will answer your servicing question, though. The oil problem would be the same as any other bike - very little. The danger is it getting onto the discs and on the tyre - very dangerous. The crap sticking to it could damage the seals too. What model is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonk Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Can't help you with the exhaust valve or servicing as mine doesn't have the valve and I do all my servicing myself. A dealer will answer your servicing question, though. The oil problem would be the same as any other bike - very little. The danger is it getting onto the discs and on the tyre - very dangerous. The crap sticking to it could damage the seals too. What model is it? It's an HP2 Sport Tom, with Marzocchi telelever forks. The slidey bit is right up at the top, furthest away from the wheel and disc and it isn't runny, it just sits there in a ring at whatever point the maximum compression last was. There are no pits or scratches, no knocking or sticking either. Unless I buy an Abba stand I'm at a loss as to how to get the weight off the front wheel (the exhaust runs under the sump so that rules out an axle stand or bottle jack). 5,000 miles seems a bit low for seals to suffer normal wear and tear but then I'm told the previous keeper was a very large man. And I'm 16 stone. Would that be enough to prematurely knacker them? I suppose I should just replace them; they're too important a component to have them anything other than 100%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomfoolery Posted November 5, 2011 Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Sounds a similar setup to the GS, but lighter with more flash bits It's a specialist bike with an odd setup, so personally I'd play it safe and at least consult a BMW specialist. Keep wiping it off, it be reet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonk Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Cheers Tom, I think you've nailed it there - neglect. It only did 3,000 miles in 3 years before I got it, a waste of a bike. I noticed that one of the rubber bleed nipple covers had de-natured/perished so it's feasible the seals have too. It is equal on both sides. As for servicing, I've always had dealer services with other bikes, bang on time etc. But with this bike I don't ever intend selling it, even if I get another bike. It may seem perverse not to want dealer stamps on a 'keeper' but if it's just for me then I would prefer to do oil and filter changes, brakes and bearings etc. I rate BMW quite high but there have been a couple of occasions when they've missed clips or scratched the frame (which they've always put right). And then they present the itemised bill and I'm alway left thinking, "I could have done that". A major engine re-build is recommended at 36,000 miles which is beyond me but other than that I'm game for the rest. I don't think there's a better way to learn about your bike either and it is such a relatively simple machine. I can't tap into the ECU like they can but they've only ever done that for software updates on my new bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomfoolery Posted November 5, 2011 Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 It's an air/oil-cooled flat twin, it's a piece of piss to work on. I found that nothing was conventional, but everything made sense once you got your head round it. Do they do a workshop manual for it? Give it 'ere... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonk Posted November 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 It's an air/oil-cooled flat twin, it's a piece of piss to work on. I found that nothing was conventional, but everything made sense once you got your head round it. Do they do a workshop manual for it? Give it 'ere... Arf! Yes, it came with a manual, on a CD, written for BMW mechanics by the look of it. And a proper toolkit in a case (there's no underseat storage. In fact there is no 'underseat'). I know what you mean about working on them, it's like a Fisher Price bike compared to everything else I've had. That's why I'm confident I can maintain it myself, based on my old man's philosophy that an interested amateur is often better than a bored professional. I've always ridden my bikes through winter but this one will be garaged whenever the first salt is laid which will give me time to have a damn good fiddle. Plus it's booked in with Gray at 01raceFX after xmas for some very groovy vinyl magic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tomfoolery Posted November 5, 2011 Report Share Posted November 5, 2011 Nicely done. I know what you mean I had a really good look at one at the ExCel years ago. A 40 minute look. The self supporting seat unit is awesome. Fuck storing it, Waxoyl and wets, man! The rebuild will be interesting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bignige Posted November 6, 2011 Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 Isn't there someone on here with 3 of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonk Posted November 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted November 6, 2011 Isn't there someone on here with 3 of them? I think he might even have 5. Rarely posts though. He provided some sound advice when I was thinking about buying it but then disappeared. @Tom, heated grips, a plug-in Keis vest and a big-ish screen and fairing made riding my old beemers fun in winter. Got none of that now and my health is well, fooked. And the salt they put down round here is mixed with molasses or summat to stop it being dispersed too fast. Since being heavily criticised a couple of years ago, the council now chuck it everywhere at the drop of a hat. Will only be for a couple of months though, I can't go without for long; I get too depressed! I know some folk who lay their bikes up for 6 months Saying that, a mate might have a Transalp for sale any day now - perfect winter scoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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