BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Is there a difference between "motorcycle" oil and "standard" oil like you would put in a car? What kind of oil do you use, and why?

When I Had my beautiful I-talian Aprilia Falco I use Bertolli 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

Now I use bio engiine oil...only draw back is I burn a quart every 200 miles, and the bike smells like Wiener Schnitzel !

There's a great passage in One Man Caravan where Fulton has an accident and looses his oil. It's 1934 and he's in the middle of the desert. A local tribe has a great idea and brings him some of their cooking oil to use as a stop-gap. With no other options he tries it and fires up the bike. It works!!! But then... a cloud of smoke appears and everyone starts to gag and tear up. Turns out it was mustard oil and the bike was now a portable mustard gas dispenser.

BMW seems to recommend Motul for the R bikes, but i doubt it matters too much as long as it's not a discount brand of dubious origin.

ronhartless wrote:Is there a difference between "motorcycle" oil and "standard" oil like you would put in a car? What kind of oil do you use, and why?

This is a troll right?

Oil and what to use are one of the most hotly debated subjects on the Interwebthingie. It goes along with religion and politics as something that will make grown men curse and yell at each other.

Use whatever you like. If it's not a troll - search and see what's been said thousands of times before.

deilenberger wrote:

ronhartless wrote:Is there a difference between "motorcycle" oil and "standard" oil like you would put in a car? What kind of oil do you use, and why?

This is a troll right?

Oil and what to use are one of the most hotly debated subjects on the Interwebthingie. It goes along with religion and politics as something that will make grown men curse and yell at each other.

Use whatever you like. If it's not a troll - search and see what's been said thousands of times before.

And a pretty p!ss poor one at that

what do you mean by "troll"?

ronhartless wrote:what do you mean by "troll"?

A "troll" in Internet terms is when someone posts something simply to start an argument. This can be done by posting the question that has been asked and argued over ad-infinitum. The biggest question on the Internet (besides where is there free pron..) is - what oil should I use.

It comes up in every bike forum. It comes up in every car forum. I'm sure it comes up in lawnmower forums, aircraft forums, and watch and clock forums. And everyone has an opinion - usually based on little more than hearsay from some ill informed mechanic they once knew, or their dad, or an ad by JifflyLube. Once the oil thread starts - it achieves a life of it's own, people feeding on the thoughts of other people until cudgels are drawn and battle lines formed (Dino vs Synthetic, 10W-40 vs 20W-50, Mobil1 vs BMW oil, etc.)

I've seen these arguments tear otherwise happy groups asunder.

That's what a troll is. I suspect you actually weren't throwing one out - but were actually asking. In that case - I'd suggest SEARCH. No use re-arguing the wheel. It's been discussed. A lot. Acrimoniously.

Oh - the term comes from trolling for fish. Throwing out the bait and waiting for the fish to come to the surface and take the hook (join in the fray.) It is often represented as a troll that lives under a bridge in fairy-tales - for no other reason than the two words are spelled/sound the same.