[Drakba]

Hello everyone!

I just purchase a 2005 K1200LT with 75k miles on it.

Coming from older wing, then voyager, now going to the LT.

I got a great deal on the LT, complete with a new dealer installed final drive, and full fluid service.

What I was wondering, what would you all recommend I do to help maintain this high-mileage bike?

I went with this bike, as I don't put on a ton of miles a year, typically 3-5k per year, so I assume at this rate, I should see several years of good service before worrying about major failures.

I have read about drilling the weep hole, but that is out of my skill set to be honest.

Any general recommendations?

Thanks!

Paul

 

[deputy5211]

Welcome, Paul.

Please fill in your profile info so we know a little about you and where you are. You will be surprised how many people will respond, especially local ones. Cannot tell that now based on your empty profile.

Enjoy the LT, great bike. Do not be surprised if you start riding more! Oh, and an LT with 75k is not generally considered high mileage around here.

 

[Cochinosucio]

Welcome, Paul.

Please fill in your profile info so we know a little about you and where you are. You will be surprised how many people will respond, especially local ones. Cannot tell that now based on your empty profile.

Enjoy the LT, great bike. Do not be surprised if you start riding more! Oh, and an LT with 75k is not generally considered high mileage around here.

+1

Use LUCAS fuel injector cleaner/additive every tank for about 1K miles. That stuff works great! I have used it religously on all 3 of my LTs......

Change all of your fluids, and document it. That way you have a KNOWN starting point.
Use the BEST oils you can. Keep GREAT records.

Welcome to the forum.
NOW.....Ride, Ride, Ride.

 

[deputy5211]

+1

Change all of your fluids, and document it. That way you have a KNOWN starting point.
Use the BEST oils you can. Keep GREAT records.

:stir:

Does anybody know:

What kind, weight, and brand of oil is best for the LT? Oh, and how often should it be changed?

How about tires? Radial, bias, mixed? Brand?

I think that covers most of the controversial topics...

:deadhorse:

(Just breaking in the new guy... All in fun! :bmw: )

 

[Cochinosucio]

:corn:

 

[rattler50]

If you don't run Castrol 20W50 and Bridgestone tires you will ruin your LT..................

 

[mgbmw2002]

Keep the battery charged. Whether by running, trickle, or regular charger, don't let it sit more than 2-3 weeks.Will save you from problems. MG.

 

[casualemt]

Keep your fuel tank full, change your oil at least once a year, and just ride the piss out of it, and don't worry!! (be happy

 

[jkriner]

Welcome to the forum. I am fairly new to it, as well. It will be a valuable tool in the future to assist you in the maintenance and care of your bike. There are great people on board...knowledgeable, too. This forum has helped me with a lot of questions I've had with my LT.

I was just curious if a service history was included with the bike, or if you could access it? I purchased an 05 in early December with 120,000 miles. The PO had kept detailed service records since new.

I agree with deputy5211 in saying your bike is not considered high miles. Properly maintained, 200,000+ is definitely attainable.

deputy5211 also commented that you might find yourself riding more....couldn't agree more. I've put 3,500 miles on mine in 4 months. I keep finding excuses to ride.

The motto around here is....RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT!!! I don't ride THAT hard, but I DO ride it often!

Enjoy,

 

[Cochinosucio]

If you don't run Castrol 20W50 and Bridgestone tires you will ruin your LT..................

OH NO! I have ruined my bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[cws]

As much as everyone knocks and despises oil threads (and I've never found the "controversial one" that keeps getting referred to.. ) I got caught on the weekend when doing my first ever oil-change myself.
I've been topping up with a regular brand 20W-50 motor oil... and only realised that after reading ALL the instructions in the BMW manual & Clymers that an SJ rated oil is NOT recommended by BMW.
I had to high-tail it to the bike shop where they had some SG rated stuff, as I'm sure our local cheap-ass car stores probably don't stock it.
Confused the hell outta me, I had no idea there was a difference, just thought 20W-50 was all I needed to know.
The Motul SG stuff said it was recommended for Harley-Davidsons... I think that almost scared me more than BMW saying the SJ is not approved... :histerica

"The current recommendation is as follows: Brandname HD oil, API classification SF, SG or SH; CD or CE suffixes are permissible; alternatively, brand-name HD oil. CCMC classification G4 or G5; suffix PD2 is permissible.

Not Approved: The API specification SJ is not approved for use in any BMW motorcycle. This latest API classification does not guaranty the required levels of wear protective additives such as Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. as with most prior API specifications."



cheers

 

[wa1200lt]

The best thing you can do to maintain it is to STOP riding 3-5 K per year. Bump it up a bit to say, maybe, 12-20 K miles per year! Best thing you can do for both you and the bike!

Loren

 

[shaioli]

Hello everyone, I just bought my first BMW bike, a 2006 K1200LT Storm Grey Metallic with 30,700 miles on her. I am looking for the best place to mount my Fastrack Pass for riding here in Ca. Any places better than ????. I am new to riding here in Ca, I lived back in New England and ride in New Hampshire and Maine for the last 25 years . Much more time here to ride, why didn't I do this sooner!!!. Any way, any Ideas where to mount the Fastrak? :bmw: :wave

 

[Cochinosucio]

The best thing you can do to maintain it is to STOP riding 3-5 K per year. Bump it up a bit to say, maybe, 12-20 K miles per year! Best thing you can do for both you and the bike!

Loren

+1!

The worst thing you can do to that motor is not run it. Unridden bikes break.

 

[cws]

Not to want to perpetuate a thread hi-jack ;-P, but try a search... gives you this.
I've got a similar system here, mine's mounted on the BMR shelf behind the windscreen with heavy-duty 3M Velcro when its needed for a toll trip.

Hello everyone, I just bought my first BMW bike, a 2006 K1200LT Storm Grey Metallic with 30,700 miles on her. I am looking for the best place to mount my Fastrack Pass for riding here in Ca. Any places better than ????. I am new to riding here in Ca, I lived back in New England and ride in New Hampshire and Maine for the last 25 years . Much more time here to ride, why didn't I do this sooner!!!. Any way, any Ideas where to mount the Fastrak? :bmw: :wave

 

[Drakba]

Thanks guys.

I just ordered a gallon of Lucas.

What do you think about oil? A good friend of mine who races swears by using DIESEL OIL in his bike, he says it exceeds all specs of standard oil, and has much higher detergent.
(I know it is very high detergent, but I never tried it on a bike before, but I do use it in my GAS powered suv..)

Any other things I should do now, to prolong the life of the bike? How about the fork seal condoms (er, protectors)....

Thanks again for the advise!

Paul

 

[deputy5211]

Hello everyone, I just bought my first BMW bike, a 2006 K1200LT Storm Grey Metallic with 30,700 miles on her. I am looking for the best place to mount my Fastrack Pass for riding here in Ca. Any places better than ????. I am new to riding here in Ca, I lived back in New England and ride in New Hampshire and Maine for the last 25 years . Much more time here to ride, why didn't I do this sooner!!!. Any way, any Ideas where to mount the Fastrak? :bmw: :wave

I have my TollTag mounted INSIDE the front fairing, above the headlamp. Reads just fine through the tupperware, and not where someone might get to it to steal it.

I also have my LP registered with the Tollway Authority here, and now I do not even keep the tags in my vehicles. Their system reads the LP and bills my account accordingly.

 

[deputy5211]

Thanks guys.

I just ordered a gallon of Lucas.

What do you think about oil? A good friend of mine who races swears by using DIESEL OIL in his bike, he says it exceeds all specs of standard oil, and has much higher detergent.
(I know it is very high detergent, but I never tried it on a bike before, but I do use it in my GAS powered suv..)

Any other things I should do now, to prolong the life of the bike? How about the fork seal condoms (er, protectors)....

Thanks again for the advise!

Paul

Remember to keep the revs below 1500 when starting out. Try not to engine brake. Keep your tires properly inflated. If you do not ride >100 miles at a time regularly, try to keep her on a trickle charger when possible. Keep the front wheel pointed forward when braking whenever possible. Oh, and do not worry IF you will drop her, instead, try to guess WHEN you will drop her! Maybe you can even start an office pool on that if there are no workplace regs against it.

 

[Cochinosucio]

Thanks guys.

I just ordered a gallon of Lucas.

What do you think about oil? A good friend of mine who races swears by using DIESEL OIL in his bike, he says it exceeds all specs of standard oil, and has much higher detergent.
(I know it is very high detergent, but I never tried it on a bike before, but I do use it in my GAS powered suv..)

Thanks again for the advise!

Paul

I order my oil and general maintenance supplies from www.beemerboneyard.com

 

[cws]

Also watch out for minor failures, and /or things like (in no particular order):
1. The latch pins on the top box can get cut through if you don't push down on the top when closing, a cheap fix, keep em lubricated
2. The trunk latch top left or right corner can break from fatigue by not doing the above.. an expensive fix, 2 options... http://www.lttrunklatch.com/
3. Tether the mirrors (just do a search, you won't regret it... although if you don't, you will)
4. Electric centre stand... if it starts to fail it can be fixed, by you... the stealers won't touch them.
5. 2005 you may already have Xenon HID headlights.. if not replace at least the low beam with one asap. Difference is amazing.
6. If your bum gets sore from OEM seat, there's a few options to fix that before you become disenchanted, thats not a cheap fix, but well worthwhile.
7. Cruise Control, have several dis-engage switches.. there's a routine for checking if they are all working, which is somewhat worthwhile to start with. If it starts getting intermittent, chances are the clutch or brake trip switches have moved just enough to trip them out... thats an easy fix too that takes about 15-20 mins to adjust.
8. Clangy rear rotor.... it floats and can be noisy. BMW came out with a new rotor after '05 or '06 that works much better, or there's the EBC option. You don't have to live with the squeal.
9. The mirror and/or mirror holder in the trunk will probably break. Just live with it or be super careful.
10. The bottom 2 powerlet plugs are "hot" all the time. Only the rear one(s) are switched power. The rear is a good place to run your extras from, unless you go the full fuse-block etc route.
11. Maybe someone else can add more in... I have to do some work...