R1200S 80,000 KM servicing options

[specialgray]

My bike is due it's 80,000 KM service shortly. I called my local BMW dealer and was quoted $900 ish. To be fair, I believe the 80k service is pretty big with lots of replacement parts. I know they'll do an awesome job with official parts and I'll get a loan bike for a few days included.

That said, I'm not rolling in dough, so alternative suggestions are more than welcome. I live in a western suburb of Melbourne, Australia.

I'm hoping some of you out there may have used and could recommend a BMW specialist. Failing that, I might have to look at the job list and do as much as I can (I'm mostly capable of things like fluid changes, checking pad wear, stuff like that) and get the dealer to do the rest.

Any thoughts?

[Herb]

There is very little on these bikes that a competent home mechanic couldn't do themselves. Even if you just did the oils (engine, gearbox, final drive) yourself, plus the air filter you would probably save a few quid.

Valve clearances and end float are easy to check and do yourself if necessary. Throttle balance can be done at home if you can borrow or buy a gauge. Pads can be checked and replaced yourself. Get yourself a Haynes manual (unfairly maligned in my opinion) and a copy of the BMW manual on CD and start working through at your leisure.

The dealer can then do anything else that's left.

You'll probably enjoy yourself and learn a bit for next time.

[Humbug]

Jim's right, did the valves, new plugs, oil change and balanced the throttle bodies yesterday.Great way to spend an afternoon while the missus was out shopping.
Take your time, read the manual and enjoy the learning experience.

[milleplod]

+1 for home servicing, its enjoyable - it saves you quite a bit of money, and you get to know your bike better. As long as you've got some decent tools, plus a bit of help from a manual (like Jim, I use Haynes, supplemented with the BMW workshop CD-ROM), you'll be fine. There's also these instructionals by Jim von Baden (actually, Jim Bade, when not Germanised!), which are very helpful - http://www.jvbproductions.com/. Good old youtube is also awash with videos of folk doing their own servicing - if you're unsure of a particular job, a brew and 20 mins viewing can give you the confidence to go for it.

Pete

[Herb]

And in some respects you will do a better job.

End float for example. The clearance specs is huge, 0.05 to 0.4mm. I find the bike runs smoother and quieter with the clearance towards the tighter end, but a dealer will just check its in spec and leave it if it is.

[milleplod]

And in some respects you will do a better job.

End float for example. The clearance specs is huge, 0.05 to 0.4mm. I find the bike runs smoother and quieter with the clearance towards the tighter end, but a dealer will just check its in spec and leave it if it is.

Definitely! Last time my R-Sport was in at Astles in Grimsby, they left the sump plug loose, only fastened a couple of turns by the mechanic's oily fingers....I'd ridden home via Cadwell at a rather brisk pace, noticed a few drips of oil on the garage floor the next morning, I reckon one complete turn of the plug would've had it out!

Pete

[Mitch1100]

As said very easy to service yourself, I do oils (engine, gearbox, final drive), air and oil filters, brake pads, and leave throttle body synch and anything needing special tools to specialist.I do a 600km round trip to Hobart to take mine to someone I trust. A good torque wrench is a must.
Shop around also my brother in QLD was quoted $1000 for 40,000 service on his 1200RT wc at dealer where he purchased bike and had same job done at another BMW dealer for $500

[specialgray]

UPDATE:

Finished the 80k service on my bike too. Engine and gearbox oil, filter, air filter, alternator belt, valve clearances, brake bleed and pads, repainted the bar ends, drilled out the old hero blobs and a general clean and polish too. All said and done, pretty easy, and I've saved myself a packet over taking it to the dealers. I paid good money for the right spares, consumables and tools necessary (new low range torque wrench and paddock stand the most expensive) but worked out great and the bike is purring away like a good'un.

If anyone else wants to combine a bit of relaxing garage time with a sense of accomplishment and a fair few buckaroos saved too, I can well recommend it.

[Haggis]

BM Motorcycles in Ringwood have a great reputation and specialise in BMWs