Oil recommendations.

[Sandpiper]

I have an R18TC with nearly 30K miles in 18 months, always dealer serviced. I recently replaced Advantec 15W50 with MOTUL 7100 15W50 and it performed very well. I am going to a 20W50 as I live in S. FL and am convinced with miles I am putting on it oil matters. Everything I've read if showing Red Line "Motorcycle Engine Oil" is a superior choice over anything else and I've found it for $15 bucks a quart online, Amazon. Anyone have any experience with this oil?

 

[JAMUSAURUS]

I've tried Car Motul v300 and 7100 in 15w50.

7100 had zero metal on my drain plug for 4 of my oil changes so far (done at 5000km intervals/ every 2-3 months or twice during my riding season in Canada).
So I'm sticking with that formula or using 20w50 if not available.

Liquid Moly is another brand I trust but not always available in 50w near me.

Short Answer - do what you want as long as a minimum it's 15w-50. We have a Dry Clutch, so you're not limited to moto spec.

 

[Gregorrad]

OOOOH!!! I love oil threads!

FWIW, just make sure you use oil that meets/exceeds BMW's OEM standards. For me personally, I use "Liqui Moly Motorbike 4T SAE 15W-50", as it has all the standards required for our engines and catalytic converters, particularly "JASO MA2". Liquid Moly IMO is the best, cheapest oil for our bikes. I don't believe in throwing $$$$ towards brand names (e.g. BMW) when a cheaper brand has the EXACT SAME lubrication standards. It's like how the cheaper Walmart brand oil is just as good as the name brand stuff (in certain situations - watch "Project Farm" on YT, he tests these products).

All that tells me is that the "BMW's" of the world feel they can price gouge their customers.

Here's the oil I use:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D91Q402/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_image?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And a quick article on the various JASO standards:
https://rymax-lubricants.com/updates/what-does-the-jaso-oil-specification-mean

Quick article on "API SL":
https://360.lubrizol.com/Specifications/API-Passenger/API-SL

Bottom line: "API SL" means it's top-shelf oil, and is the current API specification for modern engines. "JASO MA2" is the Japanese oil standard, with "MA2" signifying it's use in motorcycle engines that have catalytic converters.

Mike

This guy oils…..I did the same thing, and took it one step further. Instead of paying a million dollars an ounce for the trans and final drive fluid, Stellantis (Ram pickups) has the exact fluid for far cheaper….I changed mine out at approx. 4,000 miles, flawless approaching 7000 miles now.

 

[JAMUSAURUS]

This guy oils…..I did the same thing, and took it one step further. Instead of paying a million dollars an ounce for the trans and final drive fluid, Stellantis (Ram pickups) has the exact fluid for far cheaper….I changed mine out at approx. 4,000 miles, flawless approaching 7000 miles now.

I use the same thing! I have a Mopar dealer 5 minutes from me and they stock it for Jeep trannies. 3 bottles a year at GM prices makes it more palatable! The smell of this oil though is nasty though....

 

[Sandpiper]

I've got 28k miles on my R18TC and am using MOTUL 7100 15w50 new API is SP. Amazon $51-$53, 4L container. I ride the bike hard & change it every 3500-4500 miles as I live in S. FL and it's hot. This is an exceptional oil at a fair price, it never leaves any metal on the plug, it does not evaporate, not even a little and the bike seems to be smoother. Fuel mileage when not ridden hard has improved to 40-43 mpg. Very happy with their product, I strongly recommend it.

 

[Star-Lord]