Archive of BMW Motorrad Club Cape (2006 - 2019)

I have forwarded this to Shane Hoskins the workshop manager at Atlantic Motorrad. He should pick up the message on Monday morning.

Thanks for the quick reaction. I'm looking forward to hear what they have to say.

LMG, Me, myself, I simply cannot undertsand why any rational person will take an off the shelf production bike and do anything to its mechanics or electronics or anything at all other than personalise it with decals or panniers. I'll admit fitting wider pegs for offroad was a good thing- but my bike was pre-wider footpegs, I also have a windscreen extension so I can ride at 140 and talk on the phone and have my visor open. But to add an octane boosting agent or change exhausts.... I dunno. Does nnot seem necessary at all. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

Andyman, that is precisely my arguement and the reason why I've asked the question. Is it not suppose to work optimally as it came out of the box? Lets us hear from the experts1

I recieved this reply from Shane this morning. Whenever possible I only use Sasol in any vehicles I ride/drive. MARIUS I SPOKE TO ALAN MATHEWS(BMW SA). THEY USED A BOOSTER WHICH HELPED WITH THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT ANY LONG TERM DAMAGES. THEY RECOMMEND THAT CUSTOMERS SHOULD STICK TO THE HIGHEST OCTANE RATHER. I THINK YOU CAN GET 97 UNLEADED FROM SHELL(CERTAIN BRANCHES)AND I FIND MY BIKE (NOT A GS)(Shane rides a K1200R) RUNS WELL ON SASOL. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP.

THEY USED A BOOSTER WHICH HELPED WITH THE PROBLEM HOWEVER THEY ARE NOT TOO SURE ABOUT ANY LONG TERM DAMAGES. I used to ride 2 Strokes in my Younger Days and had to add two stroke oil no problem thats before pre-mix days!!! Ditto for Outboard Motors but..... Here we are dealing with 4 Stroke Engines to which BMW Advises you should add Boosters etc.???? And they are not sure about the long term effects (if any)to the engine???!!! Are we buying "Peace Of Mind" or do you have to accept that your engine could blow at any time and do you have to plan Breakfast Runs/Tours etc. from SASOL to SASOL Filling Stations with Octane Booster Waystations between surely we should have faith in the product more so when new!!! Motorad should at this stage have been jolted out of their dismissive approach, had a total recall and have sorted out this problem. If the RT was faced with this problem I would have a serious look at what the opposition had on offer!!! Apologies but in this technological age of ours I cant believe that BMW cant sort it out or are Sales that good?? Just my 5 cents worth Cheers Brahman

Marius, is die probleem net met die GSA? Wat van die 1200 GS en 1200RT?? Het jy enige idee wat die oktaan getalle in Europa is?

The reason why so many BMW's have circumnavigated the globe is because of the engine's unique abilities to run on less than perfect grade fuel. Take the LWR team of Messr's McGregor and Boorman. Their bikes were filled with stuff that resembled parafin while in outer Mongolia, yet the bikes still ran without fail. Just one example. I've done over 200,000 miles on BMW's in Europe, and never once even thought about the quality or grade of fuel I'm using. The engine management system optimises the engine based on air density, temperature and fuel quality. The RT, RS, GS and the R all bounded over the Alps like mountain goats, all the while passing wheezing sportsbikes and less suited gear. So, in my estimation, the advice to use an octane booster for the 1st 1000 k's is a bit "protectionist". Buying a new bike here in the Cape also means being at sea level, the possible requirement for booster is further discounted. Lawrence

LMG, I think Hermanator is correct. As your bike is not coming from a dealer at the coast, they might have said this as precaution. I am sure that if you inform them that you will be doing the first 1000km at coast level with the higher octane available, they might change their story. Maybe that was only if you were to ride the bike from that dealer where the higher octane is not available in the area. Regards Arno

This octane booster thing has got me baffeled, does this not mean that all these high performance cars including those red things that win the F 1 world championships on a regular basis, Maseratti, Porsche and now the Audi RS 8 (phew what a machine) et al also need to use this product? I some how think not. Is it not a case of: a bad batch of pistons slipped through the Q.C.net? Oh well Lawrence has got it spot on, run the bike in according to the owners manual. In the good 'ol days we added an upper cylinder lubricant(Redex or Valvoline) to the petrol during this period, I still do. Some time ago Engen sold a 97 octane rated fuel, at a price which I was happy to pay AND the bike performed sooo much better,smoother if you like, never saw it advertised though. I don't know what happened but it is no longer available. Maybe some one out there can put more light on the subject and inform this thread. Bum in the saddle, always.

LMG, Run your bike in as per normal, no additives, no extra's get on the beast and ride... carefully. Let common sense prevail. BMW or any other manufacturer produces to the spec of the available fuel in the market country. Calibration is doen for the environment it will live in. Forget anyone ever mentioned adding this or that. Andyman Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.

I agree - listen to Andy !! Keep it SAFE !!