XR1200 Oil Consumption

[DRSal]

As you can see I’m a newbie and this is my first post. I recently purchased one of the new XR1200’s. I like the bike but it seams to use far too much oil. When I picked up the bike, it had 126 miles on it (with oil tank full) and now has 804 miles. In the 678 miles I have ridden it has used a little over 1 ¾ quarts of oil.

This works out to be about 400 miles per quart of oil. When I mentioned this to the Service Dept. of the Dealer I bought the bike from their reply was: “All Harleys use oil!” Based on my previous bikes, including dirt bikes, this seams to me to be excessive.

I don’t know if this is normal consumption or if there is something wrong with this particular engine or if the engine was abused by the Dealer’s Demo rides before I took delivery.

Has anyone heard if there are oil issues with the 1200 Evolution Engine? Or is the 400 miles/qt. to be expected?

DRSal

[gsxrboy96]

400 miles to a quart is a crazy amount in my opinion, some people may see it will use oil until it the rings seat, but i still cant see that much, i Would ask a reputable shop like hillside cycle (who is on here) if hes ever seen anything like that?

p.s all harleys dont use oil, dont let them pull that bs on you.

[ViennaHog]

Have the dealer top off the oil and have him seal the oil tank cap. Come back 500 miles later and let him check out the consumption. If that high, something is wrong and they got to fix t. A bike with such oil consumption will fail EPA exhaust limits. Pretty strong argument and the dealer has to get out of the BS mode.

[ironheadbuck]

i have never added oil to one of my bikes and i ride the poot out of them -do a compression check

[GJarrett]

This is 2009, not 1950. Mine does not use oil and neither does anyone else's I know of. Using a quart per 400 miles is unforgiveable ~ not to mention just plain wrong.

If your report is accurate, something is very wrong and your dealer is in denial (or worse).

[DenimNightster]

Mine uses about a quart of oil between every oil change. Which is 2500-3000 miles. Is this to be expected?

[Buddy Seat]

Should not use any oil, or mark it's spot either..

Those days are long ago..

[DRSal]

For anyone interested here is what happened. Took the bike back to the dealer. Noticed a lot of oil on top to the oil tank. Dealer asked if I had over filled, reply was no. I also stated that the consumption was greater when ridden on mountain roads than on straight high speed freeway travel.
Dealer did a compression and leak-down test and found the rings were not to spec. After replacing the rings I was told to ride about 500 miles and bring the bike back to the dealer. Oil was down a little over 1/2 quart. Oil was again found around the oil tank. On close examination the dealer found a split on the backside of the oil tank (plastic) where the top and bottom were joined. Tank has been replaced and all is good. The real good news is that non compliant rings were found and replaced.

Heads up to new XR1200 owners. Don't know if these two issues were one of a kind or a systemic problem. Suggest you keep your eyes on both possible issues.

Happy riding.

[Dr.Hess]

Well, glad it all worked out for you. Now you need to find a new dealer or at least someone different to talk to at that one. A quart of oil in 400 miles on a new bike is totally unacceptable. Even a shovelhead would do better than that. "They all do that, go away." Yeah, and I'll take my business with me. AMF.

[seanpw1]

Hey i have the new XR1200 too, i had same prob. I took it to Victorville Harley out here in So-Cal, they said the same thing that harleys use up oil, but they also said it shouldnt go through that much, they took the whole bike apart make sure no probs or leaks and they filled it back up with oil and have me checking it ever other time i fill up the gas, they said bring it back in so they can try fix its consumtion if it goes down fast again. There are so many new things on these bikes that they dont know everything about them and the probs they have yet the guys at the shop said. So there learning about the bike just as much as we are. Like my turn signals went all solid and they had go on harley database just to find out why, so many lil small things are new like they dont have brass tab bulbs like harleys have, there all glass now like newer cars have and it goes solid when there is a defect in the bulb which no other harley does so they didnt know, they replaced all the bulbs and sent me on my way. id say take it to a diffrent shop who isnt lazy and will do the work to find out whats causing the prob.

[econnor]

Not to be a dick, but this subject belongs in the Sportster thread.

[Hillside]

Betcha that the rings were OK.
Scott

[dynadad]

Originally Posted by econnor

Not to be a dick, but this subject belongs in the Sportster thread.

Where do you thimk you are at DICK?