Rear Drive Oil Change Interval

[SteveADV]

now that surprises me, i had to remove a motor from a GT this summer with around 2600 miles on it and when i drained the chain case oil it was very clean.
i would expect the gearbox oil to be dirty.

I remember when you wrote about that and, if I remember correctly, you were impressed with the guts of the machine. A little bit off topic but as you guys talk the foreign language of "mechanics" (foreign to me, anyhow) I try to read into the comments plusses or minuses re: the quality of the engine, etc.

 

[exavid]

I think I found out why, and it explains why the C-series scoots are a bit slow off the line but haul ASS with a remapping. I was reading a Spanish review, and found out the following:

Seems that the engineers were a bit concerned with excessive rear chain drive loading with a 60HP scooter. Remember, up to this point that style had NEVER seen more that about 50HP in a production scooter; the SRV 850 and Honda Integra 700/750s both have conventional chains. So, the computer BACKS OFF the power mapping from a start, until it gets rolling fast enough to increase to full available power without overloading the chain and sprocket! That's why they have the adjuster, to compensate for expected chain stretch, and also why they want them replaced at 12,000 miles.

I guess they should have gone belt drive like their F800 has?

The Honda Silverwing scooter also has the ECU holding down the power until the scooter gets moving around 6mph. Supposedly this is supposed to prevent wheel spin or lifting the front wheel off the ground with sudden full throttle. I know on the SW you can hear and feel the change in power. The exhaust sounds more 'muffled' until the bike gets moving then you can hear it suddenly get a lot louder as the power comes on. It would have been interesting to see what it was like without that feature.

 

[Trainerman]

As a follow up note guys I have just had the bike serviced and asked for the chain oil to be changed for the second time mileage this time is 4500 miles the tech showed me the oil which was a dirty black so I don't know weather this to do with the UK climate but I will be having this oil change now at every service.
P.S. Oil is Castrol GL5 as recommended by the BMW dealership.

 

[wsteele]

So since the oil is not part of a critical component like the engine,it becoming black really is not going to damage the chain or the sprocket and it thickening up would actually keep it in the chain. I have not checked to see what there schedule is for changing the oil,but it is probably sooner than what it really needs to be done like every thing else they recommend

 

[Snowdog]

Clean oil never hurts.