BMW F 800 R Gen 1 (2009-2014) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the BMW F 800 R Gen 1, made between 2009 and 2014.
Here are the three generations of BMW F 800 R:
- Gen 1 BMW F 800 R (2009-2014) — The original (plus style revisions), winking headlights
- Gen 2 BMW F 800 R (2015-2016) — single front headlight, more power, revised brakes/suspension, rider aids
- Gen 3 BMW F 800 R (2017-2019) — Ride by wire
The BMW F 800 R is based on BMW’s F 800 platform. Between these years, the core of the F 800 R was a 798 cc parallel twin with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The valve firing order was 360 degrees, meaning the pistons moved up and down together and took turns firing.
In the F 800 R, this engine made 64 kW (87 hp) at 8000 rpm, with peak torque at of 86 Nm (63 ft-lb) at 6000 rpm.
The F 800 R shares much of its maintenance schedule with its contemporary the F 800 S.
The F 800 R was updated visually and with accessories/touring packages in this period, but the engine and drivetrain remained unchanged.
The 2015+ BMW F 800 R was updated significantly with a more powerful engine, revised brakes and suspension, and new ride aid electronics.
Originally published September 2, 2021, but considerably revised since then.
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BMW F 800 R Service Intervals
The BMW F 800 R has service intervals of 6000 miles / 10000 km or one year. At every one of these services, change the oil and filter, and give the bike a once-over.
Every 12000 miles / 20000 km, change the spark plugs and check the valve clearances. The BMW F 800 R has a parallel twin, and while access to the valves isn’t a cinch (you need to remove the radiator), it’s still doable.
The good news is that many owners report that the engine has never needed a valve clearance adjustment even after 100,000 miles (check the F800owners forum).
Aside from that, make sure you regularly replace the fluids (see below) and keep the chain maintained.
What you need to service the BMW F 800 R (Gen 1, 2009-2014)
Below are the maintenance parts you need to keep your F 800 R maintained.
| Part | BMW F 800 R part spec |
|---|---|
| Oil | BMW recommends using BMW Advantec Pro 15W-50, their own brand, but you can use other 15W-50 synthetic oils of high quality (API SJ/JASO MA2). |
| Oil filter | The standard oil filter is BMW part 11 42 8 409 567, which is equivalent to Hiflofiltro HF160RC. |
| Air filter | BMW part number 1 371 7 678 281, which is equivalent to K&N BM-8006 or Hiflofiltro HFA7913. |
| Spark plug | The standard spark plug is an NGK DCPR8E per the manual. BMW part number is 12 12 7 690 603. |
| Brake fluid | Use DOT 4 brake fluid, e.g. Castrol DOT 4, or you can get BMW part number 83 13 2 445 461 for the official stuff |
| Brake pads | Part numbers for the brake pads are 34 11 7 696 593 for the front brake pads (you need 2 pairs) and 34 21 7 707 809 for the rear. |
| Cable lubricant | Use Protect all cable life to lubricate moving cables. |
| General grease | Use a lithium soap-based grease for external pivot points like the kickstand etc. |
Maintenance schedule for the BMW F 800 R (Gen 1)
Below is the maintenance schedule. It’s taken from the service manual, but adapted slightly to avoid repetition and make it easier to read.
Notes:
- The running-in check is omitted as this would be done by now (and a mechanic usually does it anyway)
- Items marked [D] need dealer tools (the diagnostic ones)
- Service guides don’t give a specific distance for changing fork oil. However in later models (with inverted forks) it’s recommended to change the fork oil ever 30,000 km (18000 mi).
| km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | Periodic |
| Conduct standard BMW service (see below) | Annual | ||||
| Engine oil change with filter (BMW Advantec Pro 15W-50, HF160RC) | X | X | X | X | Annual / Distance (whichever first) |
| Check valve clearances | X | X | |||
| Replace air filter (BM-8006) | X | X | |||
| Replace all spark plugs (DCPR8E) | X | ||||
| Change brake fluid in entire system (BMW DOT 4) | Every 2 years |
Standard BMW service for the BMW F 800 R
The standard BMW service (to be done every year) is below.
| Standard BMW service (Gen 2 BMW F 800 R) |
|---|
| [D] Read fault memory using the BMW Motorrad diagnostic system |
| Check coolant level (Top up with BMW Coolant if necessary) |
| Check/adjust clutch play |
| Check freedom of movement of throttle cable and check for kinks and chafing |
| Check the front brake fluid level |
| Visually inspect the brake lines, brake hoses, and connections |
| Check the rear brake fluid level |
| Check the front brake pads and brake discs for wear |
| Check the rear brake pads and brake discs for wear |
| Check the tire pressure and tread depth |
| Check and lubricate the chain drive |
| Check side stand for ease of movement |
| Check the lights and signaling equipment |
| Check the steering-head bearing |
| Check the engine start suppression works |
| Final inspection and road safety check |
| [D] Set the service date and remaining distance to service |
| Check charging state of battery |
| [D] Confirm the BMW service in the vehicle literature |
Wheels and tyres for the BMW F 800 R
The BMW F 800 R shipped with sport touring-style tyres.
The tyres are of the following sizes and recommended pressures when cold.
| Wheel | Tyre (Tire) size | Tyre (Tire) pressure (cold) |
|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70 ZR 17 | 2.5 bar (36 psi) |
| Rear | 180/55 ZR 17 | 2.9 bar (42 psi) |
About the BMW F 800 R
The BMW F 800 R was an evolution of BMW’s parallel twin platform — the same engine used in the acclaimed F 800 GS, but in an everyday standard bike.
When the F 800 R was introduced, the only other roadsters in BMW’s line-up were big bikes, the R 1200 R (based on a 1170 cc boxer twin and with Telelever suspension) and the K 1300 R (based on a 1293 cc inline four and making 129 kW / 173 claimed power).
The market had been ripe for middleweight standards for a while, but BMW hadn’t done anything in the space for a while. BMW announced the F 800 R at EICMA 2008 for the 2009 model year.
So the first BMW F 800 R took the existing F 800 S platform and modified it into a naked roadster for street use.
The F 800 R was designed in the likeness of the K 1300 R, but had a lot that was different to it. The motorcycle was much smaller, made around two thirds the power from a very different engine (a parallel twin rather than an inline four), and had standard telescopic suspension (with no adjustability).
The rear suspension is via a monoshock with adjustable preload and damping.
Braking is pretty competent on the F 800 R. It gets twin 320mm discs and Brembo 4-piston calipers on the front wheel — the kind of brakes you’d normally expect on a bigger, sportier bike. They came with optional ABS but it was often fitted.
BMW released a visual makeover for the BMW F 800 R for the 2012-1014 model years. It had the same engine, but with a few exterior trim components redesigned — the panels, mudguards, the windshield, and the colour of the rear strut.
For 2013, BMW released a couple of packages — a Dynamic package (with an engine spoiler, LED rear light, LED turn signals, and a pillion seat cover) and a Touring package (with heated grips, on-board computer, a power socket, luggage rack, pannier rack, and centre stand).
The 2015+ BMW F 800 R was updated significantly with a more powerful engine, revised brakes and suspension, and new rider aids.
Manual for the BMW F 800 R
The maintenance schedule for the first gen BMW F 800 R isn’t in the manual.
But it is in the manual for the early versions of the BMW F 800 S, which shared the same platform.
Various BMW dealers also provides schedules for many bikes online, and we consulted these for the above information. A screenshot of such a schedule is below. The content is identical to other engines with the cable throttle BMW F 800 platform.
