BMW F 800 R Gen 2 (2015-2016) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and service intervals for the BMW F 800 R Gen 2, made between 2015 and 2016, an update from the original F 800 R.
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. For the gen 2, the core of the F 800 R is still a 798 cc parallel twin with dual overhead cams and four valves per cylinder. The valve firing order is 360 degrees, meaning the pistons moved up and down together and took turns firing, giving it a boxer-like sound.
In the 2015 revision of the BMW F 800 R, the engine makes 66 kW (90 hp) at 8000 rpm, with peak torque at of 86 Nm (63 ft-lb) at 5800 rpm. Peak torque is the same, but comes on slightly lower, and peak power is a small amount higher.
The F 800 R shares much of its maintenance schedule with its contemporary F 800 ST.
The 2017+ BMW F 800 R is updated significantly with a ride-by-wire throttle system (but the same engine).
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BMW F 800 R Gen 2 Service Intervals
The BMW F 800 R has service intervals of 6 000 miles / 10 000 km. At this distance or annually (the earlier of the two), change the oil and filter, and give the bike a once-over.
Every 12 000 miles / 20 000 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 2, 2015-2016)
Below are the maintenance parts you need to keep your F 800 R maintained.
Many parts are similar to the earlier generation F 800 R.
| Part | BMW F 800 R (Gen 2) 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 spec). |
| 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 BMW DOT 4 brake fluid. |
| Fork oil | BMW Type 2 fork oil (part number 83 19 2 460 735). |
| 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 2)
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)
- Changing fork oil periodically is necessary from the Gen 2 with the new inverted forks.
| km x 1000 | 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 6 | 12 | 18 | 24 | Every |
| Standard BMW service (see below) | Year | ||||
| Engine oil change with filter | X | X | X | X | Year |
| Check valve clearance | X | X | |||
| Replace air filter cartridge | X | X | |||
| Replace all spark plugs | X | ||||
| Change telescopic fork oil | X | ||||
| Change brake fluid in entire system | 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 with the BMW Motorrad diagnostic system |
| Check coolant level |
| 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 signalling 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. This is also the case for the Gen 2.
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 Gen 2 (2015-2016)
When it was first launched for the 2009 model year 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.
After five years, BMW has significantly revised the original F 800 R.
The original F 800 R was designed in the likeness of the K 1300 R with winking front lights. Even so, it had a lot that was different — the bike was smaller, the engine was smaller (and made much less power), and the suspension was very simple — non-adjustable conventional forks up front, and a simple shock in the rear adjustable for preload and rebound.
But the F 800 R was popular nonetheless. The market was ready for middleweight standard roadsters, and the F 800 R’s engine was just perfect for the class — not slow, not too fast for the chassis, and with an interesting, unique character in the 360-degree crank engine that saw the pistons moving up and down at the same time.
BMW announced the 2015-2016 F 800 R in late 2014.
The new-for-2015 BMW F 800 R continued the same spirit of a naked roadster from the premium brand, but upgraded just about everything.
The engine stays mostly the same. It’s still a fuel-injected 798cc parallel twin. But thanks to some upgraded internals, the 2015-2016 BMW F 800 R makes slightly more power — 66 kW (90 hp) peak, with the same peak torque but coming 200 rpm earlier (and extending a bit longer).
BMW upgraded the suspension, replacing the conventional forks with an upside down unit, for reduced unsprung mass. The rear shock is similar but now has a hand wheel for preload adjustment.
You could also get optional ESA (Electronic Suspension Adjustment) on the F 800 R for the first time. This lets you set the compression damping of the rear strut, switching it between three settings on the move — between comfortable, normal, or sporty — depending on road conditions and personal preferences.
The braking was already competent on the F 800 R, but the new F 800 R has the same calipers, but radially mounted to the fork bases for added braking stability.
Another option for the 2015-2016 BMW F 800 R is ASC, Automatic Stability Control.
The final new option is BMW’s tyre pressure monitor system. The other options remain — panniers, heated grips, centre stand, etc.
Manual for the BMW F 800 R 2nd gen
The maintenance schedule for the first gen BMW F 800 R 2nd gen isn’t in the manual, though that does contain lots of other maintenance info.
But the schedule is in the manual for the later versions of the BMW F 800 R, which share the same platform, other than adding throttle by wire (eliminating the need to lubricate a throttle cable).
Various BMW dealers also provides schedules for many bikes online, and we consulted these for the above information.
