BMW HP4 Race (2017) Maintenance Schedule
This is the maintenance schedule (and also an excuse to write about) the BMW HP4 Race, BMW’s exclusive race-focussed motorcycle made in a limited production run of 750 in 2017.
Like the BMW HP4 before it, the BMW HP4 Race is also based on the BMW S 1000 RR superbike.
Here are all the maintenance schedules for the BMW S 1000 RR and related HP4 models:
Its highly tuned 999 cc inline four-cylinder engine makes 158 kW (215 PS / 212 bhp) at 13900 rpm, and peak torque of 120 Nm (89 ft-lb) at 10000 rpm.
But the star of the show is the carbon fibre main frame, rear frame, and wheels, supporting race-spec Öhlins suspension and Brembo calipers.
The production run of 750 is fully accounted for and chances are you won’t find one. But if you even see one, this is it!
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Service intervals for the BMW HP4 Race
Given that the HP4 Race is a race bike, it doesn’t have a maintenance schedule that looks exactly like the S 1000 RR.
Maintenance intervals are instead based primarily on distance (every 5000 km), with some other items being necessary every 1-2 years.
The engine of the BMW HP4 Race requires a full engine replacement every 5,000 km or 3,000 miles (see below on this note). So it’s not for the faint of heart or light of wallet (well, your wallet might be not light now, but just wait!)
But like other BMW motorcycles, BMW mandates an annual service, checking over many items for leaks and deteriorating quality.
Maintenance schedule for the BMW HP4 Race
Below is the maintenance schedule for the BMW HP4 Race.
Notes on the maintenance schedule:
- The original schedule is listed in km only (even in the US version of the manual). Miles are included for your convenience
- There’s no “break-in” schedule — the HP4 race (and new engines) come broken in.
| km x 1000 | 5 | 10 | 15 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mi x 1000 | 3 | 6 | 9 | Every |
| Conduct standard BMW Service (see below) | Year | |||
| Perform “Engine Service” (defined as an engine replacement in the service manual — see below) | X | X | X | |
| Change engine oil and filter | Year | |||
| Check clutch | Year/Event | |||
| Clean brake calipers | Year/Event | |||
| Replace air filter element | Year | |||
| Maintain telescopic forks | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Maintenance steering damper | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Maintain rear spring strut | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Maintenance of handbrake fitting | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Maintenance of front brake calipers | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Maintenance of rear brake calipers | X | X | X | 2 years |
| Replace steering tube | X | |||
| Changing the brake fluid, front | Year | |||
| Changing the brake fluid, rear | Year | |||
| Replace the rubber grommets for the angular rate sensor | Year | |||
| Check the rubber grip for wear and positioning | Year |
Standard BMW service for the BMW HP4 Race
Items marked [D] need dealer tools and resources.
| BMW HP4 Race — Standard Service |
|---|
| [D] Perform vehicle test with BMW Motorrad diagnostic system |
| Check the steering-head bearing |
| Check coolant level |
| Check the fastener of the clutch lever fitting |
| Check the clutch cable and clutch-lever play |
| Lubricate the clutch mechanism |
| Check front brake pads and brake discs for wear |
| Check the rear brake pads and brake disc for wear |
| Check and lubricating the chain drive |
| Check the condition of the tyres and whether they are damaged |
| [D] Perform another vehicle test with BMW Motorrad diagnostic system |
| [D] Confirm the BMW service in the on-board literature |
More about the HP4 Race Rebuild Requirement
A reader wrote in regarding the requirement to rebuild the engine every 5,000 km / 3,000 miles. Here’s more detail on the matter.
The schedule in the manual says you need to do an “Engine service” every 5,000km. However, the manual doesn’t specify what that is. But this line is ominously absent from the maintenance schedule for similar bikes in street tune, like the BMW S 1000 RR.
Looking into the BMW RSD (the repair manual for all BMWs), there is a required “Engine service (for maintenance)” every 5,000 km. Still, not so bad, right?
So what is this “Engine service (for maintenance)”? It’s procedure 11 00 502. Looking further, this actually a procedure for completely removing and replacing the engine in the BMW HP4 Race.
Here’s a screenshot from that guide.
That’s right — BMW recommends replacing the engine every 5,000 km.
So, rebuilding the engine (checking all tolerances) would be a second-tier option.
However, there’s an argument that if you just use your BMW HP4 Race as an everyday motorcycle — e.g. similarly to a “regular” superbike — you may not have to replace the engine so often, and may be able to follow a more moderate maintenance schedule. However, it would be best to consult with your mechanic on the matter.
Chain Maintenance
As the HP4 Race has a chain rear end, make sure you regularly clean and lubricate the chain. You should also periodically check it for wear and damage, replacing it if necessary, and at a minimum, check and adjust the chain tension.
BMW doesn’t specify a particular chain lubricant, so use a high-quality one like Motul chain lubricant. In the unlikely event (given the bike) that you ride your bike through the rain or wet areas, be sure to clean and lube the chain immediately afterwards.
To check the slack on the HP4 Race, put the motorcycle in neutral and park it, ensuring the support surface is level.
- Turn the rear wheel until you find the point with the most sag (where the chain is lowest).
- Check the slack on the lower part of the chain, at the bore hole.
- Measure the deflection. Slack on the BMW HP4 Race is defined as the free vertical movement of the chain.
Target chain slack for the HP4 Race: 30 – 35 mm (1.2 – 1.4 in)
If the chain slack is out of spec, you need to adjust it.
Adjusting chain slack
To adjust the chain slack on the HP4 Race, follow the steps below. As with measuring chain slack, make sure that the motorcycle is on a level surface, supported, in neutral, with no weight on it.
- Release the quick-release axle.
- Loosen the lock nuts on the left and right.
- Turn the adjuster nuts on the left and right to tighten (or loosen) the chain. Keep checking the chain tension to see if it has come within spec.
- Keep an eye on the adjuster alignment marks on either side of the axle. Make sure that the adjustment is to the same point, to ensure that the wheel remains aligned.
- When you’re done, tighten the quick-release axle to 100 Nm / 74 lb-ft.
- Re-check the chain slack again to make sure it’s still within spec.
About the BMW HP4 Race
The HP4 Race is a super-exclusive track-only version of the S 1000 RR.
Like the BMW S 1000 RR, the BMW HP4 Race is based on an inline four-cylinder engine with 999cc displacement. But the engine in the HP4 Race is tuned for much higher output, peaking at 158 kW (215 PS / 212 bhp) at 13900 rpm, with peak torque of 120 Nm (89 ft-lb) at 10000 rpm.
There are many, many differences which make the BMW HP4 Race different to the same generation (2015-2018) BMW S 1000 RR. A few of these are catalogued in the table below.
| Part | BMW S 1000 RR (2017) | BMW HP4 Race |
|---|---|---|
| Engine max power | 146 kW (199 PS / 196 bhp) | 158 kW (215 PS / 212 bhp) @ 13900 rpm |
| Engine max torque | 113 Nm (83 ft-lb) @ 9500 rpm | 120 Nm (89 ft-lb) @ 10000 rpm |
| Wet weight (90% DIN unladen) | 204 kg (450 lb) | 171 kg (377 lb) |
| Frame | Aluminium alloy frame | Carbon fibre frame (4kg less) |
| Wheels | Light alloy forged wheels | Carbon fibre wheels |
| Front suspension | 46mm USD fork, fully adjustable | Öhlins FGR 300 |
| Rear suspension | Aluminium double strut swingarm, fully adjustable | Öhlins TTX36 GP |
| Front brakes | 4-piston radial calipers on 320mm discs | Brembo GP4 PR with 320 T-type steel discs |
| Battery capacity | 9 Ah | 5 Ah |
| Exhaust | Standard, with catalytic converter | Lightweight full titanium |
| Transmission ratios | Standard street-optimised (first two gears 1:2.65, 2.1) | Close ratio track-focused (e.g. first two gears with ratios 2.38 and 2.0) |
| Shift pattern | Standard shift | Reverse shift pattern |
| Unique Rider aids | Standard ABS, ABS Pro (optional), Optional quickshifter, Ride modes (street oriented, optional customisable) | HP Shift Assistant Pro, DTC (later intervention), EBR(+/-7), 4 customisable ride modes, data loggers, dash with mechanic side |
The star of the show, of course, is the wet weight. The wet weight of the HP4 Race is only 171 kg (377 lb). To put that in perspective, that’s less than the weight of a Kawasaki Ninja 300. But the HP4 Race has over five times the power…
The main difference, of course, is that the BMW HP4 Race is not street legal, nor street practical. It has no components (like mirrors, brake lights) that a street bike needs. It lacks ABS, which is these days mandatory on new motorcycles. And the engine needs a full rebuild every 5000 km (3000 mi). Good luck!
Manual for the BMW HP4 Race
The above came from the owner’s manual for the BMW HP4 Race.
You can download it from BMW’s website here.
The service schedule also matches what’s in the RSD for the HP4 Race. We cross-referenced there to see further about what’s in the “Engine Service”.
