BMW R 1200 R LC (K53) — OEM Fluid, Tire Pressure & Maintenance Specs
1,170cc Air/Liquid-Cooled Boxer Twin DOHC 8-Valve · Source: BMW R 1200 R LC (K53) (2015–2018) Official Owner’s Manual Maintenance Specifications
According to the BMW R 1200 R LC (K53) (2015–2018) Official Owner’s Manual Maintenance Specifications, the 2015–2018 BMW R 1200 R LC (K53) (chassis K53/0A04/0A54) requires 3.6 L (3.80 US qt) of SAE 5W-40 (JASO MA2, API SL / BMW Advantec Ultimate 5W-40) engine oil for a drain-only change and 4 L (4.23 US qt) with filter service (11427721779 / 11425B69258 (HF160)). Standard solo cold tire pressure is 250 kPa / 2.50 bar / 36 PSI front (120/70 ZR17) and 290 kPa / 2.90 bar / 42 PSI rear (180/55 ZR17), paired with 2× NGK LMAR8D-J / LMAR8AI-10 spark plug(s) and a YTZ14S / BMW AGM 12Ah battery.
Drain only: 3.6 L (3.80 US qt)
R 290 kPa (2.90 bar)
Est. Range: ~369 km (229 mi)
1. Engine Lubrication, Filter & Clutch Specifications
| Clutch Architecture | Wet Multi-Plate Manual Clutch NEVER use JASO MB |
|---|---|
| Recommended Viscosity & Grade | SAE 5W-40 · JASO MA2 · API SL / BMW Advantec Ultimate 5W-40 |
| Oil Volume (Drain / With Filter / Overhaul) |
• Drain only: 3.6 L (3.80 US qt) • With filter/strainer: 4 L (4.23 US qt) • Complete dry overhaul: 4.4 L (4.65 US qt) |
| OEM Oil Filter Code & Type | 11427721779 / 11425B69258 (HF160) |
| Correct Oil Level Check Method | Hold bike upright on level ground 3–5 min after warm shutdown; read crankcase sight glass |
| Oil Drain Bolt Torque | 42 N·m (31.0 lb-ft / 4.28 kgf·m) — Use fresh crush washer |
| Final Drive / Bevel Gear Oil | 180 ml (0.18 L) — Hypoid Axle Oil G3 SAE 70W-80 / 75W-90 (180 ml exact) |
2. Cold Tire Pressures, Wheels, Ignition & Drivetrain
| Front / Rear OEM Tire Sizes | Front: 120/70 ZR17 · Rear: 180/55 ZR17 (Tubeless) |
|---|---|
| Cold Tire Pressure — Solo Riding |
Front: 250 kPa / 2.50 bar / 36 PSI Rear: 290 kPa / 2.90 bar / 42 PSI |
| Cold Tire Pressure — 2-Up / Loaded Touring |
Front: 250 kPa / 2.50 bar / 36 PSI Rear: 290 kPa / 2.90 bar / 42 PSI |
| OEM Spark Plug & Quantity | NGK LMAR8D-J / LMAR8AI-10 × 2 (Gap: 0.8–1.0 mm) |
| OEM Battery Code & Rating | YTZ14S / BMW AGM 12Ah (12V 12.0Ah MF AGM) |
| Final Drive Maintenance | Cardan Shaft Final Drive — Replace rear bevel-gear hypoid oil at exact measured volume |
| Brake Fluid & Coolant | DOT 4 · OAT ethylene-glycol coolant for aluminum radiators (50:50 premix) |
3. Ergonomics, Range & Scheduled Service Intervals
| Displacement · Max Power · Peak Torque | 1170 cc · 125 hp @ 7,750 rpm · 125 N·m (92.2 lb-ft) @ 6,500 rpm |
|---|---|
| Seat Height & Wet Curb Weight | 790 mm (31.1 in) · 231 kg (509 lbs) |
| Fuel Tank & Est. Real-World Range | 18 L (4.8 US gal) · ~20.5 km/L → ~369 km (229 mi) |
| OEM Scheduled Maintenance Intervals |
• First Break-In: 1,000 km • Engine Oil / Filter: 10,000 km / 10,000 km • Air Filter / Spark Plug: 20,000 km / 20,000 km • Valve Clearance Check: 20,000 km |
4. Generation Cutoffs & Real-World Wrenching Gotchas
Model-Year & Chassis Generation Notes
First liquid-cooled Boxer roadster (K53), replacing Telelever with S 1000 RR-derived 45 mm USD forks to package a clean center-mounted radiator.
Oil & Clutch Mechanical Engineering Note
BMW liquid-cooled/ShiftCam Boxer family (K50/K51 R 1200/1250 & KA1 R 1300) running wet-clutch SAE 5W-40 JASO MA2 (4.0 L) plus 180 ml shaft bevel oil.