GS-Riders International

My warranty is up soon as I am pushing the 36,000 mile mark on my 2007 R1200GS. I've had the bike for 23 months now. I recently performed major maintenance which included:

o changing spark plugs - Used NGK Iridium (DCPR8EIX, $9 USD from NAPA)
o changed Alternator belt - Dealers mechanic said I needed their special tool, without it took about 10 seconds to remove the belt and 30 seconds to install the new one. There is a trick to it.
o changed my rear brake pads.
o changed all the fluids.
o installed Uni-filter Air Filter.
o replaced my rear tire again. This time with a Bridgestone BT503.
o checked the TBS, all was OK.

My test ride (350 miles) showed about 10% improved fuel usage. The spark plugs probably account for that. I have an appointment at the dealership to have them check everything and test on their diagnostic computer before the warranty expires. I don't expect any issues but that's why I'll pay to have them run the diagnostics. The bike is currently running better than ever before. To remove the alternator belt I had to remove the HB crash bars and when I reinstalled them, they fit better than before. Initially the dealer installed them. I wonder if the bars may have contributed to some engine vibration I used to have that is now gone. Now my engine runs as smooth as I always thought it should. The engine uses no oil that I can detect and has had Mobil-1 15W/50 since 600 miles, changed at 6000 mile intervals. I always use a factory oil filter and change the filter at each oil change. The FD and transmission fluids get changed every 12,000 miles using Valvoline 75/90 synthetic.

The Iridium plugs had to be ordered from my NAPA dealer, NAPA part number 6546. That took a day. Changing to these spark plugs seems to be the best performance enhancement I've done and well worth the cost and wait. That change increased my fuel mileage by about 5%. The rest is just routine maintenance.

I had to grind down the outside diameter of my spark plug socket (16mm or 5/8 inch) to successfully get the secondary plugs out. I did this by putting the socket in my drill press and then using an angle grinder while the drill press was turning the socket around. As a matter of habit, I always put some anti-seize paste on the spark plug threads.

Have a great trip.