BMW R1200RS Air Filter Change Upgrade to K&N

[@AZGeek520]

Nice "how to" video. I am constantly amazed at how difficult BMW engineers have made basic servicing on this bike.

[@GrumpyGoat]

AZ Geek Thanks. This is actually one of the easier chores on this bike, but in my last bike (Honda) the air filter was under the seat and very easy to access.

[@MasterBlasterSr]

much easier than the KTM 1290 I just traded in on my new 12900 gsa. Thanks for the video. You need to be more grumpy to earn your moniker

[@GrumpyGoat]

Hahaha ... thanks for the comment. :)

[@sg3971]

Sure would like to see a little more detail on how to remove the tank's side panels. I'm new to the RS and can't find a "how to" on how that is done. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@Cyclerosis]

Excellent tutorial Grumpy Goat! My experience with K&N air filters have all required spraying the filter with the K&N oil to improve filtration.

[@nigehaworth]

Great video again Wayne, thanks for sharing your maintenance work, you're creating a truly valuable resource

[@GrumpyGoat]

Nigel - thanks. That is what I was going for. Everything I will do to my bike will have a video so that others might learn from my experiences and save themselves some money at the same time. As it turns out it appears that my collection may well the the largest single source of such DIY videos on these bikes on the web - scary! 😮

[@qdllc]

I thought the RS filter was hard to access. Then I remembered that my last bike had me dismount the tank….a tank that did not have fuel shut offs. One mod I made right away was to install quick disconnects on the fuel lines so I didn’t have to drain the tank to get to the air filter and spark plugs.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Yes, I guess we have to be thankful that you don’t have to do any BS like remove the tank to get at the air filter. I would give any bike like that a second thought, and at this age would likely give it a pass. Life is too short. Good idea on the quick disconnects though.

[@qdllc]

@@GrumpyGoat - That was what saved it. The idea of fuel injection and anything requiring you remove the tank means draining the contents is insanity. The hoses should have manual cut offs or quick disconnects. Draining a gas tank in a garage is just asking for something bad to happen.

[@glensutcliffe3635]

Hi. gig Did the K&N air filter make any difference to the bikes performance or your gas mileage?Your videos on the BMW are really good. Thanks again glensut.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Glen, Thanks for the compliment. After the installation of the filter there was an immediate and noticeable increase in throttle response. That came at the expense of a *slight* increase in fuel consumption. Overall, after many miles of trouble free use, this has been an overall improvement and a positive mod.

[@R50MTW]

Have you ever done a video showing how to remove the panel inbetween the two front headlights (2018 R1200RS)? I have a Europe model with the LED light which has a cracked lens but cannot find any guidance on how to replace it!

[@GrumpyGoat]

Thanks for the comment. Unfortunately I have never done such a video, having only done that removal once to install my Denali Sound Bomb horn. I will do a video next time I remove it but be advised that I don’t have the European model with the LED light.

[@R50MTW]

@@GrumpyGoat thanks - are you able to advise which panels I need to remove to get to the front panel that houses the strip light? ie side fairings and/or panel under the windscreen etc? thanks in advance for any help as I am completely in the dark with this one!

[@GrumpyGoat]

@@R50MTWSo I had a quick look at my Haynes manual and while it describes how to remove various panels the front cowl is not described. I was hoping to scan that for you but no luck. I suspect you will have to remove the windscreen as well as the side panels to the front in order to get to the fasteners needed. If you have an RS I suggest you join the Rswasserboxer.com forum and ask your question there. There should be someone there who has removed this and may be able to give you better pointers than I can.

[@roadwarrior8560]

No interest in this bike after watching this but subbed anyway, well made video.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Thanks for the subscription. Just curious about what you said, though. Was it the video specifically that made you disinterested in the R1200RS, or was it that you just happened to lose interest in this bike after you watched the video and it had nothing to do with the video itself? 😏 If not interested in the BMW R1200RS/1250RS what are you interested in and what do you ride?

[@roadwarrior8560]

@@GrumpyGoat `Just that it seems complicated to change a simple thing like the air filter, I do my own work and don't fancy removing all this plastic every time. My current bike is a Suzuki Vstrom which is also hard to work on so my next bike I'm looking for needs to be easier to work on for basic stuff anyway.

[@GrumpyGoat]

@@roadwarrior8560 OK understood. Actually the RS is one of the easiest bikes to work on due to its boxer engine configuration. The air filter OSS the hardest thing to get to and it is not really difficult. Good luck in finding the most suitable bike for you.

[@roadwarrior8560]

@@GrumpyGoat Does your bike have the telever front suspension? the way the forks don't dive at all seems strange to me being used to conventional forks. half considering going for a 1200gs not sure what they are like to work on either,

[@GrumpyGoat]

@@roadwarrior8560 The RS does not have the telelever front suspension. It has electronically adjusted conventional front suspension. The GS would be also easy to work on, as far as mechanical aspects and ease of access are concerned.

[@poden3863]

Have you owned RT ? Trying to decide between RS and RT.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Never owned or rode an RT. You might want to consider visiting and joining the rswasserboxer.com/R1200RSforum/ for a fuller discussion with others who might have ridden and/or owned an RT as well.

[@bartoszri]

K&N and other oiled filters are less efficency of filtretion - more particulars going inside a engine. Without resetting of computer you should feel no difference except "better"s sound of sucking air engine. But life of engine are shorter.

[@GrumpyGoat]

Thanks for the comment. Have you ever used a K&N Filter? I agree that the degree of filtration with the paper filter is greater since it blocks more airflow (hence more particulate), but the difference in feel is real. The computer resets itself as a consequence of the greater airflow, and the RS consumes more gas as proof of that resetting. Life of engine may theoretically be shorter, but at 48,000 miles on mine, it performs as it did when it was new - maybe even better. Take a look at my follow-up comments on this filter in my Part 1 video of the 48K mile service (kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqDdd6lqg9tjn6c).

[@bartoszri]

@@GrumpyGoat Yes. I got Alfa Romeo 155 ts. I replaced standard papier filter and use KN. With standard engines good quality of paper filter is better.