I am VERY disappointed with the first rule of buying oil: “…simple. Buy motorcycle oil, not car oil.”

RIDER staff knows as well as anyone that is patently one-sided and biased advice. It is a KNOWN fact based on virgin oil analysis and used oil analysis that HDEO oils and most car oils have the same additive packages as motorcycle specific oils. As an example Rotella 15w-40 and 5w-40 meet JASO standards the same as MC specific oils.

Here is the email from a Rotella engineer that I found on the Shell forums. Granted, it is an older email however…

“We recently ran the JASO MA friction test on Rotella T with Triple Protection 15W-40, Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 (CI-4) and our soon to be introduced (within the next 2 months) Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4.

All three oils passed the wet clutch friction test. Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 (CI-4) has more than 1.2% ash (JASO MA spec limit) so it can not be classified as JASO MA. However, Rotella T with Triple Protection 15W-40 and our soon to be introduced Rotella T Synthetic 5W-40 CJ-4 do meet JASO MA.”

If you have any additional questions please call us at 800-231-6950.
Thank you for your interest in Shell products.”

Richard Moore
Staff Engineer
Shell Global Solutions (US) Inc.

Links: https://prodepc.blob.core.windows.net/epcblobstorage/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rotella_T_Triple_Protection_15W-40_(CJ-4)_(en-US)_TDS.pdf

https://prodepc.blob.core.windows.net/epcblobstorage/GPCDOC_Local_TDS_United_States_Shell_Rotella_T6_5W-40_(CJ-4)_(en-US)_TDS.pdf

This article simply supports your advertisers and I challenge RIDER to do an objective test or read one of the many that has been done.

You knew it was coming, now what will you do?

Thanks for a great magazine where I choose RIDER because it is a thinking man’s magazine. However this article was a disappointment from that standpoint.

Howard Bonser

Hi James, the quickest way to fix this is to visit our Customer Service page (https://w1.buysub.com/pubs/AC/RDR/login_singlemag_noCAPTCHA.jsp?cds_page_id=68599&cds_mag_code=RDR&id=1483479161509&lsid=70031532415033346&vid=1) or call 1-800-678-2279, and they can help you. Thanks for subscribing, and sorry we’re doubling up on you!

Hi James! Are you talking about this camping checklist? http://ridermagazine.com/2015/06/26/moto-camping-checklist/

Final Salute, Inc., the charity that provided the 500k figure, released a white paper that documents where they came up with that number. You can read that white paper here:

Thanks, Greg.

David,

Turns out you’re right. BMW’s press materials for the K 1600 B are a little confusing, making it easy to mix up what’s standard/stock and what’s optional/accessory. Here’s the section of the press release we were referring to:

“Comfortable foot rests for a “feet forward” position and optional exclusive forged wheels for individualisation.
A wide range of Original BMW Motorrad Accessories and options available ex works means that nothing is left to be desired in terms of the individualisation of the new K 1600 B. This includes the provision of comfortable foot rests for the passenger, while these elements can also be fitted to offer the rider a particularly relaxed “feet forward” position. Redesigned forged wheels with eleven double spokes each further enhance the exclusivity of the new K 1600 B.”

And later on, the press release says:
“Foot rests for a relaxed “feet forward” position available as an option.
As part of the new design, the new K 1600 B follows the bagger look by doing away with the storage compartments on the left and right in the lower part of the engine in the series configuration. This means that it is an easy matter to equip the bagger with extremely comfortable foot rests that allow the rider to adopt a “feet forward” position. However, the storage compartments are available as an ex works option.”

So, yes, it appears that the feet-forward footpegs are optional. We’ll revise the story accordingly. Thanks for keeping us on our toes!