most of my services have been done through the shops ,
now that I am on the forum , I should give it a go myself, And so was wondering if there were any preferences for oil filters on the LT .
Most of my riding is 10km each way to work 5-7 days a week , averaging 7000km per year.
now that I'm keen to get out on group rides , possibly add another 2-3000 per year.
any suggestions would be appreciated

Hi Flo 126 163 is the equal or for a bit cheaper the RycoZ418
I made a mistake here the Hi Flo is a 163 the 126 is for my Z1300

Wix offers filters for both K bikes and old Airhead twins. Great filters, but not sure if they are available in Oz.

Keep in mind that some of the perceived savings from buying an aftermarket filter is a misperception as you still have to by the filter cover O-ring and drain plug crush washer from BMW. Those usually come with the filter from BMW.

thanks guys, I will have a look around on the net, any other thoughts will be gratefully accepted.

For the small mileage you are doing why not use the genuine BMW filter the difference in cost per year will be small and you have at least the assurance that the filter you are using was made for the bike and will perform correctly. With regular short trips I believe you need top quality oil and filter.
Regards,
K-BIKE

Such low milage each day and with a big rest in between would mean very little time for the oil to warm up enough to clear the, or any condensation you might get. Perhaps you could use the replacement parts and iol change much sooner then before to be safe. Or turn out on to the road to raymond terrace then head to Seham then left to Woodville and Larges and into work that way, now that would help fix things. I used to ride 48km each way and that took long enough to be reassured all was heated up enough to keep things clean and clear, my brother used to pinch my old oil for his ute, Something that never ceased to amaze me. I would have pegged the oil as shot after 6k or so but he'd just say its free and that I wasn't going to ever use it again anyway. cheeky bugger

I've only changed mine once as I didn't ride it much before starting teardown. Previous owner used non-OEM filter that was painted, paint was flaking and I didn't like the look of that. Anyone else have a concern with that? For now I've decided to use only non-painted, and bought a BMW filter kit for my change.

Avoid using painted oil filters. Who knows what damage those sharp flakes could do circulating round the vital innards...

There are plenty of aftermarket oil filters that fit, but I won't go into the issues, real or imagined, of using a non-specific filter. I use OEM whenever possible since I work at a dealership, but FRAM PH6063 (for North Americans) is the OEM filter in a FRAM box without the Roundel stamped on it.

[quote="s-k"]I've only changed mine once as I didn't ride it much before starting teardown. Previous owner used non-OEM filter that was painted, paint was flaking and I didn't like the look of that. Anyone else have a concern with that? For now I've decided to use only non-painted, and bought a BMW filter kit for my change.[/quote]

Was it a FRAM filter? They have that problem, are notorious for it actually. Not a problem for Wix or HiFlo filters.

[quote="Two Wheels Better"]Avoid using painted oil filters. Who knows what damage those sharp flakes could do circulating round the vital innards...

There are plenty of aftermarket oil filters that fit, but I won't go into the issues, real or imagined, of using a non-specific filter. I use OEM whenever possible since I work at a dealership, but FRAM PH6063 (for North Americans) is the OEM filter in a FRAM box without the Roundel stamped on it.[/quote]

Stock filters are made by Purolator, not FRAM.

Stock oil filters for our bikes (BMW part number 11 42 1 460 845) are made by Knecht, a subsidiary of Mahle, and are part number OC91 using their part number. A portion of the Austrian production is imported into North America by my old mate Jeff from southern New Hampshire and re-sold to Allied Signal then labeled and sold as FRAM PH6063. PH6063, the correct number for Oilheads and early K bikes, is a Knecht product but without the Roundel or text of the OEM BMW-labeled filter, but it is left bare like the OEM filter. I am not suggesting the use of automotive part number FRAM PH3682 or PH3614, because these numbers fit does not mean they are for our bikes. Google 'PH6063' and search images and you will see the product. It is an OEM-like filter made in the same factory.

No one has said that FRAM makes the OEM oil filter. I sold FRAM, Perf-Form, UNI, UFI, K&N and etc., for five years from Filterwerks of Albuquerque. For a short while in the late '90s, the US importer was selling Allied Signal, the owners of FRAM, an Italian, black-painted oil filter made by UFI, 'Universal Filtro Italiano', due to a shortage of the Knecht/Mahle filters at the time. This stopped years ago and they are all now the bare Knecht-brand once again.

It helps to know the background about a product. Any other FRAM filter is not a Knecht/Mahle. Purolator have been responsible for the manufacture of a lot of OEM filters for BMW but it has been yonks since their product was used as OEM, and never for this particular spin-on oil filter I am referring to, the PH6063, or 11 42 1 460 845.