Synthetics & Shifting

On a $12,000 bike and make sure you use the cheapest oil you can find on a bike that runs real hot and the cheapest filter too,. I bought a bunch of castriol rt syn 05-40,10-40,10-50w and got the monster oil filter that's a full inch longer than stock-got enough oil for two years. I am very picky about oil and filters, I want 100,000 miles out of this bike-I am going to ride it till the engine blows up!:chaingun::defence:

 

I switched to Mobil1 15w50 synth, what we used to call "Mobil red cap" a decade ago, around 2005. It was available in all Walmart stores in 5qt jugs at prices much lower than other synths and not far from some dino prices. However, Wally World stopped stocking it toward the end of the decade. Fortunately, it is now available again in select Walmart stores but doesn't have the red cap on the jug any more. I'm not really sure why all stores aren't stocking it.

With the 15w50, shifting is a lot smoother and stays smooth much longer than dino. The current bike I have was bought used and had about 400 miles on Honda dino oil. It was clunky as all get out compared to what I was used to on the old 2004 VFR. I changed it early and put synth in it. Butter. I don't have a set mileage for changing the oil. When shifting starts getting clunky, that's when I change. It's varied from about 4k to 6k.

 

You should have been at the Barret Jackson Auctions the other day. You could have picked up a deal on a 67 Corvette L88 for a measly $3,500,000.00. Those are USA green backs not Mexican pesos.

 

SHouldn't be a problem. I have over 105K on mine. And I have been using Johnson's Baby Oil. But for other reasons and not in my bike.

 

Lets see.. Baby oil and 12K BJs sound fun but not real romantic.

 

It's funny 'cuz it's true!!!!

Billy,

Our store would service your machine with 10w-40 by default but in Cali we would do 20w-50 due to the climate differences. An airhead with 20w-50 might not start at 40 deg or less due to viscosity at start up. I too would use whatever is aroung for that 'ol lump, oil is a lot better than it was when that bike was built.

 

I am unsure since I only ever use the clutch is to get into first from neutral, however, I did switch to synthetic recently and noticed no differences.

 

I don't do a ton of mileage, maybe 6k a year (I blame the Canadian winter), so price of oil is not a concern.. running Castrol or Mobil 1 Synthetic motorcycle oil, and mobil 1 or puro filter. change oil at beginning of season, and change it before parking her. Last 2 winters used some cheap castrol motorcycle dino oil and farm filter for the winter sleep, then the synthetic stuff after about 500 km in spring.

I can't really tell if shifting is any different with the synthetic stuff, especially since my chain was on its way out for the last couple rides.