Dunno that I'd go so far as to say "oil is oil", but I do generally agree with the concept that for the majority of people the brand isn't going to make any difference. That said, I do use synthetic because it gives me peace of mind regardless if it actually does any better or not. And, at one change per year ~5000 miles it's not like it breaks the bank.
Dunno that I'd go so far as to say "oil is oil", but I do generally agree with the concept that for the majority of people the brand isn't going to make any difference. That said, I do use synthetic because it gives me peace of mind regardless if it actually does any better or not. And, at one change per year ~5000 miles it's not like it breaks the bank.
+1. 5-7k a year is all I usually ever get to put on my bike in one year. So I usually got with a synthetic. I usually use Valvoline motorcycle oil because it is readily available here either at Advance Auto, Napa, Wal-mart,... you get the point. I only have one power sports dealer with in 30 miles of home and I Don't particularly like the owner, The closes Kaw dealer is around 60 miles away. So that is why I tend to stay with stuff at said places.
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2008 V2K Classic
Who would have thought I would grow up to become "Spatially Educated" and play Connect-the-Dots for a living.
I've got some Schaffer oil, going to change it when the weather warms up enough to warm up the bike. The rep was telling me about Schaffer's process - says they buy crude oil for the sole purpose of making lubricant, not leftovers from a gasoline process...supposedly makes for longer lasting lubricating qualities.
Also said at Sturgis they set up a booth and give free oil changes - prior to the free oil change the riders have to ride a certain circuit for some number of miles to get their bike up to normal operating temp, then they come in and the rep has a infrared temperature camera and they take pictures (which also shows engine temp). Then they change oil and make the same ride and return for the same process and always find the temps substantially cooler. Anyway, he sold me for a few quarts - can't lose much because it was about the same price I was paying for oil anyway.
Modern oil is many, many times more efficient than that of
say, 1940...I remember oil from those days..it was green adn stinky and was not multi weight....had to change oil in cars every 100 miles..It came out filthy.
My belief is that any modern oil is fine for a bike, providing it is not
that energy efficient stuff...(forget the proper term for it, but it is whatever makes oil more slippery and plays havoc with wet clutches.)
I read where the viscosity in oil begins to break down in as little as 800 miles...Mobil 1 was said to begin breaking down, viscosity wise, at 1800 miles in that same study..(in my opinion, the free oil change at Sturgis with much cooler running temperature after the oil was changed would have occurred with any new oil, due to viscosity breakdown of the oil that was in the engine before changing the oil..)
there is a site called something like Bobtheoilguy or Bobistheoilguy which is
thought of to be THE definitive site for oil discussion...it is way beyond my interest and capability to understand, however..
I didn't know Schaeffer actually started making MC oil! I will definitely try it my next oil change then. I have started using it in my Silverado 1500 after using 1-2 other synthetic oils and have not used anything else. Schaeffer 9000 (full synthetic) totally rocks. I use good quality filters and can easily get 10K miles out of it but I generally change it around 7000-8000 miles. Truck has almost 95K miles on it but still runs like it is just broken in. Also, I started getting higher mpg after started using it.
Turco, thanks - that is good news. I think the bottles I got are atually labeled "V-Twin Racing Oil". It comes out of the bottle an interesting color - kind of clear with a greenish tint to it. The dealer offers to do free analysis of the used oil, so if I get ambitious I might take in a sample at around 4,000 miles to see what the test results say.
Anyone using Schaffer V-Twin oil ?
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