AMSOIL Metric Motorcycle OR Dirt Bike??

V

Verminator

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Apr 14, 2013
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104
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Vancouver Island, BC CANADA
As I've mentioned over the last couple of days, I bought my boy a brand new 2025 Honda CRF250F Dirt Bike. That model shares the engine oil with the clutch/transmission, so I guess that's what they call a "wet clutch"?? It has an oil filter as well.

I live in Canada, so most of the easy to buy at Walmart T4 oils are a rare find, or just not possible to get. I'm left with Castrol Go, and a couple of other overpriced oils for the dirt bike.

I've always wanted to try Amsoil and I think I will. Keep in mind this is a brand new dirt bike, not a racing or motocross bike, and it's not some old dirt bike from the 70's. I think the CRF250F is a relatively new model which I believe came out in 2019, so about 5 years old. The Owner's Manual says to use 10W30 or 10W40 oil, and of course recommends their Pro Honda GN4 4-stroke oil, which is a dino oil and not synthetic.

So my only real question left is which version of the Amsoil is best for my boy's dirt bike? The Dirt Bike Oil, or the Metric Motorcycle Oil. I know the name would suggest the Dirk Bike Oil, but when I look at the spec sheets and such, they both seem to be near identical (unless I'm missing something glaring).

Anyone out there with a newer Honda dirt bike, and preferably at CRF250F that has found a difference in either of these Amsoil products and if there is any reason to use one over the other....other than the "name"???
 
Either Amsoil will work just fine. Your assumption that it is a newer design, not a motocross bike or racing machine matters not, I promise. It is air cooled, oil temp will soar on hot days, and the shared transmission means you really are better off choosing an oil that is shear proof. A simple engine like that demands a good oil choice, really due to it's lack of technology.

And before we start making claims that it is a low powered engine, 20.1HP at the rear wheel is 25 crankshaft HP. That is substantial for a 250cc air cooled 4 stroke. In fact, I can't think of any 250cc air cooled 4 strokes that ever made more than that. Even the old 1980's Honda XR250R's only made 24 crankshaft HP. And that was with the big valve RFVC technology and dual carbs/dual exhaust.

My suggestion stands, Amsoil 10W-40 or M1 motorcycle 10W-40. They are both nearly identical, shear proof oils.
 
Conventionals are fine if changed regularly. I'd do a hundred hours and doing 50 would be very conservative and make sure it stays clean. I see nothing but 4.5+ ratings for castrol go and no one says anything bad about it, no bad shifting or any engine/trans issues. I bet it's the same with motomaster 4t.

this is amazon canada and shows a 4 liter jug of jaso ma liqui moly 5w-40 for what looks to be a decent price?
https://www.amazon.ca/Liqui-Moly-Sy...&keywords=4+stroke+oil&qid=1742484198&sr=8-11

Kimpex seems to be reputable enough for a company after checking their website.
https://www.amazon.ca/Kimpex-Synthetic-Engine-Lubricant-Motorcycle/dp/B01IVRBJ5S/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.DtQkguOzKIyLNGuU4IX6cEPtuQcqXeZ6ANklP9TB6MC1OjtfLq36BlCQKTzHMsYpTrHe1yxbQ26bnO0OMjK3ih30KquAmd2P4ePJdKb6mpmTuHqjKnqcFAnFcInng4KfAY9TkQlHFGZ3Owg9Brbudj0yGutZ_4caBUSSTbER0UymIfsuZJdaS7cGrBjOnBB480fXEmuG1FXC6jZT_YmTOETsDHaLdm9c9qrT51foN7BaYlQswPWJYCv2VPBmUTXFtZYOHQV-KuyggMYPsFskOrqnpr-HWWGbbswYdPecy2m1fCm_cLTyiXCeqqFSD4TORi-NrwxAEeXpuvP-LEpzYAqLSyIpiw9Or7l6VZT1JbFZ6i-jbbi3YApPNDe6zb4BsOAiuSWWZeRdxaNb8YGPS2e2EXlPQylEXGaOOGQUyflXPOiLT0V2SkqUWg3iyMJp.aqLL3LoTFVBmiMqfXXvVpTwMgK59nxxBBZ18wCTnNQQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=4+stroke+oil&qid=1742484198&sr=8-5&th=1
 
I have a 2023 CRF250R, and I would just buy the Amsoil dirt bike oil. Their entire product literature on the dirt bike oil focuses on good clutch feel, whether you are doing race starts or riding in the woods. But truthfully, I don't think it matters. I also have a 20-year-old Honda XR70 that has been beaten to hell and only had a few oil changes with whatever random oil was lying around over the years, and it still runs like brand new.

The price difference between the two in the US is about 50 cents, if that matters. The product literature of the Amsoil Metric Oil claims double the OEM interval, while the Amsoil Dirt Bike oil says to stick to the OEM interval.
 
Last edited:
OP, same recommendation based on the same question you asked in the other thread you started about this bike. Were you not able to get the answer you wanted in that thread?

Something that is shear proof, M1 10W40 4T or other that has shown through analysis to be shear proof. You are on the right track if you've nailed it down to Amsoil for the reasons you've shared. Curious, are the M1 oils not readily available north of the border at Walmart?

Cujet, good point about specific output. I was the one that started about the 20 horsepower and 15 ft pounds in the other thread. The numbers may not be big but it is working hard. With that said, this engine is in probably millions of bikes and clones of this engine in another couple million bikes as well in the grand scheme around the world where heat and abuse is just every day use hauling three people, a couple chickens and a goat back from the market.
 
EvoMan said:
Watch this video. The whole video is good. They talk about the difference between MA and MA2 oil at about the 12:00 minute mark and why there are different applications for dirt bikes and street bikes.

Click to expand...

MA/MA2 for wet clutch, and no problem operation, is the pain the last years from my opinion.

What about Redline Motorcycle oils that use Higher Moly amount and claim that they are MA/MA2 on the bottle ?
How they do it ? I refer for wet clutch motorcycles and not dry ones like some Ducati models.

Dirtbike AMSOIL used on the past without problems and is pretty good stuff.
 
I saw a video on this a while back, but can't remember where to find it now. It's with Lake Speed the oil geek visiting the Amsoil labs in Wisconsin and they actually answered this question. The Dirt Bike Oil is purposely made with slightly less "grip" for smoother acceleration off the line and is JASO MA and the Metric Motorcyle Oil is JASO MA2 for more "grip." One thing he says constantly that has stuck with me is "Application dictates chemistry." Therefore, you probably would want to start with the Dirt Bike oil and see how it rides. Then, if you still want even more grip, move your way up to the Metric Motorcycle oil.
 
kimmillard1 said:
I saw a video on this a while back, but can't remember where to find it now. It's with Lake Speed the oil geek visiting the Amsoil labs in Wisconsin and they actually answered this question. The Dirt Bike Oil is purposely made with slightly less "grip" for smoother acceleration off the line and is JASO MA and the Metric Motorcyle Oil is JASO MA2 for more "grip." One thing he says constantly that has stuck with me is "Application dictates chemistry." Therefore, you probably would want to start with the Dirt Bike oil and see how it rides. Then, if you still want even more grip, move your way up to the Metric Motorcycle oil.
Click to expand...
Its around the 13 min mark in the video evoman posted.
 
This additive Antimony (Sb) that Dirt Bike formulation use compare to Metric one, as showed at Taverna Del Motor oil analysis

Offer something extra ?
 
Verminator said:
I've always wanted to try Amsoil and I think I will.
Click to expand...

Virgin samples of oils you might find in your Canada Walmart that compare to Honda's oil...
Either one will meet and exceed your expectations...

M1vGN4vSuperTech.webp

5W30M1v10W30.Amsoil.webp
 
Cujet said:
Either Amsoil will work just fine. Your assumption that it is a newer design, not a motocross bike or racing machine matters not, I promise. It is air cooled, oil temp will soar on hot days, and the shared transmission means you really are better off choosing an oil that is shear proof. A simple engine like that demands a good oil choice, really due to it's lack of technology.

And before we start making claims that it is a low powered engine, 20.1HP at the rear wheel is 25 crankshaft HP. That is substantial for a 250cc air cooled 4 stroke. In fact, I can't think of any 250cc air cooled 4 strokes that ever made more than that. Even the old 1980's Honda XR250R's only made 24 crankshaft HP. And that was with the big valve RFVC technology and dual carbs/dual exhaust.

My suggestion stands, Amsoil 10W-40 or M1 motorcycle 10W-40. They are both nearly identical, shear proof oils.
Click to expand...
THANK YOU! I'm sorry for the late reply, I just noticed it today (almost a month later). So I DID go the Amsoil route. It is certainly on the high side of expensive, especially with the exchange rate, but it arrived without issue and I'm glad I got it. I've always wanted to try it and I've always wanted to use it in all my vehicles, but the price has stopped me in the past. My son's Honda CRF250F only takes 1.4L so the cost doesn't hurt that much compared to the cost hurt for doing 5L+ at a time in the vehicles...albeit it's probably about the same or even more expensive for the dirt bike as I think I should probably be changing his every 10 hours or so. Anyway, I'm still using up the rest of a 1 gallon jug of Honda GN4 Dino oil, and then it's on to Amsoil! He probably won't even notice a difference, but I at least will know he's got some good solid synthetic oil in is hoss. I just wish I could buy it in 1 gallon jugs but they only seem to sell it in these cheeky little 1 quart bottles.

20250419_141818.webp
 
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