Oils for 2007 H-D Sportster

[CaspianM]

If it is not sold in stores it means it is not a mainstream product and has nothing to do with legitimacy. Now if you want to support local biz that make sense.
Having said that I have never used the Amsoil myself either.

700 miles.. Change the oil with filter with some dino now or blend. I use motul dino with excellent result in my metric honda with low miles and it is avialable locally in my area.

 

[a4tdi]

This is where we'll have to respectfully disagree. Amsoil has been around for 35 years or so and could easily be sold in retail stores. The company's marketing strategy is different and that's their option. The "dealers" that I've run across have had very poor product knowledge and were "pushy". I'm sorry, but I'm not buying any product from some un/mis-informed guy selling it out of his basement or off the tailgate of his truck. I'm also turned off by Amsoil's marketing hype and how they've flooded the internet with "white papers" proving their product's superiority. I know guys here (like Pablo, f/e) know their stuff and would have no reservations buying from them but I like the idea of buying locally and avoiding shipping costs. Then there's the issue of purchasing products while tavelling, etc...
Until our bike went in the shop last week

(fuel pressure regulator- look for a recall on the '07 Sporties because it's a common problem) we were putting 150-200 miles per week on it. I was going to let the dealership do the 1k maintenance if they would use the lubricants of my choosing.
That's why the oil hasn't been changed yet. For those who've purchased a new Harley, when is a new engine considered fully broken in?

 

[cfromc]

a4tdi, I've bought 3 new Harleys, 2 were Sportsters. I still have 2 of the 3 (1XL, 1FL) and I still don't know if there are all the way broken in. They seem to get smoother and "looser" (in a good way-as in revs up faster) as time goes by. My RK definietely felt different after returning from Sturgis last year, having about 7K+ when I got back. I took my '96 Sportster to Sturgis in '96 with the about the same starting mileage (about 3K) and returning with about 7K and noticed the same thing-smoother running. Even 11 years later it seems like the bike stills gets a little smoother as the years go by. As far as when they are broken in enough to use synthetic, I'd say very quickly, within 500 miles IMHO. Broken in enough to see a decrease in oil consumption is usually less than 5K, often less than 3K. I believe the official "considered fully broken in" is usually about 3K but from some oil studies done, wear on some engines (automotive) doesn't come down to "normal" levels until 30K+ on some vehicles while it only takes a few thousand on others.

I assume that you are asking because you are thinking about putting synthetic in now. I say go for it. I put it in my RK at 453 miles with no problems at all and no consumption since I switched.

On my RK, when I did a used oil analysis after Sturgis (approx. 7K) most of the wear metals showed lower than average, which I thought was pretty good for a "new" engine that was subjected to about 15 dyno runs, 100+MPH travel and a lot of stop-and-go in 90F+ temps.

 

[a4tdi]

cfromc,
Thanks for the response. So far, the Sporty has used about 3/4 qt of oil and I've kept it topped-off with H-D 360. There is a ton of top-end noise. I want to switch to syn but also hate the thought of changing out $40.00 worth of good oil (especially if we only get 2-3k on the bike before the weather turns foul). From your experience, do you follow Harley's recommendation of changing all fluids before bedding the cycle down for the winter? I would imagine a used oil analysis on any oil with less than 3-5k on a new engine wouldn't
look very good. What do you use in your Sportster's transmissions?
BTW, the Sporty is "hers" and a RK Classic is on my wish list.
Thanks again!

 

[Titan]

a4, the Sportster transmission uses whatever you have in the engine, it's not a separate design...unless they just changed it...which I doubt.

 

[G-MAN]

Quote:

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a4, the Sportster transmission uses whatever you have in the engine, it's not a separate design...unless they just changed it...which I doubt.

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The Sportster has never shared the engine oil with the transmission. The engine is dry sump with the oil tank under the seat. The transmission and primary share a common sump.

 

[a4tdi]

Titan,
I guess that's what I get for actually reading the (somewhat confusing) owner's manual.

I thought that the Evo engines shared engine oil with the transmission and had a separate primary which requires 32oz of fluid.

Am I correct on this?

 

[a4tdi]

Oops.
Thanks G-MAN for the clarification!

 

[Titan]

Quote:

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Quote:

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a4, the Sportster transmission uses whatever you have in the engine, it's not a separate design...unless they just changed it...which I doubt.

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The Sportster has never shared the engine oil with the transmission. The engine is dry sump with the oil tank under the seat. The transmission and primary share a common sump.

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Ah, so! Having never owned a Sportster, I should have kept out of the conversation! My bad...

 

[cfromc]

Quote:

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cfromc,
Thanks for the response. So far, the Sporty has used about 3/4 qt of oil and I've kept it topped-off with H-D 360. There is a ton of top-end noise. I want to switch to syn but also hate the thought of changing out $40.00 worth of good oil (especially if we only get 2-3k on the bike before the weather turns foul). From your experience, do you follow Harley's recommendation of changing all fluids before bedding the cycle down for the winter? I would imagine a used oil analysis on any oil with less than 3-5k on a new engine wouldn't
look very good. What do you use in your Sportster's transmissions?
BTW, the Sporty is "hers" and a RK Classic is on my wish list.
Thanks again!

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I just started changing the oil before winter a couple of years ago. For the first couple of years after I bought the '96 I changed it every 2,500 miles, regardless of time. Then I changed it every spring for a few years. I can't honestly say which is best but I can see the point of removing the acids, fuel, moisture and combustion by-products prior to winter storage.

As far as the transmission, I'm still searching for the best fluid to use with my Rivera clutch. Prior to putting the clutch in, with the stock plates and then Barnett plates, Redline 75W-90 and Amsoil 75W-90 worked good and so did Mobil 75W-90 but I wouldn't use the Mobil again.

Good luck with the RK

P.S., my Sporty has always used some oil but the RK only used a little in the first few hundred miles. The new Sportsters don't use as much as the older ones did (once past the first or second OCI) based upon discussions with several friends who own newer ones.

The fact that I have 88" Axtell iron racing cylinders, forged pistons, high compression and high lift cams AND I beat the p*ss out of it every single time I ride it may have something to do with the consumption also

 

[a4tdi]

Just got the Sporty back from the shop a week ago and I did the 1k servicing Saturday. I decided on Mobil 1 V-Twin in both the engine and trans. The engine is quieter and seems to have a bit more power. The transmission shifts much easier and it's no longer a crapshoot finding neutral. I'll post my results and a used oil analysis as I get more miles on the bike. Right now, there's 280 miles on the M1 V-Twin and I'm very happy with it.