Post Your Latest (Motorcycle) Oil Change!

1997 FLHR

Winter service while the bike had top end service.

engine:
out: Valvoline VR1 20w50 conventional + HiFlo filter
in: Valvoline VR1 20w50 conventional + HiFlo filter

primary:
out: Belray big twin primary oil
in: Redline V-Twin primary oil

transmission:
out: Belray big twin transmission oil
in: Belray big twin transmission oil
How’s your experience with both brands of the fluids in your primary? Do you prefer the redline?
 
How’s your experience with both brands of the fluids in your primary? Do you prefer the redline?
Hello.

Sorry for late reply.

As it is winter here I have not yet had a chance to try Redline primary fluid. We put that in as I got a case of it from outlet sale.

However, I have been using Belray primary and transmission fluids in several Harleys for about two decades without any problems.
 
Some times I wonder why HONDA recommend 10W30 and don't care about engine longevity.
That's a reason mention an example on another post...
XR650L (the same engine from 90's and today recommend 10W30, for environmental health and fuel economy... If engine wear shorter time doesn't matter... As a company I say 10W30 to all)
I will try 20W50 next time on my FMX 650.
I know, a bit late on this. Same problem with the car/ truck world. Oil getting thinner and thinner. There, it helps their CAFE #s. On motorcycles, 🤷
Lots of Hondas with no changes went from allowing up to 20W-50, to now only 10W-30. An XR650L is a great example.
Flogging it through the woods at low speeds at 95F with 10-30 guarantees an early rebuild.
With cars, ( at least ones with long enough warranties) it's biting them in the ass and now they're going back to heavier oils.
 
2024 Honda Africa Twin AS CRF1100 manual transmission

6300 miles on oil
Out: Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40, Purolator Boss 14610 filter
In: Same

I use the same felt backed oil drain plug washers as on my Toyota Rav4. They seem to work well.

Honda calls for 10W-30 in the manual. The Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10W-40 viscosity is just barely in the 40 range. It's basically slightly too thick to be rated as a 30 grade oil.

Shifting with the Mobil 1 felt the same with new oil vs old oil. It's good stuff.
 
2018 Triumph Bonneville T120

Out: Mobil 1 Racing 4T 10w-40, K&N 204 filter
In: Castrol Power 1 4T 10w-50, Microgard Select filter

I had a low oil pressure warning light after a pretty spirited ride up a canyon. Manual says 10w-50 is recommended for ambient temps above 100F so... I guess this is the summer oil change.
 
2022 Triumph Scrambler 1200 XE. 4734 miles
Out: Castrol 10W-40 4T. 3.4L
Out: K&N 204-1 Oil Filter
OCI: 1346 miles. 1 year

In: Castrol 10W-40 4T. 3.4L
In: K&N 204-1 Oil Filter

37xVA1B.jpg
 
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2024 Suzuki DL800 VStrom with 16,000 miles. I used a HiFloFiltro HF138 oil filter and Shell Rotella 15w40 conventional oil.
 
2023 Harley Davidson Road Glide Limited. Out with Fram 6065B and Mobil 1 15W50. Run was about 4000 mi. Bike has 15,500mi.
In with K&N 171B and Valvoline 20W50 VR1 Conventional Racing Oil.
 
2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited FLHTK. 23,464 miles.

Engine:
Out: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic. 3.5qt
Out: HD Oil Filter
In: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic . 3.5qt
In: HD Oil Filter
OCI: 878 miles/1 year
Primary:
Out: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
In: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year
Transmission:
Out: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
In: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year

OQN8hiHh.jpg
 
2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited FLHTK. 23,464 miles.

Engine:
Out: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic. 3.5qt
Out: HD Oil Filter
In: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic . 3.5qt
In: HD Oil Filter
OCI: 878 miles/1 year
Primary:
Out: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
In: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year
Transmission:
Out: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
In: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year

OQN8hiHh.jpg
I like the sneaky bottle of Honda oil in there
 
2016 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited FLHTK. 23,464 miles.

Engine:
Out: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic. 3.5qt
Out: HD Oil Filter
In: Bel-Ray 20W-50 Semi Synthetic . 3.5qt
In: HD Oil Filter
OCI: 878 miles/1 year
Primary:
Out: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
In: Bel-Ray Chaincase. 34oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year
Transmission:
Out: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
In: Bel-Ray Big-Twin 85W-140. 28oz
OCI: 1,470 miles/2 year

OQN8hiHh.jpg
Great looking bike! 878 miles on the engine oil and you're swapping it out? What does analysis say about the condition of the oil? I'd suspect there's a lot of life in that. Regardless of time, miles is the downfall of oil. Send it to me, I'll run it for another 4,122 mi in my bike.
 
92 Honda 750 Nighthawk. Bike has 30k miles on it.
Removed Mobil 1 15w-50 PCMO at 300 miles. Shifted terrible and killed power. Yes it did, I can tell.
Bike holds 3 quarts with filter change, 2.8 just draining oil. I left the oil filter on.
Poured in a little short of 2 qts Rotella T6 15w-40 and remainder Penzoil syn. 5w-30 PCMO. Yes, resource conserving. All I had on hand. Have a recent new clutch so not worried.
WOW! This frankenbrew is A+! Bike is so smooth, quiet, and way more power. Shifts like butter!
Will just have to see how long it lasts.
BLS is right about thin oil for more power!
 
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2023 Harley Street Glide M8 107 Stage 2.
Bel-Ray blend out and Valvoline Mineral VR1 Racing Oil in 2 weeks ago , First time using VR1! So far, I LOVE IT, SILENT Top End!

Today, Bel-Ray Big Twin 85w-140 transmission and Bel-Ray V-Twin Primary out and the same Bel-Ray back in.

However, THIS time I measured exactly how much Primary fluid drained out so I could install that exact same back in.

My old eyes got tired of trying to see the primary fluid just touch that clutch.

I always had to bring the bike jack out and find a level spot in the garage. Now I know its EXACTY 28 oz so will be EZ each time moving forward.

Don't tell the wife I had to raid her kitchen for measuring tools...


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2018 Honda Africa Twin DCT
Out: Honda HP4S 10w-30
In: Mobil 1 4T 10w-40

500 miles later
Out: Mobil 1 4T 10w-40
In: Honda HP4S 10w-30

The HP4S was in the bike when I purchased it from the original owner. I changed it with the Mobil 1 4T and after a few hundred miles noticed the shifting was a little more notchy. Just to see if I was imagining it, I changed back to the Honda HP4S. Shifting is definitely smoother. I'll probably send off a sample of the HP4S after about 3-4 thousand miles to see how the 10w-30 is holding up in this bike. The bike is used mostly for touring and I'm no longer an aggressive rider so I think it will be ok.
 
92 Honda 750 Nighthawk. Bike has 30k miles on it.
Removed Mobil 1 15w-50 PCMO at 300 miles. Shifted terrible and killed power. Yes it did, I can tell.
Bike holds 3 quarts with filter change, 2.8 just draining oil. I left the oil filter on.
Poured in a little short of 2 qts Rotella T6 15w-40 and remainder Penzoil syn. 5w-30 PCMO. Yes, resource conserving. All I had on hand. Have a recent new clutch so not worried.
WOW! This frankenbrew is A+! Bike is so smooth, quiet, and way more power. Shifts like butter!
Will just have to see how long it lasts.
BLS is right about thin oil for more power!
Good deal, glad the butt dyno is where you want it to be. You have an 11.67w36.67.
 
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