Oil changes

[400bandit]

How often do people change their oil? I was on a firestorm forum and people on there said as low as 1000 miles? average was 2000. I thought that was perhaps a little excessive, what do you think?

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Poseidon]

I'm sticking to the haynes manual... Every 6,000miles with a new filter. now if I could only get it up to MOT standard to do the first 6,000!

EDIT:
For the want of not hi-jacking a thread... are the magnetic sump plugs worth it? Bought one as it sounds like a bloody good idea. Anyone use them/have an opinion worth sharing?
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1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Itchy]

Depends on the bike , look at the service manual perhaps?.

Changing it too often is also bad in that oil has to sort of bed in too for the additives to become effective.

Colour isn't an indicator of the need for a change either, the Transalp engine , used in the NTV/GT/BROS/Africa Twin has some oil issues in that it turns oil treacle black after 1000 miles.
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[baldy]

[LeeR]

I change my oil monthly (roughly 2000 miles) using Hein Gericke's own brand 10w/40 semi-synthetic @ £13.99/4L

My sump plug happens to be one with a magnetic insert anyway, and I've just replaced it with a similar one as the thread had started to get chewed.
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[stinkwheel]

The VFR is something like 9,000 mile oil changes. The KLE500 gets them every 3k, the girlfriends GPz305 gets them every 1,000 (assuming it actually does 1,000 miles before it blows up this time).
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[400bandit]

The work shop manual says every 8,000 miles! I don't think I would leave it that long, perhaps 4-5,000 but surely these people who change every 1500-2000 miles are wasting their money?

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Itchy]

[400bandit]

Yep, agree. What oil do people on here use then?

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[stinkwheel]

I am currently using Halfords 10w-40 semi-synthetic.

The KLE gets castrol GTX.

The GPz305 gets hein gerickes own brand mineral oil.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Itchy]

Shell VSX semi syth 10-40W on the CBR

Plutine 15-40W on the XT
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Spain 2008France 2007Big one 2009 We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will. In the end, your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it is worth watching.

[ms51ves3]

[400bandit]

Yeah that was going to be my next question, is there much between mineral, semi and fully synthetic? I normally go for semi. Is there much between brands? I've used halfords motorbike semi synthetic in the past.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[LeeR]

Well it's horses for courses isn't it...

My bike manual specifies a semi-synthetic 10w/40 SG rated oil so that's what I use.

I wouldn't think a fully synthetic SL rated oil would either benefit the bike or justify the expense.

I change the oil monthly because I can afford to and with the other oils I've tried (Rock/Castrol) the engine sounds rough after 2000 miles and at 3000 miles the oil is pretty degraded and broken down. But then it's a v-twin, maybe in-line 4s use their oil differently.

My advice (if it's worth owt) is buy/use what your manual says you should and change it at the specified interval. If you find it feels/sounds rough change it a 1000 miles earlier and see how you go.

EDIT: if we're talking about you Honda Bros 650 then the on-line manual, suggests semi-synthetic 10w/40 SE-SF rated every 8000 miles.
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My claim to fame: Austin Vince nicked my pen...

[Howling Terror]

Like what LeeR said
I have an old bike but its still in good nick because i err on the side of caution.
Follow the book and you're not wrong.


Pat
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[Stelmer]

Mine usually gets done before the winter and after winter. It's an old bike so it gets less loving......

[400bandit]

No I was talking about my Firestorm for the 6000 miles.
To be honest I don't do many miles so I normally change it under the limit anyway.

Joe
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Current Bikes 650 Honda Bros, VTR1000 Firestorm // Past Bikes: Sachs Madass 50/110cc - Bandit 400 - FZR750
(+ a XS650 in lots of pieces in my garage and other places...)

[Walloper]

Oh..... I change mine as soon as it runs out and the engine won't turn over easily.....

Remember RTFB (Read The Fucking Book)
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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair

[iooi]

Was not the whole idea behind semi and then Fully synthetic oils that they lasted longer, yet bike manufacture's still recommend changes at the same intervals

Am i glad i have not fallen for all the advertising crap, and still run the same old supermarket £4.99 for 4ltr cheapo stuff and change it twice a year, once in Nov and then again in March
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