Wish I hadn't read this.

http://www.amsoil.com/lit/G-2156.pdf

I just changed to expensive Motul 7100 and it doesnt perform that well. At least in these tests.

Be happy with the thought the oil you use is better than what i do .(motul 5100 ) At least i think you do ,it would not print up for me and i'm not
sure i want it to.

Isnt that Amsoil oil Supper Expensive ?

I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. I read that same report awhile ago and still happily use Motul 5100

That's why I use Silkolene, it's not listed so I don't have to worry

But seriously, the more I read on oils the more seriously it does my head in, (see http://www.calsci.com/motorcycleinfo/Oils1.html, http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/cms/), all I have been able to distill is:

*Use the recommended viscosity,
*Use the recommended certification level, i.e. MA
*Change it not less than specified, i.e. 6000K or 12 months

I usually change every 6 months

I used to change oil every 3,000 then re-thought ,8,000 is fine now for me .Its not a race bike.

changed to motul 7100 on my old bandit S .. bloddy hell close to $90/4L.
The FA I'm keeping to motul 5100 and I only now change it when I get it serviced .. seems to be working ok.
I have a full 4L of motul 7100 unopened in the back of my car ... anyone want it?

Has anyone ever heard of a bike that died from oil that wasn't good enough...assuming the oil was changed regularly, there was enough of it and was up to specs?

Ed

5-shot wrote:Has anyone ever heard of a bike that died from oil that wasn't good enough...assuming the oil was changed regularly, there was enough of it and was up to specs?

I don't think it is an issue of a bike dying, just prematurely aging. ie. With a better oil you may get x0,000km more from your engine before major parts need replacing.

Clayton,

I'm fortunate enough to live in a particularly bike-rich environment. The combination of exquisite back mountain roads and benign climate has led to huge population of motorcycles. All the sheds around here are stuffed with old dead bikes (a slight exaggeration to make a point).

Their life cycle is fairly predictable. The first owner loves and nurtures his bike for several years but, then is ready for the next new thing. Owner number two is usually pretty savvy and dedicated too. By the third owner, trouble starts. The third owner lacks the skill and finances to keep the bike in tip top shape. The battery becomes hard to charge. That causes rectifier to overheat and die. Owner saves up to buy a new battery but then ten discovers he needs a rectifier too. Bike sits and sits until a new rectifier can be obtained but by then the fuel system is clogged thanks to the nature of our wonderful modern gasoline. By that point the owner's had it and the bike is pushed somewhere out of the way to sit and rust for the next 30 years. Meanwhile, the inside of the engine is like new thanks to the use of the very best oil available.

I admit that the best oil MIGHT prolong you engine's life a little while but what's the point? I suspect even the worst oil, if it meets the manufacturer's spcs, will keep an engine going long after the rest of the bike is a pile of rubble.

Ed

Point taken... I commute 100+km a day on my bike so wrack up some pretty high numbers quickly. Doing this sort millage can change one's perspective on using cheap oil...

now you all have me thinking about it again ... damn next service I get it changed, may as well use that unused oil I have.

Well call me cynical but funny how Amsoil tests on the Amsoil website find -you guessed it- Amsoil to be the greatest oil on earth & everything else is crap. You'd almost think someone wanted us all to buy Amsoil!!

I used to use a type of SHELL oil in my 1200. I would buy in bulk and sell it at cost to friends,worked out a lot cheaper.Dont think there is a
Motul depot though. I can get 20ltr motul at a good price , but the rest of you live too far away to make it worth while .