service time

[VTRDark]

What ya smoking mate

I wish, unfortunately its just tiredness.

(:-})

[8541Hawk]

I've never tried fully synth so can't comment on it but others have had issues, also semi is cheaper (:-})

I would have to ask if the folks who had issues were running the stock clutch or aftermarket? As most aftermarket clutch packs spec no synth.
The stock clutch pack works fine with it. I'm still running my OEM clutch though the springs gave up at around 75K miles.

Also I don't usually flog any oil brand but in this bike (or at least my bike) the Mobil 1 4T really does work well. Though I don't know if you can even get it there.
Though it is more expensive it does last longer and on mine it is easy to tell when you need an oil change, the gearbox goes back to the stock "notchy" feel.
Change the oil, smooth like butter.

So if you feel bold one day and want to try something different, I highly recommend it. In fact it is all I will run in the bike now and yes I have tried most of them

[cheekykev]

I would have to ask if the folks who had issues were running the stock clutch or aftermarket? As most aftermarket clutch packs spec no synth.
The stock clutch pack works fine with it. I'm still running my OEM clutch though the springs gave up at around 75K miles.

Also I don't usually flog any oil brand but in this bike (or at least my bike) the Mobil 1 4T really does work well. Though I don't know if you can even get it there.
Though it is more expensive it does last longer and on mine it is easy to tell when you need an oil change, the gearbox goes back to the stock "notchy" feel.
Change the oil, smooth like butter.

Very interesting, I have a standard clutch (in fact almost everything is standard on mine apart from the exhaust, indicators, bellypan and stopper mod) and I must admit I suffer with a notchy gearbox, no matter what oil I use it doesn't seem to make any difference, can anyone else comment on this before anyone asks, yes I do change the clutch fluid every year

[budd]

Thanks for the input and yes I’ll be doing all the other ‘service’ checks/jobs and not just oil and filters. I was just after some opinions on the oil and filter because there is a choice available and I want to use the most appropriate products, I say appropriate because of how the bike gets used. Which is a very low annual mileage approx. 1k pr y r (although I’m aiming to use a more this year) but given the low mileages involved I don’t think fully synth oil is appropriate because my usage doesn’t require the ‘long life’ extended service intervals properties a high grade full synth brings to the table, although I found Hawks comments on full synth considerably improving the gear change interesting, the benefits of this alone may be worth the extra cost.

And while I know it’s widely accepted that fully synthetic oil isn’t good with wet clutches I can’t see why this should be the case, surely an oil designed specifically for motorcycle use should contain the relevant friction modifiers, additives to make it suitable for use with a wet clutch.

Now regarding filters, I don’t really understand the need for ‘high flow’ filters surely there’s a correct flow rate and that’s it, anything other than that is incorrect. It seems the ad-men have seen an opportunity to imply superior performance by using key words like ‘racing’ ‘high flow’, I’m always suspicious of anything with ‘racing’ stamped on it, more often than not they are cheap and nasty products that actually wouldn’t be suitable for racing.

So with that in mind the best option would be either a pattern or genuine filter, a pattern filter should be built to the same spec as the genuine one and therefore perfectly acceptable. When I buy car service packs from the motor factor I use the filters are almost always branded pattern items (fram,wix etc) and I’ve fitted hundreds without problem. The only acceptation to this was ironically a Honda, an S2000, apparently popular opinion is to only use a genuine Honda filter with this particular engine.

I’m now going to peruse Opie oils website as I’ve quite a few services (car) to do next week so I may as well tag the bike oil on to that order and get it delivered free, also if you what to see some confusing info re oil suitability try buying oil for a VW diesel, the number of VW specs is baffling to say the least, 505.00, 505.01, 502.00, 506.00, 507.00 (the list goes on) early PD diesels require 505.01 but the later spec 506.00 isn’t suitable for the PD, some of the later specs are backwards compatible, some aren't it can all get very confusing.

On the other hand Nissan don’t seem to care what goes into my Primastar van (Renault diesel engine) the only caveat is not to use a w30 oil, writ large in the handbook is do not use 0w30, 5w30, 10w30 indeed any w30 oil according to Nissan isn’t good for this engine. Best order some 10w40 then or the engine will explode

[budd]

parts ordered from M&P, Motul 10w40 semi-synth, pattern filter and All Balls taper head set, £54 all in inc delivery good value me thinks