How long after your 1000 mile oil change do you change it again? Do you wait till 5000 mile service or what?

 

Book says 5,000 miles. Guys I ride with change after 2,500 and that's my plan.

Sammi

 

Well this is all up to you, im **** and will change mine at least every 2000 miles. But after your 1000 changing at the prescribed manual interval is fine. [sm=burnout.gif]

 

I think oil changes are cheap insurance. It's an air cooled (hot!) engine with a three quart capacity and a dippy little filter - I don't care if it will capture 5 microns - and I'll be damned if I'd leave it in the engine even 2K miles. Call me **** squared. An oil change is also a great time to check fasteners and fittings while things are dripping. My $.02.

 

Doing the same myself. Also going to change it again before my rhode trip in July.

 

I plan on changing mine again when I hit 2000 miles. I hammer on the throttle pretty hard so the least I can do for the bike is give her fresh oil.

 

I've got a friend who has'nt changed his oil for 16 years , 20,000 miles ,1989 fxr 1340 . just tops up .
I know its criminal but he just rides it dont care and dont even clean it .
Funny it dont smoke or sound bad
Proves you dont have to get to paronoid , although air cooled , its not that stressed .

 

It's so easy to change the oil on these bikes my real question is why not? Some guys I know only change 1 time each year but they only put 4 or 5,000 miles on. I changed at 100,500 and now at 1,000 for break in...then I'll go to 3,000 and probably use all redline products. But the redline tech told me you could leave the shockproof heavy in your trans for 2 years or 20,000 miles. The engine oil is more critical in a TC88 motor because of all the heat the engine creates.

 

It also depends on the climate you run in. In the heat of summer in Florida, I change at as little as 2000 miles if I cook it in traffic. Ditto for dusty conditions, excessive short in town trips etc. Nothing beats clean quality oil in any air cooled engine and especially twin cams.

 

You can't go wrong if you follow the HD recommended change interval. Personally, I change my engine oil every 2500 miles, and the filter (K&N ONLY) every other oil change, unless I've been riding in very dusty conditions. I've been doing this on my bikes, cars, and trucks for many years. Oil is cheap... engine rebuilds are not. It only takes a few minutes.

I have always used Valvoline Racing oil 20W-50. I've used it on dozens of bikes with no problems. If I have to use synth (not very often), I use regular Mobil One. If you change your oil regularly as the book says, then you don't need any "special" oils. Another reason I like the cheaper oil is that it's more readily available. When I'm on the road, I don't want to be searching for hours for a certain type of oil. I do most of my oil changes while traveling, since it seems I'm almost never near home when it's due. If it's the proper grade and weight, then it'll work fine.