Oil coolers only work when you are moving .. what about when you are stuck in traffic its 100 degrees out and your sitting still for 5 and 10 minutes at a time. Oil coolers don't do much under those circumstances. Personally ill pay a little more for my oil and hope to get that extra 40,000 miles out of the motor. If you would rather just fun plain oil fine.. its your bike. Its pretty much personal preference. BTW Pastor Joe: HD mechanics have been recommending conventional oil for years , they used to say synthetic was too slick and would ruin your bearings. Then HD came out with Syn 3.

 

It's a pipe dream to think this is the case. You tell yourself this is the case because it helps you justify the rediculous cost of syn oil.

 

I can get synthetic oil at the local auto store here for 6 bucks a quart. I am being realistic. I can not afford another bike so im gonna make mine last. secondly why do care so much what kind of oil I choose to run. If you use regular oil personally I don't care at all. I am only stating why I use synthetic. Its a free country. The OP asked a question and i gave an answer my opinion only. Not yours or anyone elses.

 

im a bike mechanic and that is the exact reason dealers push conventional oil i use syn in everything i own

 

I read someware, (on this site maybe), that conventional oil sticks to the bearing surfaces and provides better protection at start up. Don't know if it's true or not; but I'll use conventional.
If I was going 7,000 miles between oil changes???

 

i agree again with what was brought up before about the cabs...they sit in heat all day and do nothing but stop and go driving. oil is light years better than it was and in a simple air cooled 4 stroke motor there is zero need to run anything other than basic oil if there was HD WOULD start your ride with SYN 3 from the factory...i also ride snowmobiles and anyone else on here that does will know what i am talking about...when you buy a new sled they put in "power valve" high dollar oil from the factory b/c thats what is to be run in the sled, of course there is basic 2 cycle oil but that is not what is recommened to be run i know its an apple to orange deal but its along the same lines...the oil topic has two sides...i don't really think there is a right or wrong if there was HD would make one oil and tell us that conv oil would void warranty.

 

OK but which brand of oil is the best ????

 

B.S. 20w50=20w50.

Uh...selective inbreeding?

 

we are inbred because we use a different composition of oil? wow.

edit: removed an inappropriate comment

 

So far my experience with HD mechanics is that they are all old school and dont want to change. I don't want to say there all the same but that has been my observation. I would recommend Redline oils.