I am taking my 2006 1200 Roadster in for my 1,000 mile check-up and I am going back and forth on synthetic vs. regular oil. From what I hear on the forum now (1,000 maintenance) is the time to switch.
Is it worth switching to synthetic motor oil or should I stay with the regular stuff ? What are the benefits of synthetic ? I know it will cost me more and I've read on the forum that once I switch I can't (or shouldn't) go back to regular oil.I don’t have a problem with switching if its better for my Sporty in the long run.

 

I don't think you can go wrong withsyn. oil. On top of getting the added duability against premature breakdown of the oil molicules, your motor will run cooler with syn. I do prefer a true synthetic oil, (amsoil, royal purple,Mobil1, etc.) instead of the semi synthetics made from dino, like HD's syn.

 

I use mobil 1 fully synthetic, bike runs on average about 10-15 degrees cooler, and engine noise has also been quite a bit quieter. I'm gonna switch back to some dino oil now though, I just finished my 1250 conversion and need to break the engine in. But as soon as I'm broken in again, i'll be back on the mobil 1 synth.

 

I switched at 10,000 miles to Harley Syn 3. Only difference is that it ran 10-15 degrees cooler and tends to leak out easier at the slightest opportunity.

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Hours of reading on this subject in the Technical Forums...read away and learn grass hopper.

 

If you change your oil @ 2500-3000mi, syn is a waste of money

 

Sorry about the newbie question but its about 5000 per change on these things right?

Sythetic is the way I'll be going as soon as I turn 1000

 

Unless you would like to drop your oil temp 15-20 degrees. It's pay now or pay later if you live in a hot climate or do stop & go traffic in the summer. I would rather spend the extra $ to protect my investment. Yes I still change my syn at 2500 miles. So what, $20 extra, cheap insurance. When I change my oil at 2500 miles, the drained oil is still a clear golden color just like it was when I put in in the bike. You don't get that result with dino oil.

 

If your bike was mine I would go syn at the 1000 mile change.

 

5000 is the factory recommended. Some of us pamper or "babies" and do it at 2500-3000 even on syn. Your fine on syn to 5000 but I wouldn't run mine over 2500 if I had to run dino. Just my $.02