Been using HD dino since the 70's . Never had any issues. Still use it now.

 

A MAN brother!

 

Is there a difference? Yes, price. You can add Royal Purple, Redline, and several more competent brands to that list. It's all good, even Syn3--but some are overpriced. Syn3 is way overpriced.

 

HD dino for me as well. I change oil often and dino oil is just fine for me. Ive been very happy. was running Mobil 1 and glad I switched back to dino. Bike is much quieter

 

At the Clinic a distributor donates all the semi-synthetic we use. He says all synthetic oil is the same.

Personally, I use Syn3 in the engine, Red Line V-Twin in the trans and Harley primary in the primary. When I use up my stash of Syn3 and Harley primary I will go to Red Line in all the holes. I got the Syn3 at 25% off at a dealer's annual sale.

$78.00 per change to go to Red Line seems a little pricey, but my racing buddy swears by it. I have noticed a huge difference in the trans since I went to it there - shifts much better and less noise - probably as the Red Line V-Twin is thicker.

Probably more important than brand is changing the fluids on or before scheduled intervals!

At the Clinic the record for a single mom is 26,000 miles over on her lease car! A Jeep Liberty to boot!

 

Harley oil may not be "the best" but it is as good as it needs to be and that's all that really matters. That being said, I recommend synthetic in the Twin Cams given how hot they run and I wouldn't recommend SYN3 or any other 20w50 motor oil in the tranny because it's just not heavy enough, but it's your bike and you can use whatever you want.

 

Only use HD 360 (20-50) in the motor and Formula+ in the tranny and primary. Works fine and to be honest, even though I have tried a multitude of other oils, all synthetic, I noticed no difference other then the top end noise in the motor gets louder with synthetics. Shifting seemed the same whether I was running synthetic or F+.

 

HD oils were fine for donkey's years in my Harleys, until I fitted an S&S motor. Fussy thing demands Mobil 1 V-twin. While its under warranty I'll feed it, but I'll be back here after that, for the latest thinking!

 

If the SYN 3 was a full synthetic I would use it, but it's not. I can buy a full synthetic cheaper than the SYN 3 so Mobil 1 it is. The SYN 3 is made by Citgo. If the bottles said Citgo on them instead of Harley would you still buy it? I think not.

 

What's everyones take on Bel-Ray? My dealer carries it. I know it's been around for a long time, I've just never used it.