Short version: My GF bought a '04 1200 sportster "Roadster" model this spring with about 1300 miles on it. It seems to run ok, the top end is a bit noisier than I'm used to, and it is really heavy and slow, but she likes it so there ya go, right?

Here's the problem and my reason for posting: It has used 2-1/2 quarts of oil in 700 miles. I gave it a good throat-clearing a couple weeks ago, ran it 150 miles in the interstate (between 80-90 mph) and it used a quart in that time alone.

So where's all the oil going? Bike doesn't leak or burn excessively blue...

I am a decent mechanic.. so if it comes down to re-ringing it, I'll do that myself. My thinking is that it was probably just babied too much when it came off the showroom floor and the rings didn't seat, but with that level of consumption it may have a cracked compression ring or something...

Is there a reliability-proven piston/ring brand - bore size that will get this thing to 90hp without having to fool with the bottom end?

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance..

 

Oh, another thing.. the suspension is a disaster.. especially the front end.. massively soft, bottoms on potholes... just awful. I'm assuming there's a preload adjustment someplace on it (bike isn't here right now)?

 

check the air cleaner to see how much oil may be in it, these bikes have breathers right into the inside of the filter . thats a lot of oil, but going 90 mph for 150 mi. sounds like extreme riding to me, so it could be part. mine uses a littleoil between changes but not that much. other than that i can't help. yes the front end are not the best stock, soft, heavy,not much preload, the progressive comp. makes better springs and fresh perf. oil will help. hope maybe this helps.

 

Check compression dry then wet if it is rings there will be a noticeable increse. I would thinkif it is using that much oil there should be signs of it leaking or smoking.

 

You have to run some diagnostics to see how the bike is burning oil if it isn't leaking. Run a compression/leakdown test, then inspect the valvetrain. Pull the intake/exhaust and look into the ports to see if you can see oil in there.

 

Get the service manual for her scoot. It should answer your questions, and give you giudance on doing any repairs that are needed.