Is 5000 miles pushing it too far? I've got a V-Max... if you're unfamiliar, it's a liquid cooled V4 1200. The redline is 9k, which I occasionally exceed, but usually I'm well under. The synthetic I'm using is Mobil 1.
5000 miles is way to far if your oil has never been changed (no oil change after "break-in")
but other than that 5000 miles is ok for mobil1 i am guessing, just as long as it is changed at least once during the riding season, preferably at the end of the season before the bike is storred or ridden less because of the weather in the winter (if you ride all year long)
got an 02 sv650 here, ran mobil 1 a couple seasons back.
good stuff, solid shifting feel, and quiet opperation on cold startup
since then i have changed to amsoil and that stuff as just as good if not better
get whichever oil (besides spectro and golden spectro, personal oppinion) is in your price range and available as long as it is motorcycle specific oil designed to operate with a wet clutch which is what most bikes have
unless you have a ducati and in that case u probably do't work on your own bike lol!
Lucas does sell synthetic oil for motorcycles and they claim it reduces engine heat.You have to order it from any parts store that sells Lucas and it is not cheap.
I am using Castrol Super Bike Synthetic. The book on my 05 ZX6 states oil change intervals of 7000 miles.
Most that I have talked to including dealership mechs. say do not exceed 2000 miles but do not have a good reason or cannot explain why Kawasaki says 7000.
I do not ride my bike hard, as far as I am concerned, so I split the differnece at 5000 miles and keep a good eye on how the oil looks and smells.
Over 30 + years owning and riding bikes, if you put 5,000 on your bike in a season change the oil! If you ride 5,000 in a season in the NorthEast MidWest (Snow) short seasons due to weather then don't put good oil in for winter unless your garage is heated,Why you ask well the cold temps up and down in the winter will build up mostrue in your crank case. If you ride more then 5,000 per season change it mid-season.
Non-Syn oil's I would change out @ 3,000 Val 20W50 is a good oil(non-syn) I've been using Amsoil in ALL motors that I have around my house very happy with it!
I change my oil in the Spring and the Fall no matter what the mileage. Of course if I do longer trips I will do a change as needed in the summer. Oil and filters are cheap, engines are not. I use BMW synthetic blend, but only because thats what the beast I ride was raised on. One thing that should never be done is flip flopping between synthetic and non synthetic oils. Does the engine no favors at all.
It depends a bit on how and where you ride too. I want my bike to run well and ride for a long time. Change it every 1-2K and you'll never have a problem. After that sludge and debris cant buld up. You love your bike, so take 30 minutes every 1500 mile and give it some new blood.
