new girl riding

[CatrinaRides]

I'm gonna change the oil for my first time, synthetic oil or not?

[blaine]

I'm gonna change the oil for my first time, synthetic oil or not?
It's really a personal choice.Synthetic oil can go longer before needing changed,but is quite expensive.You can use any conventional motor oil that if NOT labeled "energy conserving" Shell Rotella T is a good choice in synthetic or conventional.
:) :cool:

[mole2]

Welcome to the forum from South Carolina. I use synthetic but any motorcycle oil will do. As Blaine mentioned, do not use automotive oil which is labled "Energy Conserving" as it will ruin your clutches.


:)

[AndrewGZ250_02]

Someone mentioned in another thread the term "Energy conservation" has been changed to "Resource conservation".

[Water Warrior 2]

Someone mentioned in another thread the term "Energy conservation" has been changed to "Resource conservation".
I'll bet there was a team of experts hired to figure that out. Why not just leave well enough alone.
A big plus for Rotella oil. We have the cheapest 15-40 Rotella in both bikes and it works very well. Also motorcycle certified as is all Rotella oils.

[dentheman]

Some claim that synthetic oil improves shifting. I don't know if that is true, but I am going to give it a try next oil change.

[Water Warrior 2]

At the 1st oil/filter change on the Vstrom I put in synthetic oil. It did improve the shifting quite noticeably. After another 4 or 5 changes with Amsoil synthetic I switched to cheap Shell Rotella 15-40 and the shifting is still buttery smooth. A lot of the smoothness can be atributed to everything in the tranny and clutch finally wearing in very smoothly after 30,000 or 40,000 kms. Most transmissions will be a little notchy when new even with a good synthetic oil. A deliberate but smooth shift is the best. A half hearted dab at the shifter can lead to a false neutral between gears and quite dangerous in some traffic situations.

[5th_bike]

I always use regular motorcycle oil, and mine (I happen to have a GZ250) shifts like velvet. :roll:

[dentheman]

At the 1st oil/filter change on the Vstrom I put in synthetic oil. It did improve the shifting quite noticeably. After another 4 or 5 changes with Amsoil synthetic I switched to cheap Shell Rotella 15-40 and the shifting is still buttery smooth. A lot of the smoothness can be atributed to everything in the tranny and clutch finally wearing in very smoothly after 30,000 or 40,000 kms. Most transmissions will be a little notchy when new even with a good synthetic oil. A deliberate but smooth shift is the best. A half hearted dab at the shifter can lead to a false neutral between gears and quite dangerous in some traffic situations.
I do occassionaly run into a shifting problem with the Shadow, only when the engine is really hot, after miles at highway speeds. At a stop it will not go into first, or I think it is in first but it is in second. This has caused a couple embarassing/dangerous moments. Now I double check and I can engage the clutch slightly when stopped to get it into first. But I do want to see if synthetic oil will help.

[mrlmd1]

Almost all bikes have a hard time shifting into first gear if the bike is stopped and it has nothing to do with the oil in it.
If you can't easily get it into gear, roll it forward or backwards a couple of inches and it will go.

[Water Warrior 2]

Sounds like the oil you are using is breaking down with heat to some degree. What kind and weight is the oil?? Also you should be shifting into 1st just prior to stopping. That way you are already in gear and ready to go when the light turns green. You are also safer if you have to suddenly get out of Dodge because of a sleepy cager behind you.

[Skunkhome]

If you catch yourself in a situation where you did not manage to get to first before stop, you can shut down the engine shift to 1st and crank up again. It isn't the best but there are times you get caught where downshifting on the go isn't possible.

[Water Warrior 2]

If you catch yourself in a situation where you did not manage to get to first before stop, you can shut down the engine shift to 1st and crank up again. It isn't the best but there are times you get caught where downshifting on the go isn't possible.
The Honda Rebel 250 has a common trait of not going into 1st even when you are just coming to a stop. The only way to get it into first is stop, push down on the shifter and shut down the engine. It pops right into 1st that way. Restart the bike and you are ready to ride once again. Lynda rode a Rebel during her rider training and would have set fire to it just as soon as the instructor wasn't looking. He kept watching of course.

[dentheman]

If you catch yourself in a situation where you did not manage to get to first before stop, you can shut down the engine shift to 1st and crank up again. It isn't the best but there are times you get caught where downshifting on the go isn't possible.
The Honda Rebel 250 has a common trait of not going into 1st even when you are just coming to a stop. The only way to get it into first is stop, push down on the shifter and shut down the engine. It pops right into 1st that way. Restart the bike and you are ready to ride once again. Lynda rode a Rebel during her rider training and would have set fire to it just as soon as the instructor wasn't looking. He kept watching of course.
That is exactly what happens to my Shadow when the engine is hot; even when still rolling I will push the shifter down to go into first but nothing happens, so I think it is in first when it is in second. All I know about the oil is that it and the filter were changed by the dealer when I bought it, I checked the oil level and the oil was clean. I have only put 817 miles on it since then, so the oil should be good. I may just have to change to synthetic or a heavier oil before the oil is due to be changed and see if that helps. I am inclined to go with heavier oil since it gets so hot here (and also to the cooler spark plugs Honda recommends for sustained high speed riding). Once I am riding slower so that the engine cools a bit, it shifts fine.

[Water Warrior 2]

The dealer more than likely put in a 10-40 dino oil. Just for the fun of it why not try 15-40 Rotella dino oil and observe the results. I probably haven't subjected the Vstrom to real high temps like you will have but the bike seems to shift very well in the mid 90's F. No hang ups or missed shifts ever. Lynda's M shifts just dandy too.
If there is no significant change after 1000 miles then bite the bullet and go for synthetic. It will withstand high temps much better than a dino in most cases.

[dentheman]

I think it may be 10W30 as that is what is called for in the owner's manual, but the manual also shows 10W40 for hot weather. I will give 10W40 a try. I should be able to leave the same filter on, right?

[blaine]

I think it may be 10W30 as that is what is called for in the owner's manual, but the manual also shows 10W40 for hot weather. I will give 10W40 a try. I should be able to leave the same filter on, right?
You can leave the filter if it is reasonable new.If it got close to 3000 miles on it you might want to change it.
:) :cool:

[mrlmd1]

As I said up above here --

Almost all bikes have a hard time shifting into first gear if the bike is stopped and it has nothing to do with the oil in it.
If you can't easily get it into gear, roll it forward or backwards a couple of inches and it will go.

[blaine]

As I said up above here --

Almost all bikes have a hard time shifting into first gear if the bike is stopped and it has nothing to do with the oil in it.
If you can't easily get it into gear, roll it forward or backwards a couple of inches and it will go.
You should be shifting into 1st gear before you come to a stop.This is how the transmission is designed,to be shifted on the move.Also if your into 1st gear when coming to a stop,you have a much better chance of moving out of the way,if need be.
:) :cool:

[dentheman]

I am trying to shift into fisrt as I am ROLLING to the stop, doing maybe 5 to 10 mph, normal downshifting through the gears.