engine dry on brand new bike

[burkbuilds]

When your bike is warm,(just finished a ride), then some of the oil is still up inside the engine instead of down in the lower case, which will make it appear low on oil. Let it sit for several minutes, I'd say at least 5 minutes and then get off the bike, squat down and have someone else hold the handlebars and hold the bike upright. In a few seconds, you should have an oil level somewhere around the middle of the sightglass. It might be up towards the top or down a little but it should be somewhere above the bottom 1/4 of the sightglass and below the top 1/4 of the sightglass. If you can't see an oil level, sometimes that is because it is overfilled and the top of the oil is completely above the sight glass, just to make sure that is not the case have the person helping you, slowly lean the bike away from you back towards the kickstand, if you see the level starting at the top as they lean the bike away then you have overfilled the oil level.
If you are checking it cold, (after sitting for a few minutes) and you are seeing a noticeable drop in the oil level after only a few miles of riding then you definitely should take it back in to the dealer and let them check it out.

[Easy Rider]

Originally Posted by Krazy Kraut

OK!
Realy dumb question: Should i check it cold or hwarm/hot?

Not dumb at all.
The answer is: If hot, you need to wait a few minutes but......it should not make THAT much difference. Checked cold versus checked hot and drained down for a few minutes should not be more than 1/4 of the window different.
If it was at the top one time and at the bottom the next, then there might be a problem with exactly how you are checking it.

[blaine]

Best time to check oil is at the start of the day.If you are trying to check oil while sitting on bike it won't be acurate as the bike will lean as you do.Takes very little lean to throw of level in sight glass.A small mirror will help you check oil while sitting uprite on bike.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by blaine

A small mirror will help you check oil while sitting uprite on bike.

I find that I don't even need that. I'm no superman, but I find that if I stand at the side of the bike (the side opposite the stand), I can hold the handlebar & tip the bike towards me, quite easily (& look at the sight glass at the same time). I've never needed mirror/assistance to check the oil.

[blaine]

That's true,but she said she was trying to check oil while sitting on the bike.some people are more relaxed doing it this way.

[GZ250]

i have 36k (2005) and my bike (engine) still uses oil rather drinks oil. when it was new i was concerned but not now, i simply add new oil as needed and keep the level in the middle. I have to add 2-3 times during changes.

[alantf]

Originally Posted by GZ250

i have 36k (2005) and my bike (engine) still uses oil rather drinks oil. when it was new i was concerned but not now, i simply add new oil as needed and keep the level in the middle. I have to add 2-3 times during changes.

I wonder what the factor is that makes all the bikes use different amounts of oil. Mine has never needed topping up between changes (with around 11,000 miles now). Yours "uses oil". Other people have GZs that use a lot of oil. Could it be the style of riding? or the build quality of the different factory people? or what? I just can't understand it. :??:

[blaine]

I would say it is riding style,or the way bike was "broke in" when new.My bike has 39000 kms uses very little oil between changes.

[GZ250]

a good break in very essential for any engine and it has to be done in the way it is said. i did the same way. i still ride single. riding style can make some difference but WHAt exactly will make that difference. so there is something else, may be depends when components were assembled together - same as genetic differences in humans - later handling differences are add ins.

[Sarris]

Your probably right. Bad break-in and poorly seated rings.

I always break my new bikes in faster and harder than the manufacturers recommend and I have great running bikes with the horsepower at the upper range of the norm. My GeeZer uses absolutely no oil.

BTW, picked up a nail in the front tire this weekend and I may have ridden it for 30 or so miles (straight smooth road no stops) before I discovered it had gone flat!! Stopped at my first light and shit!!! Flat as a pancake. It took 3 pump ups to get her home.