How often to change oil/plugs, etc...

1976 KZ 750 twin. Original manual I have shows changing oil every 800 km (500 miles). Is this what everyone else does with their bike? seems kinda overkill.

I found an ap called Gas Cubby that I LOVE for my iPod and I use it extensively, I'd like to put in all the right scheduled maintenance things into it to keep the bike in shape.

What other kind of routine maintenance schedules do people do on their bikes, like the plugs, lubing the chain, etc... Like I said, I have the original manual but it seems pretty outdated and I don't know if it's all obsolete info.

Ashbane wrote:

1976 KZ 750 twin. Original manual I have shows changing oil every 800 km (500 miles). Is this what everyone else does with their bike? seems kinda overkill...have the original manual but it seems pretty outdated and I don't know if it's all obsolete info.

Am guessing the manual may specify the first oil change at 500 miles (new bike break-in), and thereafter at 2000 mile intervals, with filter change every other oil change. At least that's what the 1973 Z1 and 1976 KZ900 manuals provide, consistent with the KHI FSM's for large four KZ's through 1979 models.

The basic routine maintenance as provided in the manual should imo still apply and be followed.

Good Luck!

Ashbane wrote:

1976 KZ 750 twin. Original manual I have shows changing oil every 800 km (500 miles). Is this what everyone else does with their bike? seems kinda overkill.

That can't be correct, According to my 1979 KZ750-B4 (twin) manual, the FIRST oil change (when new) occurs at 500 miles, but all changes after that are every 3000 miles. Filter is changed on every other oil change. As to whether 3k miles is a good change interval? Depends on the oil and type of service. If it is mostly city driving, I change my oil at about 1500 - 2000 miles. If you use premium syn oil like Amsoil or Rotella, you can run it longer.


Ashbane wrote:

What other kind of routine maintenance schedules do people do on their bikes,

Clean and lube the chain every 200 miles if you want it to last any time. I switched to Dupont Multi Use spray lube for the chain (get it at Lowes) because it is much cleaner to use.

I think you can run spark plugs a long time (at least 10k miles) if the engine is burning clean. I sometimes clean and regap the plugs if they look carboned up, the manual says clean and regap every 3000 miles normal maintenance.

<smack head>

Wow never looked past the first column on the chart, figured they were all the same period in between...

Thanks all. Especially about the chain lube, was hoping to see if a specific kind would come up here.

Ashbane wrote:

1976 KZ 750 twin. Original manual I have shows changing oil every 800 km (500 miles). Is this what everyone else does with their bike? seems kinda overkill.


The best way to find the answer to that question for your bike, oil type and riding conditions is from used oil analysis, ie Blackstone Labs. I use 10W-40 and have it tested locally by Caterpillar, they are currently recommending 2,200 miles for my bikes. I always change mine before the 100° weather arrives so that it's hot weather viscosity is maximized. Your recommendation might quite likely be different. Recently our local Freightliner dealer installed a Shell testing machine right at the parts counter where you can test your own oil and print out the results in 10 minutes for about $15.