Oil Weight

If you have a stock bike than the Shell Rotella-T has adequate ZDDP in it at about 1250PPM. The 550-900 have pretty mild stock valve springs and the lift is pretty mild so the Rotella-T is about the best oil you can put in those bikes. I bought a 2.5Gal bucket of it at Wall-Mart for about $22 If you add some extra ZDDP to it, It will only help. Here is a link to a discussion forum on this web sight about this very subject.
kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...ew&catid=2&id=352062

ace wrote:

thanx 4 the info on oil.... i been runnin the cheap 10-30....also do u experts reccomend any choice filters???

Here's what I use:

K&N

K&N is a good filter but I find them impossible to find locally. If you want to pick a filter up locally and not wait for mail order try an auto parts store that sells WIX filters. They are an excellent filter, inexpensive and also come with both both o-rings. The correct WIX filter for your bike is #24941. Napa Gold is also a good alternative. (#4941)

Don't use "orange" filters....

I use and have used for many years At least since the 80s EMGO filters and have never had any problems. You can find them almost anywhere.

otakar wrote:

I use and have used for many years At least since the 80s EMGO filters and have never had any problems. You can find them almost anywhere.

Me too. That's what the dealer who sold me my bike stocked for it.

in my opinion royal purple is the BEST you can get. for these bikes. the only downside is the price. and i agree with everybody the K&N is the way to go fo filters

From what I have researched, the best oils are Amsoil synthetic and Rotella synthetic if price is no barrier. For best cost/benefit, the diesel rated dino oils like Rotella are very good because Walmart sells them pretty cheap and their additive packages are very strong if they are rated for diesel service so you can run them to the rated service interval. Or, you can just buy regular old castrol, valvoline or the like on sale and change it every 1500 miles. Oil never breaks down and the engine stays REALLY clean. That's what I do.

gcarson64 wrote:

in my opinion royal purple is the BEST you can get. for these bikes. the only downside is the price. and i agree with everybody the K&N is the way to go fo filters

That is what I used to think about Royal Purple also. Until I bought some and used it. I think you should Google it and do some research. That is all I am going to say about Royal Purple.

Royal Purple did not do well in a comparison of motorcycle oils. Anyone interested in which oils work well in bikes should take a careful look at the following study:

Motorcycle Oil Study

650ed wrote:

Royal Purple did not do well in a comparison of motorcycle oils. Anyone interested in which oils work well in bikes should take a careful look at the following study:

Motorcycle Oil Study

That is being kind. There are some horror stories out there about them. There have also been numerous law suits. I bought a case of it before I did my research on them.

I have to agree with the gripe about Royal Purple. I've had some close to home horror stories from the strip/track.

They have been succesfully sued on several occasions. I do think the product has changed, and could likely be better, but from experience and local mouth, its an inconsistant product at best.

Avoid.

I like the Amsoil 20W50 synth, for air cooled bikes.
Change it once, at the beginning of the season.

However... if you use this instead of your reg dyno oil, it will exagerate any small leaks you could have.

GL! Change it often if its dyno...

gcarson64 wrote:

in my opinion royal purple is the BEST you can get. for these bikes. the only downside is the price. and i agree with everybody the K&N is the way to go fo filters


That is what I used to think about Royal Purple also. Until I bought some and used it. I think you should Google it and do some research. That is all I am going to say about Royal Purple.



my fellow kz riders have used royal purple since it first came out and they have not done anything but win races with the royal purple. i fully respect your opinion and i dont have any against the other greats oils out there. ( i have a lot of different vehiciles and use many different oils ). i just prefer RP for my kz because i have had great results and a lot of positive feedback on this oil. that is the reason i use this oil for this bike. but like i said the is my opinion. everybody has there own.

have fun and be safe.