Oil Level

Sorry if this is totally elementary... but I have a haynes manual and it doesn't say.

Do I need to have my 79 kz650d2 up on the center stand to determine oil level? Or just level?

Thanks!

I vote for level

Either. But would prefer center stand. Have you tried to balance level a bike off the center stand and try to look at that window? Sitting on the bike and trying to look only gets me dizzy, lol. Could end up with banged up bike. And on the center stand the engine has slight tilt forward. But I don't think the difference will matter much between the two methods.

this makes me nuts...I try center stand, balancing on two wheels and looking...
both different, I pulled back on the handle bars and it moved. finding level ground to check seems like it moved again...I may just get an oil pressure gauge like I've seen here.
Mine does burn a bit of oil, 1/2 quart every 3-500 miles so I'm always looking AND always thinking my petcock leaked and filled the tank, or theres no oil in there at all...
maddening I tells ya, maddening.
I love my Asian engineer overlords but this is the one thing they did that leaves something to be desired.

Either. The Owner's Manual says "With the bike level or on the center stand....." Of course, it is much easier to check with the bike on the center stand on level ground than trying to hold the bike level while getting your head low enough to see the site glass, so I have always used the center stand. Ed

For me and the other teeter-tottering, more or less uncoordinated staggering masses:

www.kzrider.com/forum/21-tools/318467-ea...l-level-check#318467

Good Fortune!

I thought you used OMR's old high school trick and glued a mirror to the tip of your shoe. Of course, it wasn't motorcycle oil he was checking out. :laugh: :laugh:

Of course as mentioned, either method works, but of course putting on the centerstand does not guarantee the bike is perfectly level. You need perfectly level pavement to get accurate level on the centerstand. I prefer to have the bike on the sidestand and kneel down beside it and tip it up to level. You can feel the point of balance and that will be where you want to do your check, and also watch the oil rise in the glass as you tip it up level. Another trick for KZs that use some oil is to maintain your oil level at the lower mark instead of the full mark. This can cut oil consumption quite a bit.

Thanks all!