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Best Oil For Bikes
- havakaw
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'80 KZ 750 LTD-H
'82 KZ 1100 A-2 Shafty (ex-bagger)
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- 650ed
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1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- Forrest
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- The Mad Duck
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Seriously, I do not trust Rotella. Many riders swear by Rotella but I will not use. I use motorcycle specific oils. Price be damned. I currently use Repsol 10W40 Full Dino in my KZ 650. I use full synthetic racing oil in my ZRX 1200R, Repsol, Redline, Motul, etc. I use blended synthetic in my Concours 14 and thinking of switching to full synthetic.
Oil Filters? Fram is low on my list. I have known of others using the Frams and getting failures such as the filter media collapses or fails by tearing. I agree with Ed and use K&N Oil Filters. It is worth the extra few $$.
Flame On Oil Thread Haters!!!
KZ RIDER RELAY FLAG CARRIER #55
1977 KZ650B Ready & Fit to Roll Anywhere!
1974 F7 175 -first bike and still own, full resto soon!
2002 ZRX1200R -Red the faster color
2011 Concours 14 -Now a Snarling Wolf in Sheep's Clothing!
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- bountyhunter
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I bought my bike in '79 so that was decades before the ridiculously expensive "motorcycle" oils were around. Car oil is fine as long as it isn't energy conserving. And I definitely agree you need to add ZDDP to put back what they now leave out.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- steell
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For my big hp bikes I use Gibbs Racing oil, dino for break-in and Synthetic Motorcycle oil the rest of the time. ~$10-$11 a quart from Jegs or Summit Racing (and a bunch other places). All the ZDDP you could ask for.
Shell Rotella T with no additives added in my 750 twin.
KD9JUR
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- KZ-Izzo
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Live Fast
1980 KZ1000 b4 ltd
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- 650ed
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steell wrote: I thought the consensus was that Shell Rotella T still had the ZDDP in it?...
It did as of January of last year (see link), so unless they changed the formula it still does. It might be worth sending the question to Shell; apparently they are happy to answer questions - good for business. Ed
www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57953
1977 KZ650-C1 Original Owner - Stock (with additional invisible FIAMM horn)
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- bountyhunter
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650ed wrote:
steell wrote: I thought the consensus was that Shell Rotella T still had the ZDDP in it?...
It did as of January of last year (see link), so unless they changed the formula it still does. It might be worth sending the question to Shell; apparently they are happy to answer questions - good for business. Ed
www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=57953
Last I read, the "legal" limit for ZDDP for use in passenger cars (SM or SN service grade) is under 800 PPM which is about half as much as should be in there. Optimum is more like 1600 ppm. I have no idea what Rotella has but lately, I don't believe anything oil makers publish.
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- trianglelaguna
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- New and improved - extra strength
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1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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- Rhone
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- daveo
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Used the 40wt last year, and now using 50. The engine loves it, and it's green!
1982 KZ1100-A2
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- Mcdroid
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- Gone Kwackers
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daveo wrote: www.penngrade1.com/Products/Motor-Oils/SAE-20W50.aspx
Used the 40wt last year, and now using 50. The engine loves it, and it's green!
+1 That is also what I use.
Michael
Victoria, Texas
1982 GPz750
1977 KZ1000A
1978 KZ1000A
1982 GPz1100
1975 Z2A
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