Hey people!
I am new to this site, and glad I found it!
I want to know what oil type people are using.I was wondering if it's say Mobil 1 10W-40, does it have to say for "4 stroke Motorcycle" because of clutch plate slippage, or am I on the wrong track? I need to read more about the clutch, if it's wet (I assume?).Or, do people just use a standard synthetic, 10W-40 for automotive use?

Mobil 1 motorcycle oil would be a good choice. If you choose automotive oil ( because its Cheep ) check to see if the API lable says energy conserving, If it does that would not be a good choice for a wet clutch.

Thanks Buck!
I was looking through the service manual about the clutch, and was trying to figure out if it's a wet clutch, or dry.I pick my bike up this week-end, so a learning curve on the new toy.I have had bikes in years past and pretty up to date on my mechanical skills, but the new technology makes me wonder if I missed something over the past 12 year or so.

dont know about other car oils but i know someone who swears by rioyal purple car oil, its the only oil he's ever used in his bike and its pushing 80,000 miles

heres a lil discussion on car oils from 2007 hope it helps

Mobil 1 has apparently actually changed the formulation (all weights) of its fully synthetic car oil we have been using for years….. In the past, they only changed the label, but the product worked well.

We have had a rash of welded clutch pusher assemblies (and damaged clutches) in the first part of 2007. Nearly all can be traced to switching to the “new” Mobil 1.

Our 2007 Oil advice at this point (in order):

1. We use our Alisyn <<0 in all of our stock engine bikes. I will be testing a thicker version for general street and big power use very soon. (<<0 has been in my ZX-14 its whole life, and it just made 195 HP last week- one of my friends has had it in his GSX-R1000 for 11K street miles, and he also road races the bike. This oil is the best we have ever found!)

2. Quaker state 20w-50 (Big CC/Nitrous) or 10w-30 (stock) is organic…..but it works VERY well and is readily available.

3. Find the highest quality, fully synthetic MOTORCYCLE oil you can; Royal Purple, Red Line, Amsoil, Golden Spectro….etc. We have also had very good results with Motul and Motorex in the past. (BUT- we just had one customer have a clutch pusher weld problem switching to Motorex from Red Line- switched back to Red Line after the repair and the problem went away…so we are as confused as you at the moment about this problem.)

4. ANY fully synthetic motor oil from ANY motorcycle manufacturer/Dealership (Suzuki, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha….etc.) will also be a fine choice.

Note: We try to stay away from all other synthetic car oils as a result of customer problems in the past (Castrol, Kendall, Pennzoil etc. have all caused problems of some type). The organic versions of these brands have also been in question for years...but hell- everything changes and at this point…use your own judgment!

I use Amsoil Motorcycle 10W40 synthetic in my ZX14. All my previous bikes except the '93 Ducati I used Castrol 20W50.

Every year I renew my Amsoil preferred customer card (since BG is the only one I know who got one for free) and it pays for itself.

Here's a poll of the members that was done some time ago. I use AMSOIL myself. -bg

I'm currently running shell Rotella.

still running strong on shell rotella also...especially now with the new T6 formula, it has the JASO-MA rating that is perfect for the wet clutches...

one thing i noticed regardless of type of oil is that the shifting feel usually starts to change at 2000-2500 miles..this after repeated high performance mode ..we all have favorite roads where we let it rip..the tranny/clutch shears it down..

* Last updated by: planetZX on 8/4/2010 @ 11:47 AM *

ok guys just got the report back from blackstone it will be posted in the appropriate spot but im kinda disappointed with the Mobil1 with only 2,100 miles on the oil the Mobil 1 fell out of the viscosity range

it was probably caused by the tranny shearing the oil..

royal purple cycle max 10w40 is very good product

I just changed out to Motorex full syn...15/40.So far,so good.Engine's runnin smooth as glass.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/12/2010 @ 9:22 PM *

Blue, when the weather gets alot cooler where you live you can switch to the 5W/40. most of the engine wear happens on start up and the 5 weight should get to the top of the engine alot faster. This oil is sounding better and better, I think that 5 wt. would also hit your cam chain tensioner faster. (less noise).Im thinking this oil might be stuff to use if you can afford it. At the motrocycle shop here they want almost 20.00 a bottle with tax. Im tripping!

I switched to Amsoil snythetic 10-40w about 2,000 miles ago, and like it very much.

Engine running cooler for some reason, shifting smoother, so its all good.

Need to renew my preferred customer card in November, and will.

Yeah Buck...thanks for the info...I wondered about that.I meant 15/40...that's what it is.No tensioner noise...I don't have the factory one in there!Yep...spendy oil...almost 20 a quart ya.It runs very well so far...BUT on "several" occasions today the shift lever when in 4th did not "pop up" to the ready point before shifting to 5th,and the same as going from 5th to 6th.It's NEVER done that before.The shift lever always pops up into place ready for the next blip.This is not good IMO.I missed a couple of high rpm shifts,then she clunked hard into gear.You know what I mean most likely.NOT GOOD.So I had to start toeing the lever up in those shift areas to make sure it was ready to pop in the next one.If this continues...I'm taking the oil out and going back to Motul 300V.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/12/2010 @ 9:23 PM *

I would be hard pressed to think that oil would create a problem like that, you might need to go in and look at that shift spring at the star. I know its a bitch but it has to be done! Just drain the oil and save that shit so you can put that black gold back in there!

* Last updated by: buck20 on 9/10/2010 @ 9:34 PM *

Well...before I do that(been there,done that before)I'm gonna change back to the 10/40 full syn if I decide to do anything.I really don't want to pull all that out again IF I don't have to.Anyway...I ran Motorex I think it was two years ago...same stuff.I do remember the quality DID NOT LAST LONG...think I changed it out at around 2000 miles cause it wasn't shifting "right",but I can't remember "what" it was shifting like...notchy I think.It's possible the 15 weight is just not working right in MY transmission.Don't know.But I'll soon find out.

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/12/2010 @ 9:28 PM *

I use "Bel-Ray" it's a nice high performance oil. The life of the oil is not the greatest but I change my oil every 2,000 to 2,500 miles.

Lil update on that Motorex....still in there...running sweet.Shift quality turned around.Shifting really smooth now.

I use Kawasaki 10w40 syn. oil in my 2009 ZX14 and all seems well.

I use Amsoil 15/50 in my 06 ZX-14R.

I've changed my oil two or three times so far in this bike, first time I ran the Rotella then I changed to Mobil 1 because of availability (not that Rotella wasn't) and it seemed everyone was using it. I have to say the Rotella when I changed it still looked thick, but the Mobil gets pretty dark and thin. I usually change my oil every month since we only have a few good riding months in Michigan so I can justify the extra expense. An oil that breaks down early isn't as much of a concern for me because of this. But after reading some things recently I starting to doubt my change to Mobil was a good one. I'll keep using their filters because they are one of the best but maybe I'll try a different oil every month this year and record my observations to make a better informed choice for the future. I still want to use an oil I can get at a auto parts store though.
I'm wondering with all this baloney going on in the middle east, how much oil will be going up this summer. I've been getting deals for Mobil 1 and a filter for just over $20 recently which was nice while it lasted.
What is the rating we're supposed to use in our bikes again?

Go with AMSOIL and never look back!