Motorcycle Oil: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. 

I recommend using "OIL". So far it has worked out for me as opposed to using "NO OIL".

I go with what the engine manufacturer recommends. Never listen to the oil manufacturer, or idiots in the youtube comment section....

Bought my first bike 2 months ago... Can't wait to start taking it apart and learning how to do maintenance on it myself. Until then, very grateful for these videos to teach me what I need to know. Glad I found a trustworthy source.

You r right on brother. I have a Suzuki DL 1000 with 180,000 on it. Have serviced it dead on to your video. Never been in the shop a DAY! If people would treat their cycle to your advice, it would seriously financially hurt the motorcycle industry. Bikes would last 200k plus. Great video and ABSOLUTELY correct!

TheMotorcycleMD I sure appreciate your time and effort and sharing the knowledge. Thank you very much Cody. You do a great job on these videos. I have learned so much from you and used the lessons with great success. You have helped give me the confidence to make sure my 93 F2 is going to be more reliable. My F2 is working the best it ever has since I bought a few years ago. I ride it almost every day at least long enough for a "love my bike run". True Story Man, Thanks.

Great job cody!! Thank you for such informations. Watching every video. I got a vlx 600 1996, almost did the carb settings with your help now it runs like a beast!!

I use Rotella on my $50,000.00 500 Cat and if it is good enough for that it will work on anything. Mine lasted 500,00 miles not problem. Also we used diesel generators in the oil field and on marine applications that never shut off and life forever by just keeping the oil filters changed regularly without changing oil at all.

thanks Cody , I'm a backyard motorcycle-mechanic-wannabe , taking in every tutorial you put out , awaiting your next lesson.

The Rotella runners are a lost cause. "I run it in my earth mover so it must be the best oil for everything!" Frick'n hilarious!

You do a very good job teaching and explaining things. Happy New Year brother:)

One of the best informative videos on the effects of engine oil and motorcycle engine wear and tear. It also proves my point that you can never "over change" your engine oil and filters. I do not believe in extended oil drain intervals.

Another great video, Cody. Thanks!

A great "Oil" video, Cody, without getting into an "oil thread" endless discussion. Great content, brother.

Great video, not only this one. Very helpful and clear to understand, I will keep watching your channel. Greetings from Poland.

Thanks for all the info and tips you share! Definitely a great help to make sure I do a great maintenance to my Honda Tornado XR250 ;) Greetings from Costa Rica buddy, keep it up!

Great topic - important stuff for those who want to get the most out of bikes.

Hey! You're videos are great man! Super informational in a very straight forward and understandable way. I also like that you aren't trying to sell anything you're just givin the facts as they are🤘. I just found my passion for motor bikes this last summer as I bought a 74 Honda and now I am intrigued to work in a repair shop. I am curious to know what steps you made in order to get where you are today. I want to one day soon be in a shop working on old bikes, it seems like a rewarding career. Thanks again for your videos and info to keep my bike tip top. ✌️

i have buddies that change their oil in the off season and thats it. Gets a phone call and they ask whats ya up to. I say doing an oil change on the bike. Them...didn't ya just do that last week or 2 weeks ago.... Me yep but we did that 6hr run the other day and I have been driving it back and forth to work and a few 50 k unwind runs lol. I give the used oil (from my cars and trucks as well) to a company that cuts the brush for powerlines and highways etc etc to use for chain oil. They appreciate it and every xmas I get a bottle of whisky and a case my gf's fav wine. Oil is cheap. I can do an oil change cheaper than a bottle of whisky or a case of beer and neither of those last as long as the oil change. So good money spent.

Good info. Never realized how dirt gets in the oil thru the intake valves. I ride alot of dirt roads. I will change my oil more often now. Thanks!

great, this video gives me lots of tips when it comes to maintaining my engine. thanks

I love your videos. The knowledge you share is great. Thank you

Great video. Very insightful

Great job Cody! Thank you.

Great video, Cody. Thank you.

Thank you for this very good explanation. I ride a Honda Transalp XL 600 V, 1999. It has just passed 120.000km / 75.000 miles. Has never been opened other than valve adjustment and oil / filter change within specs. I use the specified oil as in the manual, shift brands now and then, whatever is on sale of known brands. Runs very good.

Stumbled onto your channel today......Great info,thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Very Good video Cody.. you explained exactly what dirty and long over-do oil change can do to the internal parts.

Just discovered your channel,wish I found it when I had my zrx1100. Those carbs gave me so much shit it had to go. You have me subscribed fella.

Informative & useful. Thanx!

Great and informative video. Keep up the great. My first bike was a 1978 xs 400 o bought from my neighbor. I sold that and bought my 80s nighthawk and have had nothing but Honda's since Go Honda.

Cody ur the best. I wish i could work with you. Im a former Toyota and Honda tech. But i work on scotters. And now sell Honda parts. Your info is so informative for the noobs out there.

Great video, thanks for the info.

Great video Cody I have a very basic thought process in life, listen to the professionals who you trust and go with it. I'm not a mechanic so grav knowledge where you can you are a great wealth of information!

First time I have watched your channel.... very well explained, I subscribed and I’ll check in to watch more ! Very well done.

Always quality video with some deep extras

Excellent video mate.Ride safe and have fun.

Any chance you would be willing to help someone with advice on an 87 Honda shadow 1100 I just got the bike and replaced the clutches but I used automotive oil being an automotive mechanic I readily have access to that oil what kind of damage could I be doing the bike did sit for 3 years before I got it

Won't use a grade other than the manual says but will not go 8k miles if it says so. Why?

Great videos .. I've learned a lot. Thank you

I knew already what you said, but you explained it very well...

I finished this video. THANKS very informative.

Hi there Cody,thank you again, for a great explanation ,of why we need to take precautions, with our oil usage,a crucial part of maintenance, thank you friend,Extremely Important !!😊😊😊

Awesome! Thanks for sharing.

Superb explantion of the types of oil and why changing it often is a very good idea.

Thanks for the info there is always more I can learn 😃

love the way you explain these concepts!

Hello thanks for your work. I have a question: this oil can you advise me for my virago 1000. I live in the hot climate.e.

Great info. Can't tell you how often I see people who want to ride those 8k on their oil. Agree with you 100% 4k should be the absolute most for a bike you love and sooner if you can. Here in cali those miles go by so quick .. had to do changes 4 times last year.

I use Rotella t-4 15w40 diesel oil in my Yamaha Roadliner.It calls for 20w50, but it shifts better on the Rotella

This is a awesome video - great stuff!

Thanks man, good advice

Great information

i can't understand how a multigrade viscosity index can rise as the oilheats up but at same time the oil is getting thinner, do you know what the best lubricant is ?

I love watching your videos and I'm from India. Recently i replaced my cylinder and piston. After this a ticking or taping noise is coming from the engine. This happens only after the engine become hot. When it is started from cold there is no noise and is running smooth. The noise is there only when engine become warm. Please help me with this

great video thanks for sharing and big love from saudi arabia 🇸🇦.

Hello , i have 125cc bike it have 8000 mile i use mobil 1fully synthétic 0 w 40 as the recommandations of bike manual but the clutch keep slipping between gears on accelration even its a brand new bike what about motul 5100 any ideas ?

I'm with you Honda is awesome!

Learned a bit……. Did not know engines burn a quart per thousand miles!!!! Explains several questions I had on my vt1100. Thanks

Thank you for this video

Enjoyed your video. Since you work on Honda's i'm wondering if you can help me here. I have a 2000 honda magna and i just cleaned my carbs and synchronized them on a bench. After carb install and start up I fine tuned the carbs once more. However it still has a slightly noticeable rough idle. i have not adjusted my carb pilot screws since they use a D-shape tool in order to adjust. Can you he;p me by telling me what size D-tool screw driver my Honda would use and where can I get one.. I understand that not too many places sell these tools to just anyone. But knowing the size perhaps I can order one on the internet.

This was a great video...

Better go change the oil ha, great stuff mate , you explained it in layman's terms. Most people should get it excellent.

Thanks for explaining

My book says SAE 10 40 or SAE 30 for my 1980 honda cb750k 4. Would you please do a video of the starter clutch. Thanks.

My motorcycle service manual recommends oil change at 6000miles/10000km. So do I change at the recommended change or as ur recommendation at 4000miles?

These poor sods! Honda is a MOTOR company!!! I have owned all the Japanese brands over 45 years of riding. I even campaigned a 94 XR250R for 11 years for GNCC cross country and have scrambles. I never made it to the ISDN but that XR never coughed once and still had the original clutch when I sold it which I shouldn't have done, but life gets in the way. You are correct my man as far as engine oil there is none better than Honda pro engine oil!!!! In the gold bottle. And bless you for the resurrections to come. Peace

Very interesting . New-bikes (with wet-clutches ) will 'shed' a large-amount of fibrous-particles until the clutch settles-down and 'beds-in' so an early-service is best . After watching an Aussie dirt-bike-racer , I now set-up all my tools etc for my oil-change Before I head-out for a ride. On returning, I change the-oil 'Instantly' to stop particulates dropping into crevices etc (requires rubber-gloves as oil is scalding-hot ) . After doing this for two-consecutive oil-changes my oil now looks nothing like it used-to . It remains so-clean compared to my previous 'regimen' of draining-it while it had 'some' heat . Clutch-particles are one of the-main-culprits for blocking filters and causing the valve to 'bypass' (where your engine circulates unfiltered-oil ) so I'd recommend changing-oil 300ks after a new clutch . My results have been the-same with : W650, GN250, XV1000 ( the XV was always the-dirtiest ) . If my eyes can see a huge-difference , imagine what a microscope would show . Dave nz

Is there such thing as changing oil to often on a motor bike like dose the oil have to neutralise for it to work better?

Bajaj discover 100cc bike. Engine oil recommend 20w40 .but i used 20w50 winter time. Cold time used possible 10w30 semi synthetic.use 10w30 any problem piston rings?

Does the synthetic oil gets bad after a year in the engine if the motorcycle does make the required mileage for the oil change?

Thanks on a twin 88 05 Harley do you recommend synthetic 20/50 in all 3 holes or primary oil gear oil in trans. In 05 they recommended single oil in new motorcycles not so much thanks for the video

Cody I hope you don't mind Me passing on some knowledge I got in the 80's , I raced motocross , and raced 4 strokes at a time 2 strokes dominated the sport . I was lucky enough to finish my racing on a Mitsui Works Yamaha TT-600 that had be converted from its Enduro trim into a full motocross bike , The Engine is just like a XT-600 but it had a lightweight crome liner and used soft rings and the XT- had a soft liner and used chrome rings , The problem was the Transmission would over heat Oil would break down and Third gear would go soft and explode, Mitsui Yamaha contracted a university to go through and test every available Oil on the market at the time , and they found the Only oil that stood upto pressure and temperature was Shell Rimula X Diesel Oil . they tested expensive oils like Bell Ray and they all broke down with the exception of the Shell, They Raced the Bike for 3 years before I got it and I raced it another 3 with no gearbox failures and virtually no Engine wear , I used too change the Oil after every 2 meetings and the filter every meeting . Excessive I know but the Oil I drained was used doing Oil changes in My families cars ;-) . Just thought I would pass this on , I know Oil Tech has moved on a lot since then

An older but invaluable video!

Hey I use motul 7100 on my air cool bike. Now my country temperature is 25 degree Celsius. Can you recommend a grade. Thank you

what do you think about motul 300v that oil works better in my honda than any other I've used?

Pro Honda motorcycle oil (GN4, HP4 and HP4S) is made by IDEMITSU KOSAN. Head office is in Tokyo Japan. Idemitsu Lubricants America ( formerly known as Idemitsu Apollo) is located in Torrance CA. I called and spoke with their represetative and verified this. It's NOT made by Mobil 1 or anyone else. In fact, LCR Honda has a MotoGP Idemitsu sponsored bike that's riden by Takaaki Nakagami #30. Hope this clears up the myth about Pro Honda oil once and for all.

What's your take on oil grade versus aged and rattly motor? Do you change to a thicker oil or add some oil additive or just let it rattle itself to bits? Engine is a K1 BMW so dry clutch and separate gearbox with nearly 200K on the clock.

Hi Cody, What about my 1989 Honda Africa Twin, In the manual it says to use “good quality motor oil” rating SL/CF . It doesn’t mention motorcycle oil. Back in 1989 did motorcycle oil exists ? Is there a exception with car oils in older bikes ?

15:52 does anyone know what kind of rider error leads to this problem? Want to make sure i don't make that mistake :)

You recommend changing oil at 4000 miles. Is that for mineral, synthetic, or both? Cheers.

How do you check the oil in a Yamaha VStar 650. No dipstick.

Excellent explaintion

86 Honda rebel 450 using Honda oil, However in maryland it's cold so I will switch to 5-20 for the winter synthetic oil till spring generally warm weather I go back to 10-40

I have a 93 shadow 1100 i use only honda oil in it and i change the oil every season no matter if i put 500 miles on my bike or 2000

So motorcycle burning oil is like a standard thing? I was using my CB500X till I got almost 1 liter missing I didn't know oil can burn as well

Hi bro MotorcycleMD I'm from Singapore. Just bought a bike CB 125R 2019. The climate here in Singapore is hot and humid average temp Ard 30 deg/cel. What oil grade do you recommend as the manual stated 10w30 but I think in my country temp I don't think suitable. Should I get a thicker grade oil like 20w50? Thanks bro good video.

Hi. I have a 2002 Honda Sabre vt1100 twin pin engine. How mush engine vibration is normal for those accelerating. When accelerating the front end shakes violently. I pull the clutch in when it happens and the shake is gone.If i rev the engine with the clutch still pulled in the engine vibrated pretty good. Maybe a direction to point me in. I synched the carbs they are perfect. Carbs are clean and properly adjusted. Thanks for any help you can give me.

I use 300v2 10w50 on my mt15.company recommended 10w40 yamahalube.bt I use motul 300v2.is it safe for bike life?

I own a 1985 honda vf1000r and looking for engine oil . I will go with Honda oil. thanks

My Motorcycle manufacturer recomends 10w30 but unfortunately very hard to find here in my place. IT IS SAFE TO USE 10W40 OR IT WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE? CLIMATE Temp. Is at 10-40 degrees celcius. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR ALL THE ANSWERS.

Awesome Brother Good show

Dear Sir. I just bought a 2003 gsxr my 1st bike. Didn’t have a manual and put a car engine oiL. Sir, What do you recommend the best way to flush out a wrong motorcycle oiL used aside from just draining it? And what oiL do you suggest for my bike. Many Thanks!!

I want to use motul Factory line 5w 40 bike formula in my TDI... Maybe not safe for the DPF? But will the fact that it is made for wet Clutch mean more wear because of the lack of friction modifiers? It is a dual Ester oil oh, so you would pretty much think it can't get better. But I wonder...

@TheMotorcycleMD can I use API SM on API SL?? Same Jaso

Cody, I have trouble wrapping my head around a wet clutch system. Your thoughts?

my 2007 small bike suggests 1500 mile changes, if i was an unaware person listening to you id go through 4000 miles...

I use real salted butter in dirtbike. It wotks great. Also use veg or canola oil.

Years ago I bought a new MV F1000. The dealer told me that the UK importer told them to onlu use Rock Oil Synthesis 10W60. I have only used Rock Oil in my bikes ever since, currently the 10W/40 grade for my Triumph Street Triple. This oil is a true full synthetic. Unlike some others, Rock don't bring out a new product with a new silly name every few years. I change the oil every 2000 miles or less.

Ram the point home. Good tutorials. 👍

worked in a car retail store, had a guy ask what oil he needed for his hybrid lexus told him the one he needed (didnt like the price) picked up a 5L bottle of minerial and told me its all the same. Never saw him again but still wonder if the engine shat itself half as much as i expected it to