Amsoil (?)

Planning on changing oil this weekend. '85 xj700n. Have Amsoil 10w40 motorcycle synthetic oil. Anyone have experience with this synthetic?

 

IMO, any synthetic is not worth the $...

 

I don't know anything about your bike, but if it has the same style of starter clutch that my 81 xj750 does, don't do it!. From what i've seen and read synthetics can screw havoc with a lot of stuff in these old bikes, starter clutch included.

 

I wouldn't do it either. They didn't come with synthetic oil in them so I would go back with a regular motorcycle oil in it. Just my opinion.

 

Every motorcycle forum I belong to has an amsoil thread. please let this one be short

 

so, what kind of oil do you recommend? I don't have the owner's manual, but I assume it still needs to be a motorcycle oil and not regular auto oil. Is that not correct?

 

Shell Rotella T6 full synthetic, 1 gal blue jug at Big Wally for $ 21

 

I use yamalube 20/50 in the summer months.

 

Some guys run synthetic, but from my experience anything but Dino oil on XJ clutches spells slippage.

I use 20w50 castrol (not gtx), and planning on sticking with it. You have been warned

 

i use 20w-50 valvolene motorcycle oil.

 

Automotive oil contains additives that our wet clutches.just plain don't like. Lots of slippage. Stick with motorcycle oil. Every brand is a little different but as long as its motorcycle oil your doing fine. 20w50 I believe is the standard with a lot of these bikes nowadays but the manual calls for 20w40 yamalube.

 

Motorcycle-specific Amsoil has been working great for us for years now in all kinds of bikes (I own a shop). From scooters to Turbo Busas. Clutch slippage has never been an issue, but I do believe that a weak starter clutch (whether due to wear or simply a weak design like some Yamaha Viragos) may be a little "cranky" on synthetics .

A friend here is the crew chief for one of the most successful motorcycle roadrace teams in the country. When they made the transition to synthetics years ago he said that engine wear became a nonissue overnight.

Bottom line, if you want the very best engine/transmission protection (and your starter clutch doesn't complain :lol: ), run motorcycle-specific synthetics.

 

+1 to 20w-50 Valvolene motorcycle oil.

 

First post, so be kind:

Original owner of seca 650. Resurrected 5 years ago and ran dino oil for 3 years. Changed a lot of seals, but then 1 yr ago tried amsoil 20W/50 MC oil with HiFlo Filtro and Lockhart cooler installed at purchase in 1982. Within 2 months, engine ran better than it ever had 30 years earlier. Revs up quickly, vibration nonexistent, no noticeable viscosity breakdown at 3000 miles like dino oils. Extremely happy. Will probably continue to use indefinitely.

Just my .02

 

Amsoil made my starter clutch slip so bad I was lucky to get the thing started. I'd live to use it because I think it's a superior oil, but I guess I can't.

 

As Oilheadron pointed out the synthetics may not affect the drive clutch, but they can and do play hell with the starter clutch. This is where we want metal to metal contact because that's how it was designed.

 

Castrol, works beautifully in these bikes and reasonably priced..

http://www.castrolmoto.com/au/our_oils_ ... 15w_50.php

ps please don't start a thread about tyres :lol:

 

Have also had some starter clutch issues from time to time, but can't attribute them unequivocally to oil being used. You may be right, but it hasn't been a clear association in my bike. Thanks for sharing. Will be more aware going forward.