Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/778560
always knew it was my destiny to own a motorcycle. I grew up near the Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, Illinois, where it seemed you could find a group of motorcyclists riding together at any time. I can still recall the distinct sound of a Harley as it fired up and the high-pitched zoom of a sport bike speeding toward the curves ahead. Those memories would lead me to buy my first motorcycle. I distinctly remember the day I brought her home. Excited as a child on Christmas morning, I had to wait a few months before I could go on my first ride, since my purchase was in mid-February and I was living in Wisconsin at the time. The wait seemed unbearable, but over the next couple of months, I was able to research how to properly maintain my bike. It was at this point that I became more confused than ever. The owner's manual seemed to clearly indicate which oil to use and at what interval to change the oil, as well as how to store, winterize and get my bike rolling again in the spring. The chaos began when I joined a motorcycle forum. Everyone had an opinion on which oil was best. Since these forum members were older than I was, I figured they must have known what they were talking about. Based on their recommendations, I headed to the local motorcycle shop and proceeded to purchase the first oil for my motorcycle. I was then stopped again by the man behind the counter, who had his own opinion on what oil would work best in my bike. Faced with many different choices of oils and their claims, I decided to go with the recommendation from my fellow forum riders. Fast forward a few years. I now find myself in the lubrication field, gaining knowledge from various sources and applying it to plant applications. I've somehow become the expert my friends and colleagues come to for advice about their own cars and motorcycles. Their ques- tions typically include which oil is best, what viscosity grade to use and if a synthetic or conventional oil is better. These were the same concerns I had only a few years earlier. Indeed, there are many considerations when selecting an oil for your motorcycle. As with anything new, you should start first by reading the owner's manual. Manufacturer Recommendations Important details like the oil change interval should be listed inside the owner's manual. For my first motorcycle, the manu- facturer recommended an interval of one month or 600 miles for the initial oil change, which can be the most critical one in the bike's lifespan. It allows any break-in wear and manufacturing debris to be drained from the engine and discarded. The manual should also specify the appropriate oil viscosity for different temperature ranges. My manual suggested using an SAE 10W30 for temperature ranges of 10 to 100 degrees F. For tempera tures of MOTORCYCLE I TIPS M o t o r O i l s for Better 46 | January - February 2017 | www.machinerylubrication.com BACK PAGE BASICS G a rre t t Ba pp | Nori a Corpor at ioN Lubrication