Recommended oil change interval for road bike?

[p.dath]

I'm just looking at starting to service my Honda CBR600.

From talking to other people they have suggested doing oil changes every 5000 km or so (which would mean it is about due now).

Just got hold of a service manual, and it is suggesting changing the oil and filter every 12,000 kms.

That's quite a big difference. So what is the story? How often should I be changing the oil and filter? I ride on the road about 200km/week.

[one fast tl1ooo]

I do mine every 5000k,

["D" FZ1]

A lot of the manuals say 10-12,000 kms but we do oil and filter every 5000 kms.

[Mumbles]

I'm lazy but once a year at least. (usually after coldkiwi weekend as it gets a hard ride there and home)

If you dont know the history of the bike then the sooner the better.

If your doing lots of kms then 5k-10k with a good oil (and filter with every change) is fine, but if you ride it hard then treat it right

[dogsnbikes]

I do mine at around the 5k mark replacing the filter at the same time although some people replace filters every second oil change its a personal prefence of mine..

if your not using bike alot you should change oil every six months(as it looses its quality as it deteriates) these are just guidelines depends how your ride really and what your happy with doing

[CookMySock]

12,000k might be ok for larger engines, but if your oil is starting to darken badly, or the engine begins to play up (smoking, hard to start, gearbox does something unusual, funny exhaust smell etc) then change the oil and filter and see if it clears the problem up.

Steve

[=cJ=]

5K oil plus filter.

[frogfeaturesFZR]

2000 for me, but I rev the snot outa mine, and I'm kind of anal. I figure oil is cheaper than an engine rebuild.

[crazyhorse]

Depends on your use of the bike - but yeah, 5,000 km's is supposed to be when you do it - so, get off your arse and do it man

[slofox]

6000km for the SVS according to the book...

[The Pastor]

I'm lazy but once a year at least. (usually after coldkiwi weekend as it gets a hard ride there and home)

If you dont know the history of the bike then the sooner the better.

If your doing lots of kms then 5k-10k with a good oil (and filter with every change) is fine, but if you ride it hard then treat it right

wouldnt it be better to do it every year BEFORE the cold kiwi if it gets a hard ride in?

[Squiggles]

Some are larger but i go every 6 for oil, and filter every second... Although lately i've just done both each time

[peasea]

I'm just looking at starting to service my Honda CBR600.

From talking to other people they have suggested doing oil changes every 5000 km or so (which would mean it is about due now).

Just got hold of a service manual, and it is suggesting changing the oil and filter every 12,000 kms.

That's quite a big difference. So what is the story? How often should I be changing the oil and filter? I ride on the road about 200km/week.

A lot depends on how the machine is used. Loads of short trips mean the engine spends a lot of time running with some sort of enrichment device (choke etc) in operation. The excess fuel will contaminate and dilute the oil. Moisture also is a large contributor to oil breakdown. If an engine sits in a cold shed condensation will form inside the engine that will not completely 'boil off' on a short journey.

The manufacturer who wrote that manual you refer to may think that continuous use would allow the machine to go 12,000 and rightly so with a top quality oil. However, my personal preference (speaking as an engine builder from way back) is to cap anything at 10,000kms.

Last summer we left our bikes until about the 7,000km mark and the oil looked immaculate while retaining (going by feel) plenty of its viscosity. However, most of that 7,000kms had been out on the open road, often riding from tank to tank, non-stop. That's the best way to run an engine and the oil doesn't get as contaminated by fuel and moisture. (I also use a lighter grade in winter.)

If you're commuting on the bike I'd say 5,000km would be the max, depending on the length of commute. I used to go 3,500 between changes when using a bike for a short commute. I commute 25 each way at the mo and 5,000kms (or thereabouts) will be it for me under those circumstances. I do, however, get out for longer stretches on the w/e and if I've done a few of them then 6-7 will be fine.

One last tip; leave the drain plug out overnight, get as much old oil out as you can. No point in pouring good over bad. You can also get these things for HD's; dunno if they are available for other rides but a bloody good idea.

Read the lowdown, you can flush your motor before putting the new filter on.

http://2armcyclestore.com/catalog/pr...products_id/54

There's this too.

http://www.roguechopper.com/