Shell Helix Ultra

[Lou Girardin]

OK we are now clear that there are good and cheap alternatives to buying motorcycle oil so long as it doesn't have friction modifiers.

Can someone name one synthetic, one semi-synth and one mineral (diesel) oil of say 10w40 or 15w40 viscosity that is available in NZ and that meets the above criteria. Yes I am too lazy to get off my chuff and look myself, but I am also quite nervous about this and would take some notice from those who have actually used non-motorcycle oils rather than just pulling a bottle off the shelf and missing the "contains friction modifyers" small print.

Synth - Mobil Racing 4T

[Motu]

Used oil analisist of vehicles using K & N filters shows an increase in silica levels,every time.This means small particals of sand are getting into the engine.You won't get me using one again,ever.

[Bonez]

He may be correct in that the K&N may have the worst filtration, however his test in no way proves that or anything like it.
All it proves is that he has not actually conducted a test of the filtration capabilities of air filters.

You can't expect a test by the product producer to be valid can you? Sorta like Microsoft and testing MS Windows against other operating systems and stating it's the best server OS .

[Slingshot]

FWIW I've just put Penrite HPR10 into my bike [info here], gear changes seem to be smoother and overall the bike seems quiter (but I could be dreaming).

[Pathos]

This is gonna sound really stupid but...

I've been riding my bike for ~5 months on shell helix plus....

And I thought I read somewhere that the chain self greases its self sowithout thinking I've never added chain lube...that included a ride to Palmy and back

Oh well I'm learning...the hard way...poor baby doesn't deserve it...

[NordieBoy]

Have seen a comparison by independent testers. Honda paper elements came out on top as far as filtration goes. Believe it or not.............................This link relates to cars but tells the same story- http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/airfilter/airtest1.htm
Sure K&N have better flow but I know what I'd rather have on a dusty, gravelly back country road.

Edit-Clarified a few things

I'd go for a properly oiled foam (UniFilter) anytime over a K&N.
The amount of dust that was getting through with the K&N compared to the Unifilter made it a no-brainer.

I like flow but I like lack of contaminants better.

[The Stranger:Me]

You can't expect a test by the product producer to be valid can you? Sorta like Microsoft and testing MS Windows against other operating systems and stating it's the best server OS .

Not suggesting that the manufacturers tests are the best.
I would expect that their tests are accurate though.

Just like Microsoft, but the devil is in the details. Microsoft did successfully show that SQL server was quicker than Oracle, but when you looked at the hardware used in each test it was obvious where the speed came from.

For example they (K&N) claim that particles of <10 micron are not significant to a motor and as such they have tested theirs with particles 10 and greater and it was very effective in this range.

So yes I waould expect that their test results would be repeatable by others using particles in this range. However their opinion on particle size is just that and is doubtless a source of debate.

They are an American company and for all it's failings the American legal system i feel tends to help keep these sorts of things reasonably accurate.

That said I am not saying K&N are the best anyway, I haven't tested them for filtration etiher, but neither have I claimed to.

[Gontour]

okay i have taken a while to actually put the Shell Helix Ultra into my Bandit, but I have done and it doesnt slip !!!! I went to the coromandel over the long weekend with wife on board and all was well, so thanks to everyone who has contributed and got some other information along the way. Hoefully now when people search for oil types this will at least have an ending.
Cheers