Doing oil/trans oil change tomorrow have 1 question

[sky56]

hey everyone. Im going on a bachelor party ride up to the HD museum tomorrow around 130pm. Anyways ill be taking my xb12ss. Im changing my oil tomorrow and giving the bike the once over in the morning. Anyways living in Chicago and doing a good amount of city riding should I put 20w50 in the primary or 75w90?

Please lets not start the war on oil and all that. Ive searched and done enough reading to make my head spin. Just need to know which oil mentioned above would be best for my city bike? I do alot of riding in general (both city and hwy) but living in Chicago I know some guys will say 75w90 for the primary for the constant shifting sometimes doing city riding. Thanks for the help. And in case anyone is wondering my bike is running great and will be looked at next week for the hit and run i had (lady backed into and knocked over my bike)

2007 xb12ss with 11,350 miles currently on her. Thanks and ride safe everyone.

 

[anrkizm95]

20w50

 

[sky56]

Thanks anrkizm95

 

[Theycallmecrash]

For the arguents sake, 20w50 engine oil vs 75w90 gear oil are characteristically the same viscosity. So then the arguement is not that but is engine oil or gear oil better. Both are the wrong choice, but more specifically you can run either as long as they specifically say compatable with limited slip or wet clutches. Personally i believe gear oil has too many additives involving sulfer and/or phosphorus designed to reduce shear of the molecules, and our transmissions are not subjected to pressures/forces to warrant those foul smelling additives that react with metals like copper (stators and shift forks) Probably not the best for the clutches either, so a good engine oil that advertises for use in primary systems is probably best, a 20w50 works all year round.

 

[kd4gru]

Also 20W50

 

[Kiwibuell]

20w50 or i have recently tried a spectro product specifically for Harley transmissions : shifts like a dream. Just my two cents worth

 

[88b]

I don't care what anyone puts in their trans and primary, but I always wonder why Buell specified HD Formula + ? When they could have recommended the more expensive Syn 3 or just regular 20/50.

 

[go cytocis]

Crash is right. The viscocty scales for gear & motor oils are different so a 75w90 = 20w50. As long as it's rated for use with wet clutches, it won't make much difference what you use. I'd advocate that, whatever oil you choose, what's more important is to change it regularly.

 

[djs2k2]

I am going to say have fun at the museum I have been there once and it was awesome I loved looking at all the buell stuff and eating in their diner. I live in GA but we took a bike trip all the way up there. [up]

 

[sky56]

Felt good to change it. Put a Bosch filter on and Mobil 20-50 in swing arm and primary. The DIY videos posted on here made it so much easier. It needed it for sure. Ride was awesome. Threw down 185 miles in total. It was a blast for sure. Good times and a good ride.

 

[user_deleted]

sky: if it helps i am on my 5th buell now and have tried all the 20-50's in the trans/primary....everything from amsoil, bel-ray, castrol, motul, you name it. have found that amsoil 20-50 cycle oil shifts smoothest. but they're all very good. i would NOT use any GL-4 or GL-5 product in the primary for all the reasons mentioned above.

 

[Matteson]

Just refer to your owners manual. They seem to have written down the correct info for us to use.

 

[go cytocis]

Just refer to your owners manual.

Ya, normally that'd be my advice too. Problem is, in this case, the manual says "HD Forrmula+". If you're like me, you resent being stuck with only one proprietary option, especially when it can be a hassle to find and it's over-priced...

 

[Matteson]

Hd formula is used so they can still warranty there product.

 

[go cytocis]

Hd formula is used so they can still warranty there product.

EXACTLY. A friend of mine who is also an HD service tech confided the same thing to me just yesterday. He says 80w90 gear oil is the same thing, and that's what they use on their own bikes once they're off-warranty.