How Often to do Oil Changes

[GW 04 XB12R]

I think the manual says 1,000mi, which is ridiculous... Does everyone follow this guideline? My dad rides a custom (engine almost identical to an 88ci Harley) and he doesn't change it more than once a season (~~3000 miles). I don't race the bike, overall I ride pretty easy. Could I get away with a whole season? How often does everyone else do oil changes?

 

[theoctopus]

Every 1000 miles if it's dino oil. Unless it's for the break-in, then I change at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 1000 using dino oil. A lot of people say this is unnecessary, but I've always found glitter in my oil pan all the way up to 1000 miles. Rather spend money on oil than have that **** in my bike.

Every 3000 or so if it's synthetic.

 

[Jabaniz]

synthetic is good for long time, on my personal vehicles i go almost 5000 miles, and i have 2 jeeps with 180,000 plus, on my bike its cheap to change so i go way less, but still every 2500 or so, and after every winter since its parked for 3-6 months

 

[xtremelow]

I change my oil, at the beginning and end of each season. I run Full Syth.

Only ride for about for about 5 months out of the year here in MI, so I probably could get away with one oil change a year since I dont start my bike in the winters since the cold starts are so had on the bike.

 

[07Bolt]

i would venture around 5k with Synthetic; in all holes. but thats with moderate riding i.e., commuting and weekends. if i were really violating that fooker, then i would go every 2500k with Synthetic

 

[bajabomber87]

I do 2-2500 on Harley Synthetic and beat the crap out of my bike.

 

[Johnny2Bikes]

I'm only at 2500 miles on the Buell,but I run full synth Lucas in my '96 BMW 850 and ran it in my V Strom, my Sprint ST and the Bandit. Three thousand miles has always worked great for me. Five thousand would probably be OK, but oil to me is cheap insurance.

 

[GW 04 XB12R]

OK, this is kind of what I expected to hear. Glad people are getting away with more miles using synthetic. When is it too early to switch to synth? I just got my bike, used from a dealer, with 3200mi. Now it has just over 4k. Am I safe to switch to synth now? Should I do the change soon? They did the last one b4 I bought it, and I'm assuming it was not using synthetic. Still, though, when I check my oil level on the dipstick, it is still golden brownish, like it almost just came out of the bottle.

 

[Alfatango1]

Go ahead and change it to synthetic, it's not going to hurt it. Or use the stuff you just put in for another 1000 since it's clean.

 

[redliner172]

I change mine every thousand miles when I can. I have 10,000 miles on my 1125R now and still run the piss out of it in the twisties and if I find a long straight. WOT to about 155 then I shut it down with plenty of RPM range to go. I need to break 160 in the next two weeks.

Point is, as hard as I run the bike, after 1000 miles 2.5 quarts are gone and the oil is very dirty. I take care of her though that way it doesnt end up like a lot of Buells in the DFW area.