Sight glass or dipstick?

[B-rent]

Inspired by a hilarious conversation with swriverstone this weekend about checking my oil, I didn't realize that having a dipstick on a motorcycle is uncommon. Or is it? I have a dipstick on my '06 Triumph Sprint, but every motorcycle in Scott's garage had a sight glass. (a Ducati ST3, Suzuki V-Strom and Suzuki KLR 650) Come to think of it, so did my Yamaha dirtbike growing up.

So, does your bike have a sight glass or dipstick for checking your oil?

[kevin_stevens]

So, does your bike have a sight glass or dipstick for checking your oil?

Yes.

KeS

[Playinthestreet]

Tiger has a dipstick, Sprint has a sight glass.

[Rincewind]

Tiger has a dipstick

Wish it had a sight glass.

[mike goodwin]

I have never owned a motorcycle that used a dipstick.
I much prefer to see my oil level at a glance.

[R Doug]

The only bike I've owed with a dip stick is a Triumph.  All others, except the KTM, had a sight glass.  KTM calls it a sight glass, but it's more like a clear plastic tube. Nevertheless, it's the same principle.

[Orson]

My V11 has a shiny black dip stick, the same color as motor oil   It's extremely difficult to read in direct sunlight. To read it, you need to find a subterranean parking garage with an open door. Park at the far end of the garage, slowly unscrew the dipstick. Hold it up with the garage door behind you providing ambient lighting, and you should get an accurate reading  

These are the things only a mother could love  

[Bjorn Toulouse]

All of my motorcycles have a dipstick.


Rex

[maddjack]

i have one of each ,triumph is a dipstick check,kawa the glass

[zer0netgain]

Dipstick....wish it was a sightglass.  Easier to check.

[slowduc]

sightglass on the duc... makes the pre-ride check that much easier

[rabbott5]

If Connie has oil in the glass, all is well.  First thing I look at before all the other checks.  If it works don't fix it.

[bahwolf]

ZZR -- sight glass
CBR -- sight glass
Hyper -- sight glass
Tiger -- dip
Dakar -- dip
CRF450 -- dip
CRF230 -- I can't remember, but probably a dip
My daughter's DR-Z125 -- sight glass

[et]

'04 SV650S - sight glass
'00 GSXR-750 - sight glass
'89 GS500E - dipstick
'86 GSXR-750RG - two sight glasses

All my earlier motorcycles; '7? CL350, '7? GS750, '7? CB400-FOUR, and possible my '87 Honda Hurricane; all had dipsticks.
I prefer sight glasses.

[Bodhi]

Dipsticks are for lawnmowers.

[blackbeltrider]

All of my motorcycles used to have a dipstick, but I smartened up a lot as I grew older.

[kitkat]

I have one dip & two sightglasses.  prefer the sightglass even though i have to use a flashlight half the time to read it. dipsticks are messy--ought to call em DRIPSTICKS.

[MadMax96]

My friend's '79 Honda CB750F had a dipstick and I would imagine the 82 CB900F he had did also...

All of the Suzukis I've owned had sightglasses though, which I prefer.

[tigertim955]

The Scrambler and Duc have windows , the Beezer has a dipstick ( dry sump ~ hopefully~ therefore it has a separate oil tank ) I prefer the stick.

[black hills]

The CBR has a sight glass, the KTM has a bolt you remove. If oil runs out it's full, if not it's not . I like the sight glass