oil

[RowdyRed94]

Many folks made good arguments for engine wear, but I didn't catch anyone mention smooth shifting. I use Mobil 1 15-50 for two reasons: 1) I don't believe it causes clutch slippage and is known to be among the best in tests, and 2) it gave noticeably better shifting. My Bandit's tranny shifts nicely, but if it got too hot, things got notchy with Suzuki oil. Since switching to Mobil 1 it never happens. Shifting is always smooth and positive.

I change it once a season or every 5,000 miles. I believe I'm getting good protection to that duration, and I've seen at least one convincing argument that oil gets better after a few thousand miles because it accumulates some particulate metal. I'll try to find that one.

[ctfz1]

Inexpensive oil changed fequently is at least as good as expensive oil changed to schedule. Sitting, storage, state of tune, jetting mismatches, seem more problemical to me.  

[jschmidt]

Inexpensive oil changed fequently is at least as good as expensive oil changed to schedule. Sitting, storage, state of tune, jetting mismatches, seem more problemical to me.  

However inexpensive oil changed frequently is potentially a bigger polluter than good oil changed less often.

[Spectre]

However inexpensive oil changed frequently is potentially a bigger polluter than good oil changed less often.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooooooooo,NOT POLLUUUUUUUUUUUUUUTION..............AHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ctfz1]

For reference reading "motorcycle info and accessories" does a good brief on oil and filters.  The less you run your bike the more you need better oil and changes.