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Do I Really Have To Change My Oil Every Year?
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In my opinion, if you are taking lots of short trips, that would be harder on the oil than if you got the bike fully hot and did only 1000 mi / year in longer chunks.
If your bike was just basically parked and you took it out once every few weeks to get it all good and hot, then you could probably goa lot longer than a year with synthetic oil. I took my truck to an oil change place and usually they always said every 6 months, but these guys were now telling me that even it if took me 5 years to do 5000 mi. on my truck, that's when they would suggest an oil change.
Lots of people suggest doing it more often as cheap insurance, but if you don't live in a real humid area, and if you make sure the bike gets to full operating temp for like 15 minutes (to get rid of any moisture in the system), then you could probably go 2 or 3 years.
When oil was all $1/quart, then it was a simple decision to do it more often. But if you are using pricey synthetic, it should be good for a lot longer. (I was an engineer at Chevron for 12 years, so I know a little bit about this stuff).
If your bike was just basically parked and you took it out once every few weeks to get it all good and hot, then you could probably goa lot longer than a year with synthetic oil. I took my truck to an oil change place and usually they always said every 6 months, but these guys were now telling me that even it if took me 5 years to do 5000 mi. on my truck, that's when they would suggest an oil change.
Lots of people suggest doing it more often as cheap insurance, but if you don't live in a real humid area, and if you make sure the bike gets to full operating temp for like 15 minutes (to get rid of any moisture in the system), then you could probably go 2 or 3 years.
When oil was all $1/quart, then it was a simple decision to do it more often. But if you are using pricey synthetic, it should be good for a lot longer. (I was an engineer at Chevron for 12 years, so I know a little bit about this stuff).
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Living in a Hot/Cold climate I generally change my oil once a year. After letting it sit during winter I would feel pretty terrible using oil that sat in my bike for 4-5 months not being used. After that if I hit 3000 miles I'll change it again, or soon before a road trip, yes GSXRs can be touring bikes. So depending on your position, I'd agree that minimum once a year, if your seasonal like me get the bike warm at the start of the season and change the oil first thing.
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259 Posts
I change min every 5000kms typically running Lucas 10-40 synthetic. If something happens and we end up on a longer trip and I go over im covered, I also always change my oil before storage. My bike gets stored ready to ride typically, except this year. Other than me changing cosmetics and what not. So mine gets around 3 or 4 oil changes a year. my opinion a touring bike is any bike you ride long distance. Its funny when we group ride and the cruisers and touring bikes are just crying after 800kms, and us full time gixxer riders are like come on lets go. easily do 1200km a day rides. For us its a lifestyle, everyone else is a hobby.
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