Motorcycle oil additives?

[Skip Newsom]

Looking for input from the Pelican brain trust...

My Brothers 1983 Honda VF750F is now running well after 25 years of sitting in his garage and it has 21,633 on the odo.
He always used Honda brand 10-40 conventional oil in it, and was good about changing it on schedule right up till he parked it.
I'm currently playing a caretaker part for the bike, I intend to ride it some over the next couple years and then transfer it to my Nephew when he's ready for it.

The motor is not leaking or seeping any fluids after a full R&R of oil, antifreeze and hydraulic fluids, valve adjust and complete hydraulic systems rebuild.

History shows this type motor had a habit of eating camshaft bearings... I looked at them closely and don't see any abnormal wear on the lobes or any of the bearing surfaces I can see without pulling the camshafts.

I would like to help insure the internals are protected as best as I can, I've heard stories over the years that going from a conventional oil to a full synthetic can cause leaks and to "always stay with the same brand of oil".

If that is true and good practice, is there anything that I should add to the conventional oil that will help protect internals and not cause havoc with the wet clutch?

Top left on the cam is some break in grease, I smeared a little on all the polished surfaces before turning the motor over...

[bkreigsr]

Skip - check out the BG product line - something for everything.

https://www.bgprod.com/catalog/engine/bg-rf-7-oil-treatment/#:~:text=BG%20RF%2D7%20is%20an,compression%20and%2 0reduce%20blow%2Dby.

...also I would stop in my local Harley shop and bounce the question off one of the techs.
They all have their favorites.
Bill K

[Nostril Cheese]

Considering the picture of the valvetrain, I would suspect the motor is well taken care of. It looks new. Keep doing whatever is being one.

That said, BG is good stuff.

[jorian]

I am restoring a similar Honda, same vintage. I plan to use the non-synthetic Mobil 1. I only hope my internals look as good yours when I get to the engine.

Pretty sure your engine called for 10-40. I wouldn't change anything.

[stevej37]

Between this bike and the Prelude...easy to see your brother had good taste and took good care.

[javadog]

I’m not a huge fan of modern motorcycle oils. If you buy something with an API classification, try to find something with the lowest letter in the alphabet for the last digit that you can find. I would look at the OEM branded oil at the big Japanese brands. Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki etc.

If you go with a synthetic, I’d probably use Motul 300V.

I have no idea what might be available at a Harley store, possibly worth a check.

[rfuerst911sc]

Any good diesel oil will have a good amount of zinc and phosphorus in it to keep vital internals healthy . If it were me I would use a semi synthetic and run her hard .

Having said that I am no chemist 😁 and common sense tells me that diesel oil may be changing or already changed due to emission standards . Just a guess on my part . But new bikes are now running cats ( I think ) so bike oil may not be as good as it use to be . I am interested to see what others think .

[arcsine]

My experience with synthetic oils in my bikes is that the performance of the wet clutch suffered. It became grabby with less 'feel'. I've heard the arguments about engine sealing and if you have been using dino-oil then switch to synthetic the engine is more prone to leaks which I cannot discount but never experienced. The clutch issues ended that experiment.

[Eric 951]

Originally Posted by Nostril Cheese

Considering the picture of the valvetrain, I would suspect the motor is well taken care of. It looks new. Keep doing whatever is being one.

That said, BG is good stuff.

I will second cheeses' statement--looks well cared for, keep doing what you have been doing (I have an '83 Interceptor with 28K miles which I run Castrol conventional MC oil).

[javadog]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

Any good diesel oil will have a good amount of zinc and phosphorus in it to keep vital internals healthy . If it were me I would use a semi synthetic and run her hard .

Having said that I am no chemist 😁 and common sense tells me that diesel oil may be changing or already changed due to emission standards . Just a guess on my part . But new bikes are now running cats ( I think ) so bike oil may not be as good as it use to be . I am interested to see what others think .

Oil made for diesels, or cars in general, should not be used in motorcycles. Most Japanese motorcycles share the lubrication between the engine and the transmission and the transmission gears subject the oil to shearing forces that engine oils aren’t really designed to combat.

[otto_kretschmer]

I have a 2008 Kawasaki Concourse 14 and it has a wet clutch. The factory manual calls for 10w40 with a SG or SH rating, OR a newer rating (SL, SN maybe) with JASO MA. Since my bike was made the JASO rating was updated to JASO MA2, so you will find MA2 on the shelf.

So go to a motorcycle shop, or AutoBone/ORiellys and buy 4 quarts/liters of any 10w40 motorcycle oil with a JASO MA/MA2 rating, add a filter to your shopping list, go home and change your bikes oil and go for a nice long ride and be happy.

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by otto_kretschmer

I have a 2008 Kawasaki Concourse 14 and it has a wet clutch. The factory manual calls for 10w40 with a SG or SH rating, OR a newer rating (SL, SN maybe) with JASO MA. Since my bike was made the JASO rating was updated to JASO MA2, so you will find MA2 on the shelf.

So go to a motorcycle shop, or AutoBone/ORiellys and buy 4 quarts/liters of any 10w40 motorcycle oil with a JASO MA/MA2 rating, add a filter to your shopping list, go home and change your bikes oil and go for a nice long ride and be happy.

It's a Concours - I owned 3 for over 200,000 miles..Oil changed every 3K with whatever was on sale at the local FLAPS.........Enjoy.

[Skip Newsom]

Thanks for the input!!

I may just go with what he's used in it since it does look to be in great shape.

I did get it out for it's first ride yesterday... After a serious carburetor cleaning (X4) she is running and sounding absolutely fantastic!

The hydraulic clutch is smooth and easy to engage, I'm going to have to re-calibrate my left hand since it begins to engage only about 1.5 inches from full squeeze... I'm used to cable operated clutch's and usually have them set to engage about an 1.5 from full release.

I'm also going to have to re-learn left foot shifting, I've been riding my Son's 71' Bonneville with right side shift some over the last couple years and it's messed up decades of left side shifting.

Now I'm looking forward to more dry weather and streets... I lucked out yesterday with sunshine and almost 50 degrees!

The V4 makes such delightful whirring noises!

[bkreigsr]

Good call.
Enjoy the bike and the balmy weather.

[71T Targa]

Looking good Skip!
I had an '84 back in the day. Loved that bike.
If time permits, and the sun finally comes out, I'd join you for a cruise up 9, or a loop around Chuckanut.