Level was down to halfway on the dipstick at 2000 miles, I topped it off and didn't use any when I changed it 3000 miles later.

 

I don't get it. My car takes drinks now and then. I still think it's the ethanol gumming up the oil scrapers. It must not burn completely and find it's way down to the rings making them stick now and then. It scares the crap out of me not knowing what the oil level is at any given time. I would rather have it uses a little and be able to judge what I might see on the stick than have a pot shot at it.

My friend hooked up his trailer on his Chevy SUV this year. We were to hauling my brother's GL1800 home from where he bought it. His SUV never uses any oil. On the way to pick up the bike, it sucked down 4 quarts. We stopped at a service station and topped it off. I has never used oil since.

 

My Black Bird has over 60k on the clock and I use Mobil 1 high milage 10w-40 and it runs great and has not used a drop in between oil changes. Currently approaching 8k on this oil. It is due to be changed. I don't ring its neck every time I ride but I do crank it up quite often. Been using reg motor oil in my bikes for 25 yrs now and never had any issues. That includes my dirt bikes when I was racing.

 

Good advice on the regular changes and decent oils - I recommend either Valvoline 15W-40 automotive, Nulon 10W-40 100% synthetic or Delo 400 mixed fleet/diesel oils. Change at least by the manufacturer stated milage interval if not before.

My beast was nearing the 'fill' mark after 700km of highway riding, on unknown oil of unknown age as I hadn't changed it since I bought the bike a month ago. It used no oil at all on the rest of the trip after a quick top-up, and I've recently changed the oil and filter so will keep an eye on it. Not expecting any use.

One thing I always do is a vehicle check before long trips (1hr+), usually being fuel, tyre pressure, lights and and oil level. Might not be neccessary but it sure makes you feel better about your ride!

Last thing - be careful with her for the first few miles until she warms up. I like to stay under 5,000rpm... once you hit the city limits feel free to redline every now and then though, thats what these engines were designed to do. And they do it well!

Cheers - boingk

 

Mine Doesn't seem to use any oil between oil changes (done 91,000 odd km's)

Using Castrol Power 1 GPS 4T (10w-40) semi-synthetic (every 6,000 km), change the oil filter every 2nd oil change.

 

Mine may use a little but it isn't very much. Less than a pint.

 

We haven't used any yet, but we've only gone through 3 tanks of gas so far.

 

Hey:

Of the 3 CBRs I normally drive, none use any oil between oil changes that occur at 5k or sooner when ever it gets any dirty look. I do change the M1 filter at 2-3k and use Mobil 1 15w-50 Ext life, or 20w 50 Mobil 1 V Twin M/C oil depending on the time of year/WX. Sprg -Fall. I use Shell Rotella Synth 5w 40 in the cooler Winter.

Now my CBXes do use a pint or 2 during the same time frame using the same oils, plus the oil dirties quicker than the CBRs do, but I think it has more to do with Air vs water cooled, and the manufacturing tolerances. My CB1100R dirty up the oil pretty fast too.

Dub