I just got back from an 1,100 mile ride and was down a quart. My bike's a 1990 with 43K (now 41,100). Does this seem right for its age? Seems like a lot to me...

 

I'm down usually about 3/4 of a quart after 3k miles between changes. But as long as the oil pressure light doesn't come on, I'm happy.

 

That does sound like a bit on the high side. I've got about 31K miles on mine. I use maybe .5 quarts between oil changes, remembering that oil changes are scheduled for 8K on our bikes. Filters at 4K. How's the compression ? Does it seem to smoke excessively ?

 

mine uses more than id like it to in the quart per 1k area its got 34k or so on it.
but i think mine was the red headed step child to some one. beat to hell and neglected.

 

How much oil you use depends on a few things.

How much ware the engine has
Operating temp
Type of oil used
Engine operating RPM
How many miles on the oil

There are more but those are my favorite ones. You should only be using oil that is labeled FOR MOTORCYCLE USE.
This will help a lot when keeping RPM down and changing oil every 3K miles. I don't use any oil between changes and I have 40K miles on the bike.

 

Actually its funny you mentioned the oil you use.

I managed to corner an engineer at an expo once. He said that even if you have the same viscosity oil. Different brands will burn more or less oil depending on the chemical technology they use to create the mutligrade oil.

 

Great answers, and it's nice to be able to compare with others.

I'm using 10W-40 Repsol synthetic motorcycle oil. Compression checked out okay and the RPMs hover around 4-5K which, I understand from my mechanic, is ideal for these bikes. I think my bike has been used pretty hard, as the previous owner was a racer who commuted on it. I'm wondering if I need to switch to a heavier oil to compensate for the high burn rate. It smokes a little when started, but not excessively, and the temps out here are around 50-70 degrees average.

 

yea mine smokes a little too at start up but i thought it was condensation. always stops once its warm but yea if i put my hand behind hte exuast and rev it up a little like 5k then i get a little oil on my hand

 

On the next oil change you should go for a 15 w 40 or 20 w40 synthetic or semisynthetic. Don't go for mineral. Do you live the bike worming up in the morning? or you just start it and off you go?
good luck

 

If the previous owner was ringing it out at every shift,that would haveput a strain on the valve train and the valve guides may be warn. That would explain the oil burn at startup. Have someone follow you and watch to see if a puff of smoke is seen when you backoff and coast in gear and then get back on the throttle.