[SDSUsnowboards]

It kills me to make a topic on this, but I spent the better part of an hour searching the forums then google for this...

Some time ago I was reading some article about the "top 10 mods for a katana" or something like that. It was linked from this forum. One of the things listed was motor oil. Some kind was mentioned, it cost $50 and supposedly upped the torque and HP some and well as general response.
Anyways, does anyone have any idea what I'm writing about? Is it really worth shelling out that much more for "performance" motor oil? Anyone use a specific kind that they really like?

I'm trying to lightly up the response of my bike and any kind of information on this would be awesome .

 

[RookWV]

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/katana/

 

[SDSUsnowboards]

Oh man, that is EXACTLY what I was talking about. I assume that race oil works in most bikes, I'll find out esactly what oil my bike uses, it's probably the same. Thanks again!

EDIT: Thanks for the correction to "esactly" . It took me long enough to notice lol.

 

[Clint]

Exactly.

Racing oil is usually heavier than regular oil, and actually reduces horsepower. Some people go to ultra-light 0w-30 or 5w-30 oil, but the added risk and lower protection isn't worth the tiny gain in power, which you won't notice anyway.

 

[SDSUsnowboards]

Next oil change, I'll try some of this "performance" oil and see if there is any difference. Hopefully I won't suffer from the placebo effect but I lack any kind of objective way to measure any gains or losses. I also have a k&n air filter comming in, that's another thing where it will be hard to tell if there is a difference. I have friends who swear it ups the low end response and for $40 it's worth a try.

I'm not trying to race up the bike, I am trying to "optimize" it. I am a little annoyed with the delay between throttle and actual response from the bike. Knowing very little about engines I hypothesize than thinner oil and more air will help with that, I may be wrong. A new exhaust and stage 1 jet is in the intermediate future... maybe.

 

[Dave2122]

Motorcycle oil differs in the sheer point of the oil. Any oil is ok but you pay more for protection which is why motorcycle oil is more expensive

 

[Clint]

Or it could be that market forces allow it to be. Probably is, actually.

 

[inspiron]

Have you ever asked yourself why motor oil is only sold in 1 quart cans in the US, so that you have to buy 4 or 5 cans to change the oil on your car?

In Europe, they sell oil in 1-liter (about a quart) and also in 4-liter (bit more than a gallon) bottles...so that you only have to carry ONE bottle home.

 

[GIXXER-Mike]

In Europe, they sell oil in 1-liter (about a quart) and also in 4-liter (bit more than a gallon) bottles...so that you only have to carry ONE bottle home.

Makes much sense!

 

[themeatmanlandry]

Have you ever asked yourself why motor oil is only sold in 1 quart cans in the US, so that you have to buy 4 or 5 cans to change the oil on your car?

In Europe, they sell oil in 1-liter (about a quart) and also in 4-liter (bit more than a gallon) bottles...so that you only have to carry ONE bottle home.

Well . . . aren't you special?

We sell it in little cans in order to create more trash later. How else are we going to force the price of real estate artificially high, so the local politicians and their bedmates can ream their small communities for personal profit?

I did some air emissions testing for a local maker of fake body parts. This particular project was a knee joint, and they wanted to know how much methylmethacrylate the doctor would breathe during the procedure. I overheard some of the design engineers talking about the European model . . . it was totally re-usable, and there was almost no trash. They said that was the only way the E-U-Ropeans would buy it, if there was little or no trash.

Apparently all that crap about "purple mountain's majesty" goes out the window (like the trash I see on the highway) in the name of convenience. Sometimes being an American can be downright embarrassing.

 

[Dave2122]

I buy motor oil in 5qt containers for my cars/trucks so you CAN buy it that way just like our friends in Europe.

 

[LayinLo]

Daves right! You can get it in the bigger containers.

 

[advr4]

it is being sold in 4 quart containers here in ny at most dealerships as well as in accessory stores.

imo, the new royal purple max-cycle full synthetic oil is the best i have used.

 

[Damien]

Yeah I live in the good ol US and I buy mine in 4 quart sized bottle. THEN I pour the old oil back into it and take it back to the store. OMG IM J/K! LOL I do pour it back in but to take it to the recyclers.

 

[iroc_eater]

Yeah I live in the good ol US and I buy mine in 4 quart sized bottle. THEN I pour the old oil back into it and take it back to the store.

Wow, I thoght I was the only one that did that - good to have a friend in the business :wink: 8)