rusty
Turbocharged
I’m not an avid long distance rider so I don’t put lots of miles on a bike each season. In fact, my ’78 Yamaha (of which I am the original owner) is right at the 30K mark on the odometer. For that bike, that’s about 1K per season. I did put a little over 2K on the Rocket the first season (last year, after I picked it up in early May). My Rocket had the 500 mile check-up which I’m certain included an oil change to introduce the synthetic (****ed expensive) stuff. Now with all of these factors in mind, I should not have to change oil until "WHEN"???
I would change oil in the old Yamaha every year (something about the oil sitting in the crankcase for 5 months during winter seemed to justify it), changing the oil filter every other year. It takes 4.5 qts of oil, and the years I would not change the filter, I would at least crack the filter casing loose to drain the oil out as much as possible. Not too expensive of a service as I’m running Quaker State multi-viscosity in it.
My point is this, how many seasons will it take me to get the miles on the Rocket to justify an oil change? I am "NOT" going to wait until the "miles" total up to the service period because that would "age" the oil too long. Let’s say I don’t get lots of miles on for the next few seasons, could some of you "engine wise" captains suggest a service interval base on a "number of seasons in the crankcase" point of view? I’m thinking, even though the service will be about $100 to $120 for oil & filter (doing it myself), every other year would be the most I should let it go, right? Any opinions?
On the other side of the "riding" coin, I’ve owned the same old bike for 29 years and it kinda became so "nonchalant" that going for a ride was nice, but not "exciting". Now, all that has change & the old Yamaha is crying oriental tears. I’m seriously thinking of selling her. She’s becoming somewhat "nostalgic" but I don’t really desire to do all it takes to continue to keep her in the family. Where I’m going with this is just this: The Rocket is a real pleasure to ride, as well as to show around. I am planning a ride to Memphis (or close to Memphis) next month, considering joining the group riding to Nashville in July, taking a short jaunt to Des Moines sometime and being a part of Raymond’s group to Sturgis. I’m certain the Rocket will need serviced by the end of this riding season, if not before. Lots of miles planned for this season, unlike many years past.
Shared knowledge about oil change intervals would be much invited. I wish the Rocket to last as many years as my Yamaha.
See ya.
I would change oil in the old Yamaha every year (something about the oil sitting in the crankcase for 5 months during winter seemed to justify it), changing the oil filter every other year. It takes 4.5 qts of oil, and the years I would not change the filter, I would at least crack the filter casing loose to drain the oil out as much as possible. Not too expensive of a service as I’m running Quaker State multi-viscosity in it.
My point is this, how many seasons will it take me to get the miles on the Rocket to justify an oil change? I am "NOT" going to wait until the "miles" total up to the service period because that would "age" the oil too long. Let’s say I don’t get lots of miles on for the next few seasons, could some of you "engine wise" captains suggest a service interval base on a "number of seasons in the crankcase" point of view? I’m thinking, even though the service will be about $100 to $120 for oil & filter (doing it myself), every other year would be the most I should let it go, right? Any opinions?
On the other side of the "riding" coin, I’ve owned the same old bike for 29 years and it kinda became so "nonchalant" that going for a ride was nice, but not "exciting". Now, all that has change & the old Yamaha is crying oriental tears. I’m seriously thinking of selling her. She’s becoming somewhat "nostalgic" but I don’t really desire to do all it takes to continue to keep her in the family. Where I’m going with this is just this: The Rocket is a real pleasure to ride, as well as to show around. I am planning a ride to Memphis (or close to Memphis) next month, considering joining the group riding to Nashville in July, taking a short jaunt to Des Moines sometime and being a part of Raymond’s group to Sturgis. I’m certain the Rocket will need serviced by the end of this riding season, if not before. Lots of miles planned for this season, unlike many years past.
Shared knowledge about oil change intervals would be much invited. I wish the Rocket to last as many years as my Yamaha.
See ya.