New to forum. I recently purchased a 07 sportster 1200 custom. It has 11,000 miles. This is my first Harley. It was not purchased at a Harley Dealership. I do not know what brand of oil is in bike now. I was told that bike was completely serviced. I would feel better if I changed the oil, so I would know when it was done. What brand oil is the best to use. I would assume HD oil is prefered. Should I use syn oil or conventional motorcycle oil. Just curious what everybody else is using in their sportster. Thanks for any info.

 

Welcome to the forum. If you do a search you will find 18,000 threads here on oil.

Personally I use Amsoil 20W50 synthetic in the engine, and Harley Formula+ in the primary. I like Mobile 1 V-Twin as well, but where I live I can get the Amsoil cheaper.

Any oil with the correct weight will be fine, these aren't Ferrari engines.

 

I use Mobil 1 20w50 VTwin myself. The conventional HD branded stuff is fine to use, a lot of people here use it. Quite a few people (myself included) have tried Syn3 and dislike it for one reason or another. Amsoil is another fantastic product and has a strong following.

Also, don't try to save a buck or two with a filter. Genuine HD is the only way to go with these. They're all of $6-$8 in your choice of black or chrome at the dealer. If you can obtain an owners manual or service manual it will show you how to change the oil. There is no drain plug!

I usually buy three quarts. Fill the filter halfway, dump the remainder along with another full quart into the tank. Start it, wait for the red oil light to go out, shut it off. Adjust as needed from there, roughly halfway between the full and add marks on the stick, usually a little on the low side to prevent high rpm puking.

 

I use Motul Twin-Syn 20w-50. I change it every 2500 miles. Works well for me.

 

I agree with everything you've said, but there are better filters than the HD filter, ie: glass media filters. Better filtration at the same flow. Made by Donaldson (Amsoil, Wix, Purolator)

 

if you want to read more there is a whole section here for oil related topics.

I use Mobil 1, I like synthetic and its the easiest for me to find

https://www.hdforums.com/forum/oil-a...ted-topics-30/

 

As explained in other threads, the filters micron rating is very important on Sportsters. So long as it matches the OE specification you can use whatever filter you choose.

 

The Amsoil filter is 15 micron, but flows as much as the HD filter that is 30 micron because of the glass media which filters/flows better than a paper media filter. A filter that doesn't flow the proper amount could be an issue.

Good thread here on Sportster oil filters:

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...d.php?t=736235

 

If you decide to go synthetic, don't switch back to a standard oil later on down the road....so I've been told.

 

I use Mobil1 oil (V-Twin 20W50 on my Sporty, 4T 10W40 on others), and K&N oil filters, on all my bikes.
I use Mobil1 75W90 gear oil, on the primary in my HD.