Peace of mind is provided by more frequent changes - especially when using synthetic oils.
I'm guilty of of that myself with 2500 miles for engine and 5000 for trans and primary; I very well be throwing money and time away.

 

I change mine every 5k which lately has been every 5-6 weeks. I run synthetic now days it just makes sense to me.

 

 

Me too, I learn years ago that the lifters stay pumped up with much less bleed-down with dyno oil. The engine noise stays consistent and 'Like new' quiet indefinitely. Not so with synthetic, it gets so thin the bleed down make the engine very noisy. Every VTwin I've used synthetic on regardless of manufacturer (motorcycles that is) has made the motor very noisy. I change my oil every 2500 or so and even if it didn't make my engine noisy, synthetic is for extended intervals which is never the case for me. Do what you want, and I'll do likewise. What am I using you may be wondering; Valvoline VR1 20w50 racing oil.

 

Ride about 10,000 km (6,000 miles) / year and put the bike in heated garage for winter so I change oil first thing each spring.

 

I too am guilty of more frequent changes than required.
A few thoughts/opinions of mine based upon years and years of operating boats,planes, trucks, motorcycles and heavy equipment.

More frequent changes with respect to time AND mileage is probably throwing money away. Of time OR mileage dictate a change, either by the manufacturer's manual or my your own shorter practices - change the oil and filter.

In piston aircraft engines, which in the recreational general aviation sector get infrequent use, dino oil was shown to cling better than synthetic. In fact, I use a product called Can Guard as an additive for better cling when I use synthetic blend oil - typically during the colder months. The camshafts on most horizontally opposed aircraft engines, like many other engines, sits no where near oil and is the first to go dry ... and it's about the part that needs oil the most - that and the lifters.

Synthetic oil is not just for longer service intervals - it's cold start to-to-lubrication beats dino oil every time. This may not be a factor in motorcycles as we don't ride so much when it's well below freezing! Synthetic oil also stands up to head better - something we all experience, especially if riding at larger events like Bike Week and such.

As for extended (winter months) lay-up, this is typical with boats in the north - not so much for you lucky Florida folks. The inside of an internal combustion engine is a nasty, caustic place. It's best to change the oil (and runt he engine to circulate that clean fresh oil) immediately prior to off season lay-up.

As for the noise, thicker oil masking the start up sounds of an air (air/oil) cooled engine is not necessary a good thing. The noises we hear are the results of the loose tolerances required by these engines due to the fact that they operate at such a broader spectrum of temperature than liquid cooled engines. Think about it, most of the engine's running time (unless you just short trip or bar hop exclusively) is at higher operating temperatures - that's where the engine was designed to run ... that's where the tolerances count, not so much at cold start-up idle. To me, hearing the cold start-up idle engine noises is a good thing - I just don't want to hear it once hot and idling say, for example, at an interstate exit ramp red light after high speed running.

I am a believer of changing the first oil change sooner than recommended. I just rode my new Road Glide 500 miles to home and did a three hole service. The next one will likely be at 3,000 and then every 3,000 thereafter with transmission and primary being every other (6,000 mile interval) except for winter lay-up as I like to have fresh oil in the engine during the winter lay-up ... just like with boats.

EDIT NOTE: Because I plan to leave this new M8 107 unmolested, I feel comfortable upping my already OCD intervals to 3000/6000; the Sporty and the Road King are set up to run fat so the oil gets dirtier quicker. Truth be told, I could probably go 5000 (engine), 10,000 (primary) and 20,000 (trans) the way I ride.

 

80,000 miles and run Rotella 15W40 Diesel oil in crankcase and primary. Every 5,000
Tranny gets Redline Shockproof. Every 20,000