How many miles after fluid changes?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 5,315
Likes: 4,272
From: Granville New York
If you were concerned about it why didn't you just wait until you knew your season was definitely over? A couple hundred miles over the interval isn't going to grenade your motor. And don't throw in the towel so early...still some decent riding weather here in the great empire state...enter sarcasm emoji here...great fall foliage to see. I love fall riding and my bike loves it even more. Air cooled motors run great in the cooler air.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,078
Likes: 19,233
From: The Wasteland
I heard from a friend that knows a guy whos wife cleans the office at a repair shop that you never want to ride it over 13.6 miles or youll have to totally rebuild the engine.
I get the question, but you are over thinking it too much in my opinion.
Enjoy the winter.
I get the question, but you are over thinking it too much in my opinion.
Enjoy the winter.
If youre going to ride it again as soon as the weather allows, dont worry about.
people (well, mostly oil manufacturers) will tout on about acid build up and other hoop-Lah in the oil and why you should store it with fresh oil, and so on . For short term storage of less than a year, do not worry about it. Just be happy and give it a good ride when the weather and roads allow in the spring.
people (well, mostly oil manufacturers) will tout on about acid build up and other hoop-Lah in the oil and why you should store it with fresh oil, and so on . For short term storage of less than a year, do not worry about it. Just be happy and give it a good ride when the weather and roads allow in the spring.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
I used to obsess about not riding the bike after changing the oil prior to winter storage. I then realized that life is too short to worry about that kind of stuff. Modern oils do a pretty good job of neutralizing any acid build up.
I now figure a few hundred miles of fall riding past an oil change wont hurt anything.
I now figure a few hundred miles of fall riding past an oil change wont hurt anything.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 10,036
Likes: 10,767
From: SE Michigan
there are guys who ride <5k a year, and those who ride more
i think it's pretty simple, regardless
change your fluids when your service manual tells you to change it
regardless of what the service manual says, change fluid once a year at least
i think it's pretty simple, regardless
change your fluids when your service manual tells you to change it
regardless of what the service manual says, change fluid once a year at least
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 278
Likes: 244
From: AZ
Not riding your bike so that your don’t dirty the oil, is as they say, Not banging your hot girlfriend so that you keep her nice and tight for the next guy.
Tell me with a straight face that you could tell the difference between two identical bikes where one was stored with new oil and the other stored without an oil change.
JUST RIDE IT.
Tell me with a straight face that you could tell the difference between two identical bikes where one was stored with new oil and the other stored without an oil change.
JUST RIDE IT.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 11,224
Likes: 3,049
From: St.Louis Mo.
I ride mine whenever i can all winter. I like the cooler weather. And when i do ride it i go at least 20 miles or more..
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 3,983
Likes: 2,144
From: Ohio
I have about 900 miles on my bike since my last oil change. I'm just putting it away without changing the oil. If oil can only go 900 miles before it'll destroy your engine if you store it that way, well, we're all in trouble.