After reading a bit about this in the past, both seem to have there place etc....

My question is specific to the new TC eng. and is simply this,
when running synthetic do you find it to be a bit noisier ?
i.e., do you notice more eng. noise and/or clutch/tranny ?

 

Yes, I have. I now generally run a 50/50 mix of dino/syn but still change every 3500 miles. Some would say a waste of good synthetic but it works according to my ears ....

 

I ran conventional oil during the break-in period after my 95" build. I was specifically interested in seeing if there would be a difference in the noise level once I switched to synthetic after the break-in period.

I didn't really notice a difference but, my hearing isn't that good. Too me, if there is a difference in noise level, it isn't enough to get me to swap back to conventional.

Having said that, I'll also tell you that I run synthetic in the engine and tranny and conventional in the primary.

 

The only synthetic that was not noisier in my TC88 was redline 20w50.

 

Any kind of blend is a waste of money. Run Synthetic or not. Syn has it's advantages and is no less viscosity than listed.

 

Funny you posted this. My bike was built this spring. I broke it in with pennzoil 20w-50. I changed it out at 50 miles,then around 300 miles,then at 1000 miles just before it went in for the dynotune.
I have a windshield so the sounds are reflected right at me.I can honestly say the bike,before the mods,wasn't really loud with any oil. I had used amsoil v-twin,mobil 1 v-twin,castrol syntec 5w-50 and rotella 15w-40(last fall,cooler ambient temps)
So I ran the pennzoil for 1500 miles after the dyno tune then went with mobil 1 v-twin.
I will also add. I bought about 500 quarts of oil at an estate sale. About 200 of those is a mix of motorcycle oils,from mobil 1 to amsoil,royal purple and motul so I decided to test all of them in my new motor,and have used oil analysis done. Just to prove to myself which is the best. I am also paying attention to noise,heat,smell etc.
So with the pennzoil my top end was basically same as stock as far as noise goes. As soon as I put in the mobil 1 and rode I could tell instantly the too end was louder. Like so loud I am seriously considering changing it out. The tapping is unreal.
From what I've learned about oil(winters are long here) more valvetrain noise does not necessarily mean more wear however less noise does mean less wear. Less noise means a thicker cushion of oil on the parts.
Now I've had the mobil 1 v-twin in now for almost 1000 miles and the noise isn't getting any better. I'm not saying mobil 1 isn't a good product. On the contrary,it's a proven quality oil I'm just unnerved by all the noise my top end is making now with that oil in it.
I am running all the oils I'm testing for 3000 miles,and I have a scavenger,so when I get the used oil analysis' done,I can get as an accurate result as possible.
As far as primary is concerned I ran all my jap bikes on rotella 15w-40 conventional. I put many many miles on those bikes without a single problem,clutch or otherwise,so I stick with it. And it's cheap.
The primary needs a fluid that has the JASO stamp on it's spec list. That means it has no friction modifiers and is wet clutch safe.
Tranny is either red line shockproof or royal purple gear oil. Either or will help shift clunk and neutral easy to find.
Pm me if you want to know the results of my testing. Oil threads are like religion and tend to get alot of useless info and anecdotal evidence,which is what I'm trying to avoid. I want to prove to myself,on paper,with scientific analysis done.
Pm me. I am testing motul 20w-50,motul 20w-60,pennzoil 20w50 automotive oil. Mobil 1 v-twin,mobil 1 15w-50 automotive oil. Amsoil v-twin and straight 60. Royal purple 20w-50 automotive oil and their v-twin. And of course red line 20w-50 automotive oil,v-twin20w-50 and 20w-60.
I have all of these oils in stock,got em all at an estate sale for 40 bucks.
So if anyone is interested,maybe hd forums tech would like to help pay for the analysis',I will supply all the oil and it would be great info to have in our oil section. I could even shorten the oil change intervals to 2000 miles.
Even at 2000 miles blackstone would be able to tell how much life is left in the oil as well as wear metals present. Less wear metals in oil=less wear on engine.
If anyone wants to know about how my testing is going I'm happy to share my findings.
I have no horse in this race. My gathering of info is just to have the knowledge,to share with my fellow riders.
So far mobil 1 v-twin is the first one up. I should have 3000 miles in within the next couple weeks,then to blackstone.

 

+ 1 for Redline - their V-Twin Power Pack comes with everything needed except a filter.