I tried Red Line Trans fluid in my Limited with 1300 miles for the hell of it.
I had a noisy Trans since new.
I guess I got one this time on this bike
So I put Formula Plus in Trans and Primary at 650 miles and it helped dramatically.

Just wanted to see if the Red Line would quite my Trans down some more that the Formula Plus hasnt done since I put it in at 650 miles.
It really did . It shifts smoother. Clunks are less but still there.

So yea I guess It does work

Now I may just try some Red Line in the Primary too.

This was just my test and my opinion.
This Red Line Oil is Expensive but it worked out for me so far and I am just a guy that works for a living like everyone else

 

It certainly would not hurt the primary. Red Line Motorcycle oils do have friction modifiers in it for the wet clutch. But for the price, you should try Mobil 1 synthetic oils. I use 20w-50 Mobil 1 V-twin oil, found at walmart for $10 in the primary and crank and Mobil 1 synthetic 75w-90 gear oil for the trans for $13. Also can be found at walmart. Great oil, and great price, but really at the end of the day a V-twin would eat just about anything you could throw at it as long as the word oil was in it.

 

Red Line "Primary" oil has the modifiers for your wet clutch. I wouldn't just put their 20w50 in the primary.

I've used RL products in all 3 holes since my 2nd oil change and I'm happy with it. That said I've read a few posts over the years indicating that even with the friction modifiers, RL Primary oil doesn't cut it for some machines. In those instances Formula+ did the trick. You've gotta suck it and see.

Yep, no-one's made of money but DIY oil changes are such a minor part of overall operating costs that the average rider wouldn't be down 50 bux a year using RL in all 3 versus another synthetic. If she likes it, put it in I say !

 

Yep Formula Plus has always worked in trans and primary and is not expensive

I do run SYN 3 in this motor and on my last 2013
previously I have used Amsoil 20-50 in the motor and that engine oil was great too

I will just have to try some Redline Primary in this current bike now to see if some of the "whirling" in the Primary will go away
Its not a problem but this will just be another experiment otherwise I will continue to use Formula Plus in it

But the Redline trans fluid is stayin in

 

I've been using Red Line fluids exclusively for about 17 years. It's the only thing that goes in any of my 4 bikes. I used to race Buells and Sportsters and when I do teardowns after each season, everything always looked great. I can't say that about Royal Purple and Amsoil.


Red Line is a type 5 synthetic (ester-based) so it clings to metal parts due to the way the molecules are polarized. That's important because it prevents dry startup. That's what causes the most wear, startups.


In my HD products, I use the 20w-50 in the engine, V-twin shockproof in the tranny and the 75w-90 in the primary. The shockproof does smooth out shifts and quiets it down. But it really works it's magic in spur gears. Very surprised the new trannys with helical gears are noisy. Spurs whine because of the engagement and release of the change of location of force on the pressure angle.


On the Buell, which is a shared tranny/primary, I only use the 75w-90. The shockproof will cause the clutch to drag and slip. The clutch plates and steels tend not to release when the lever is pulled in either.

 

Yea I Changed to Red Line in the Primary
It was just as expected
The whirling noise is almost absent now and Its got to help the compensator

So 2 for 2 on Red Line for me Tranny and Primary so far

Now for the engine oil swap
Can that be that much better than the SYN 3 which I really have always liked?
I will have to try it soon probably
It probably wont make that much difference in lifter noise or cooling
But I can monitor it with my Powervision

 

I tried Redline's primary fluid but my clutch started to slip. I went back to HD Formula + & never had any more clutch problems. I also use Redline's engine & trans fluid.

 

So Far so good for me