I checked the oil on my sportster cold earlier and their was none on dipstick so I put some more oil in and went for a ride and then checked it hot and then too mich in their so I took some back out.
Question is when you check hot you run the engine but how long do you leave to settle before you check on dipstick? ?
I got it about 3/4 between marks then run ot again for a minute then level just over full mark?

 

The oil level should be checked when the motor is still HOT, as in at normal operating temperature, like after a ride. A "ride" means 20+ minutes. You don't wait for it to "settle".

 

Ok cheers, so is it normal for it not to read on dipstick when cold?

 

Read your owners manual, there's a good chap!

 

Cold: On the kickstand, I want my cold level to be NOT MORE than 25% of the way from the empty line to the full line.

Hot: Ride the bike until its FULLY HOT and then park it on the kickstand. Immediately check the oil within 2 minutes of parking it, and the hot level should not be more than 75% of the way between empty and full. More full than this and you can get a lot of oil sucked out the oil tank vent hose (and into the intake).

I find that if I set it right cold, its spot on when hot, but cHarley is right (as usual) that the HOT check is the one that matters most!

 

Cold oil levels can't be relied on, as you found out, because the check valve that keeps the oil in the tank from running into the sump (crankcase), is often known to leak to varying degrees. This can be caused by a worn valve or microscopic particulates in the oil that prevent the valve from sealing tight.

 

Its a 2012 and I've just done a oil change on it, I had it on 1/2 way once hot and should of left it but panicked and put more in. Im away for next week so will sort levels when back.

 

Don't want to fill it to the top. I like mid way between low and high line when hot. More than that and you might end up with leaky rocker box covers.