I just got a 09 RKC and was wondering what type of engine oil they put in them from the factory or dealer. Is it synthetic or standard? I am hoping they put standard oil in, I think it would break in better than with synthetic, then I could switch to synthetic at 2500 miles or so.

 

Dino in the regular bikes. Synth in the SE's, I believe.

 

You have the "Plain Jane" at this point !! Go with a good "FULL" synthetic of your choice at the 1K mark. Mobil 1 V-Twin 20W50 and 75/90 Gear Oil in the tranny is my choice but everybody has their own favorites.

 

Why wait till 1k?

 

Anyone know why they use Syn in SE bikes and standard in the others? Makes no sense to me.

 

IMO Dino oil is better in a new engine. Many machinest I have talked to feel that synthetic lubricates too much during the initial break in period where the cylinder walls and piston rings are trying to seat together. The hone marks on the cylinder walls when new are made to be abrasive against the piston and rings so that they 'wear' into each other. After a certain amount of miles (around 1500) the cylinder walls become polished and hopefully the rings have seated to the piston and rings and leave a proper seal / compressio ratio. After that its good to run synthetic to reduce wear.

 

+ 1 on waiting for break in then switchin to syn.

 

one major advantage of syn is u can go longer between changes why waste the momey on it during break in 1000mile change then 5000mile change.

 

BINGO...

That's always been my understanding... You actually want just a little bit of wear to let things seat and settle into place for a couple thousand miles. I've still got dino oil in my RK but will be swapping it for Amsoil at the 5,000 mile service in the next week or two.

 

I believe they use syn in the cvo for the same reason they put a oil cooler on them - heat