Red Line users, do u recommend it?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 149
From: High in the Colorado Rockies
Shockproof heavy works great, you just have to get used to the smell. Doesn't bother me, but the wife is not to fond of it while we are sitting at a stop light. 
SJ Ron
SJ Ron
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,090
Likes: 7
As some have stated, this is an 'oil preference' discussion. If you want facts, Google the 'amsoil white pages' it is a side by side comparison of most of the popular oils available. Keep in mind, a few points difference between one oil and another will probably make an unsurmountable difference. It does give a clear comparison of oil performance. I was surprised that some of the most popular brands didn't really perform as well as expected.
That being said, if you run pretty much any given recommended oil, and change it at regular intervals, your bike will live a long happy life. But, there are products out there that work better than others, ie 'shockproof makes my tranny smoother, spectro makes the valve train quieter'
My advice is to try what others have found to work for the idiosyncrasies that you might be experiencing. My bike has a noisy 4th gear (as most 5 speeds do) and while I'm a firm believer in amsoil, I just filled my tranny with heavy shockproof and I'm gonna see how it plays out.
That being said, if you run pretty much any given recommended oil, and change it at regular intervals, your bike will live a long happy life. But, there are products out there that work better than others, ie 'shockproof makes my tranny smoother, spectro makes the valve train quieter'
My advice is to try what others have found to work for the idiosyncrasies that you might be experiencing. My bike has a noisy 4th gear (as most 5 speeds do) and while I'm a firm believer in amsoil, I just filled my tranny with heavy shockproof and I'm gonna see how it plays out.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 145
Likes: 0
Bought my 02 four years ago, never liked the way that it shifted. Went to Spectro 75/125, problem solved. Had a shifting paw replaced at a dealership that substituted Red Line, slowly sticky shifting returned. Replaced it with Spectro, smooth shifting returned. For what it is worth.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,776
Likes: 2,252
From: wet coast BC
I tried to stay out of another oil discussion.
I have read the amsoil white paper, was sold on it and tried the product and it performed for a time.
Here is why I now use Redline products. It is due to 'time' trials, I went about a serious of oil changes early (before scheduled) based solely on when the oil pressure of the current oil dropped below the new install oil pressure. anyone one else notice new oil has a higher operating oil pressure that slowly drops as you put on the miles and then settles in to that max operating pressure? while I kept track of this at the time those notes are long gone. In any event Redline 20/50 lasted the longest in the engine, even the good old amsoil broke down well before oil change intervals. Mobil 1 was the worst for this. Likewise Redline shockproof in tranny was quietest. Formula+ or Redline in primary seem to be the same
I have read the amsoil white paper, was sold on it and tried the product and it performed for a time.
Here is why I now use Redline products. It is due to 'time' trials, I went about a serious of oil changes early (before scheduled) based solely on when the oil pressure of the current oil dropped below the new install oil pressure. anyone one else notice new oil has a higher operating oil pressure that slowly drops as you put on the miles and then settles in to that max operating pressure? while I kept track of this at the time those notes are long gone. In any event Redline 20/50 lasted the longest in the engine, even the good old amsoil broke down well before oil change intervals. Mobil 1 was the worst for this. Likewise Redline shockproof in tranny was quietest. Formula+ or Redline in primary seem to be the same
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Albuquerque, NM
Redline is top notch! I personally would not use an oil such as Syn3 in all three holes as suggested by HD. There is engine oil, tranny oil and primary oil made for a reason. You can buy it in a kit with all your oils, fuel treatment, hat, funnel and stickers. I have a friend who even switched from Amsoil to Redline and was very pleased.
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 191
From: Boise, Idaho
I use the Redline oil. I don't think it makes the engine any quieter but it does make a big difference in clutch engagement and transmission shift quality.
Al
