Motorcycle oil

[sid]

A query for les motards...

Does anyone have any recommendations for 4T oil (for Honda VFR). In UK I used Castrol R4 but over here the most commonly stocked brand seems to be Motul. I've no idea which one of their products to use; I'd prefer a fully synthetic one.

Also, do you obtain yours by mail order, if so, where from, or can you recommend a good (meaning reasonably competitive) supplier in the Niort/Angouleme/Civray triangle?

Sid

[Bugsy]

Hi Sid,

You're in the wrong section (see motorcyling) but no problem.................[:)]

I get my oil from Moto Expert who are on the N10 at Fountaine le Compte. Next door to the Harley shop. They stock a good selection of oil and stuff. As regards Motul you probably want "7100 - 10W40" have a look here for full details. It's good quality oil.

We have a ride-out planned for next Saturday if you,re interested

http://www.completefrance.com/cs/forums/884831/ShowPost.aspx

Regards

Gary

[Bob T]

As the VFR has a wet clutch it is not recommended to use synthetic oil in it. The best that they say for bikes with wet clutches is semi-synthetic.

[Bob T]

If you look at Bugbears link above you will see that Motul say that 7100 and 5000 is for bikes with oil immersed clutch (wet) as they are both 10/40 rather than 5/40 they will be semi synthetic.

[Sunday Driver]

I use Motul 5100 15W40 in the Pan as recommended by my friendly local Honda dealer.  Most of the Motul 4 stroke oils are OK for wet clutches.

 

[sid]

Gary:    Red face here! I've been on this forum for over a year and didn't even know there was a Motorcycling section! Doh! When did that start? I have a favorites link which brings me into "Living in France" area (normally I'm checking House Renovations" etc).  I can see that there's quite a bit of reading for me to do!

Thanks for the oil supplier info; I have seen the Harley place and didn't notice the place next door. I must be going blind... not noticing so many things! I was probably on the phone at the time [:D]

I don't think I can make the ride-out this weekend, but at least I'll be aware of future ones now.

Bob:    The spec Motul 7100 says 100% synthetic, but not the 5100 so I think that one will be 'semi'. They're both recommended for wet clutches, but I think I'll go for 5100 now. I never questioned the oil choice before but went with a dealer recommendation for the Castrol and I've used that for a few years now. Following your post I've had a look at various reference pages and whilst these oils all have the correct API spec it would appear that the best recommendation is, as you say, for a semi-synthetic. I've had the bike from new ('99) and it doesn't seem to have done any harm.

Thanks guys

Sid

[sid]

Hi SD

That settles it; 5100 it will be from now on.

Thanks

Sid

[Bob T]

Yes Sid, you are correct in that 7100 is synthetic and does say that it can be used for wet clutches. As it is a specific bike oil it may be differnt to car fully synthetic oil, which should not be used in a wet clutch bike.

I believe that the engine oil on the VFR also lubricates the gearbox so a bike specific oil would take this into account. With bikes with dry clutches and separate gear oil (BMW, Moto Guzzi, etc) you can use any car oil including synthetic.

[sid]

Well after all the dithering about what to get I went to Moto Expert as recommended by Gary. Angouleme is nearer to me. They had Silkolene, ELF and Ipone (??). I went for the ELF, mainly on the young guy's recommendation and bought ELF HP 4 ECO which is a semi-synthetic and a little cheaper than the fully synthetic I've used in the past.

Sid