First of all, it is necessary to understand that motor oil for a motorcycle and motor oil for a car are absolutely different in its structure and properties. Motorbike motor oil must be adapted to work both in the engine and clutch, as it is usually immersed in an oil bath.
When choosing it, pay attention to the manufacturer’s recommendations (and if you can’t find any, more experienced motorcycle owners will be glad to advise you on your specific model). The oils are different in their base. It can be mineral, i.e. a refined product. Semi-synthetic is a mineral oil, purified in a special way and enriched with a complex of synthetic additives. And, at last, synthetic is made of completely from synthesized elements.
Various types of oils are suitable for different motors. That is, despite the fact that synthetic ones have much better characteristics than mineral oils, they may not fit the engine of your motorcycle.
The next characteristic that you should pay attention to is viscosity. It should also be selected based on the type of motorcycle engine. Viscosity is indicated by the acronym SAE and looks like this: SAE5W-30. This oil is called all-season oil, 5W stands for winter viscosity and 30 for summer.
In general, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions: it is possible that the oil in your motorcycle should be changed every 3700 miles or so. On average, it is recommended to change the oil more often, as well as after winter or just long downtime.
What type of oil does a Honda Shadow take?
It is recommended to use Honda GN4 or HP4 4-stroke oil (or equivalent motor one). API service classification should be SG or higher. The only exception are oils which are labeled as energy conserving. The recommended viscosity is SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40.
What is gn4?
It is a motor oil made by Honda Motor Co. Honda introduced GN4 back in 1975 which has become a standard. GN4 is known for its better shear resistance, viscosity stability and purity. PRO HONDA GN4 4-Stroke Motocycle Oil SAE 10W-40 reduces the time to reach maximum engine speed and provides full power output of the engine. The used patented technology was developed for motor sport. This ensures maximum engine performance without compromising engine life.
It is specially designed for four-stroke engines of Honda sports bikes, both with dry clutch and oil bath clutch.
What is the best synthetic oil for motorcycles?
One of the most important spring procedures to ensure correct operation without breakdowns and rapid wear of your motorcycle engine is timely oil change. In order to immediately understand what kind is suitable for motorcycles, Japanese invented the standard JASO (Japan Automotive Standard Organization).
The letter “M” in the specification on JASO indicates that it is designed for four-stroke engines, and “A” or “A-2” – that it is suitable for use with “wet” clutch. Oil marked “MB” is not suitable for clutch operation in an oil bath. And “MA-2”, in contrast to “MA”, can be used in engines with ultra-high torque (for example, in V-twin with a large working volume). Synthetic motor one is more suitable for low temperatures and less afraid of overheating.
It is hard to say for sure which one is the best. Among the most popular brands are such as Motul Synthetic Motorcycle Oil, Shell Rotella, Honda 4 Stroke, Castrol Power, the Amsoil and the list goes on. It is not always important to buy the most expensive one, because sometimes oils that are cheaper are no worse than high-end ones.
What kind of oil do motorcycles use?
Engine oils may vary in their basis. The simplest oil is a mineral one, which is a refined product with a low percentage of synthetic additives (usually up to 20%). Usually these are recommended for motorcycles with dry clutch, as well as for V-engines and transmissions, such as Harley-Davidson V-Twin 4T 20W-50 Repsol.
Semi-synthetics are mineral oils with a high proportion of synthetic components – 30-50%. Synthesized components allow the engine oil to behave more stably at temperatures, effectively combat deposits in the engine, reduce the stickiness and viscosity of the moving metal parts at cold starts of the engine and do not lose viscosity at high temperatures. Semi-synthetics are recommended for most low-bottomed road motorcycles, as well as for older engines, when the carbon monoxide increases. It works well for earlier models of motorcycles. Semi-synthetic lubricant is the average between mineral oil and synthetic one in terms of performance, price, quality and durability.
Synthetic lubricant is usually called motor oil with a share of synthetic components exceeding 40-50%. However, there are no strict standards, so the proportion of components obtained through organic synthesis in synthetic lubricant may vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. The price usually depends on the percentage of mineral base and synthesized components, as well as expensive ester additives.
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