All-

I searched a bit and I know there are a thousand opinions on this, but I thought I'd ask. I was inclined to change my oil again (Now I have 2700 miles on her) since the initial change was at 600. But....the manual suggests a pretty wide gap after the first service, and since the Kawi oil is synthetic (Correct?), would it be counter productive to change it so soon? I was thinking of going with either Mobil 1, Rotella T6, or Castrol Actevo.

You guys stretching them out, or changing them more often than suggested??

Many thanks-

Red

You know what, Red, it really does not give a dog's breath what oil you put in. If you take whatever schedule you feel comfortable with, what seems to drop off in a shifting dept., well, I changed my oil and is sure shifted a lot better. Then it sort of headed sloppy. And oh look! It is about time to change the oil on said schedule and low and behold, I'm not scared of some oil change I have to drain and drain the fallacy away.

Yes, I think I may try this next oil I brought to the party. And, oh, this is now back to the shifting I know. I'm going to open this throttle up and shedarn! Did I accumulate that many miles and let me see... Oh yeah, that shifting is about due for let me see, who's brand do I choose this oil dump is stump my smooth transmission shifting like me take a coke see pep sea test and see? I bet you could not tell who the what is in the crankcase. Sure shifts better with new oil and now you gotta worry about some brand, syn, diesel the pour the quarts in. Get in the garage already ya slacker!

It's like something is going around.... Watts with the garage problems?

* Last updated by: Hub on 8/17/2011 @ 10:44 PM *

Rotella T6 every 3,000 or as hub said when shifting gets sloppy.

Or Amsoil Synthetic Motorcycle once a year.

I have been reading ALOT of good reviews on Rotella T6. Thats going to be used in my next oil change.

You say 1st oil change at 600.Okay...they used Dino oil for that one?Now you're at 2700(no prob)..and you have Dino in there now?You can change to full syn IMO.Kawasaki(Motul) also makes non-synthetic oil as well...your bike came shipped with it.I don't know of ANYONE running Dino oil after their break-in here.Honestly,like Hub said...I really don't think it matters Synthetic or regular.In fact,I may just have to give my baby on her next change...FULL DINO!!!What the hell..why not.The manual says NOTHING about switching to synthetic.You know...she just might surprise me with that oil

I think you'll get some better results with the 'qualities' mentioned above like shifting and such by going full synthetic.You can allow the changes to be longer with synthetic...at least that's MY experience.Tried several high end name brands in 5 years.Always come back to the Kawasaki(Motul).10/40 full synthetic....7100.I seem to get the smoothest engine response,least noise,and longer shifting quality with that Kawi oil.I don't know right now how many oil changes I've done so far,but 99 percent of em have been the Motul.Seems to work the best for me.I just keep runnin until the shift quality begins to drop off...notchyness....and when I do it then...the oil always looks pretty good actually,like it is definitely holding up.The good shifting quality with mine lasts several thousand miles.3 or 4 at least.Up to 5 thousand one time(accidentally).Still was working good though!

* Last updated by: blue07 on 9/8/2011 @ 6:59 PM *

I know this is a little over-the-top OCD, but I changed the oil in my new Zed at 200 miles (dino oil) and again at 600 miles. I just changed it again at 1200 miles, and this time I put Mobil 1 synthetic in her. There is no way I am leaving it in for 7K miles though. Maybe three or four...

Shit man...yer okay.Change it as often as ya feel like it.

I watch for shift quality to deteriorate.Then I change it.I stick with the same thing OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND.....well....it's predictable for sure.Strangely enough...the oil changes end up being right around the manual recommended mileages.Kawasaki Motul.10/40 full syn...all I ever use.

I think somewhere I read in the manual(s)..."Kawasaki products are engineered specifically for your new motorcycle"...hey...wtf do THEY know,eh?

I watch for shift quality to deteriorate.Then I change it.

I know this is a little over-the-top OCD, but I changed the oil in my new Zed at 200 miles (dino oil) and again at 600 miles. I just changed it again at 1200 miles, and this time I put Mobil 1 synthetic in her. There is no way I am leaving it in for 7K miles though. Maybe three or four...

MotoMan Breakin Technique

do the breakin, change oil oil right after, change approximately at 250, 700, 2000. Use this stuff(blue cap, not the gold which is synthetic). Contains metallic additives like molybdenum that you are dumping out with the first oil change.

I no authority but I don't recommend synthetic cuz if there is any place prone to leakage (head cover gasket) it will do it a lot sooner if you run synthetic. The sole advantage to synthetic, IMHO, is that it maintains it's original viscosity and other lubricative qualities much longer. Dino is just as good but for only a short time. But if you must, here is what I used(blue bottle, not white which is conventional). No better than fresh dino oil IMHO. Just change the dino more frequently to maintain smooth shift quality and you will also reduce the chance of leakage which many 14 owners experienced.

The Rotella is inexpensive for synthetic. costs about the same as dino oil formulated for motorcycle engines like your Kawi oil.

since the Kawi oil is synthetic (Correct?)

wrong. It may say "a blend of synthetic and conventional" on the lable. It is formulated for hotter running, higher revving motorcycle engines but it isn't synthetic.

* Last updated by: Rook on 2/19/2012 @ 10:03 AM *

I changed my bikes oil at 2k and
used kwaki full synth. The First change was at 800
and they used Dino oil .I was going to stick with the
dino but for a few dollars more I can get kwaki full synth.
I agree as said, any brand oil with the proper rating and viscosity
will do the job.!

I'm running Kawi synthetic and love that stuff so far!!! I ran one change with asmoil and that stuff was shit! My dealer sold me a case (12qts) of Kawi syn for just under $120.

Changed mine at 85, 600 and 2500 miles. Then about every 2500 after that. Amsoil. I used to use Rotella in my bikes, but my Husky shifts MUCH better with Amsoil, and it is just simpler to use the same stuff in both bikes.

* Last updated by: jtemple on 9/29/2013 @ 8:52 AM *

Years ago, in one of the motorcycle magazines there was a letter from a mechanic at a dealer in Europe. I think it was Sweden. He said a guy brought in his Yamaha V-max, that he bought there years before, for its first engine service. It had over 50,000 miles on it. Original plugs, original break in oil, etc. The mechanic wrote the letter and said the engine ran just fine. His point was just how good oil really works.

* Last updated by: streetracer on 10/17/2013 @ 11:04 AM *

The dealer did my first change at about 800. Then I did my own with the kawi oil around 3500 and I'm about to do it again with amsoil around 5800. I use amsoil in all my other bikes and loved it. Made a huge diff with my R6. It ran a little cooler and the engine was a little quieter.