I looked around google and used the search bar, but to my surprise did not find a thread on this. So basically I have a track only bike and i was wanting to know a good frequency of oil changes. also what grade oil are you guys using? what i mean by this is super cheap (Autozone, O'Reilly brand), normal priced (castroil, penzoil, etc), or expensive (amsoil, mobil 1)? I'm going to assume everyone is using full/part synthetic. This is not about who makes the best oil! I drive in intermediate, but please include information about full race and advanced group maintenance intervals. Thank you for any input!
it really all depends.... this question is just like what tire is best... that said... I personally change my oil way more often than most. I have a full race built motor.. so I change it after every 2-4 days worth of track weekends or after every weekend of racing (advanced riding pace) when I was in intermediate a few moons ago I would change it after every 6-8 days or every 34rd or 4th weekend. I personally run amsoil or mobile 1 really just depends . but generally I just recommend any good quality synthetic if your bike calls for it and as long as you change with frequency it'll be fine, I save my used oil and use it in my weed wacker and lawn mower and so on as needed, or my oil garage heater this sport is expensive enough as is... you dont need to do it every weekend mostly .
I change my oil every other weekend (4 days) wether it’s a race or track weekend. I use full syn (Mobil 1) because I can get it cheap at Walmart. I also change the filter every oil change. Every off season suspension, linkages, brake system, clutch, cooling system all get maintenanced.
I have a coach friend who runs dino oil (in his case, OEM Suzuki oil that he buys cheaply by the case) in his GSXR 1K - but he changes it VERY frequently (like every 4 days). I run full synth in my bike, but change it every 3-4 weekends...so the choice is yours. If you run cheap oil, change it often...
Depends on the bike and the build level of the motor. If you ride a Japanese bike then I'd change it about every 8-10 trackdays or every 4 or so events if you're doing a full weekend (unless it's an 06' or 07' R6, just dont buy those bikes). If you're racing then I'd change it every other event. If you've got a built motor then I'd get a recommendation from the builder. Maybe someone else can chime in about the Ducs and the Aprilias. I use the cheapest full synthetic that cyclegear carries.
Get your suspension serviced once a while too. Most riders would not run the same oil in the motor for 4-5 years. Yet I’m amazed by how many guys show up with a 10-year-old bike and have never serviced the suspension and then wonder why they’re having handling issues. Minimum for me is once a year service but normally it’s twice a year, once in the winter and once in the middle of summer.
I'd also suggest putting a wrench on every not and bolt on the bike to check the torque and tightness. After your first track day, do it again. I've had some bikes that required loctite on many bolts to keep them from vibrating out. Once I've learned which parts can shake loose, I do a quick inspection / check after every weekend for this, as well as looking for leaks from the motor, brakes, and forks, etc. My $0.02. Matt
Not trying to steal a thread but I also have a questions about maintenance. I have a track only SV650 and only do about 2-3 track days a year. What would be a good habit for me to start doing from maintenance perspective? I kind of figured this would go along with this tread instead of starting a new one. I do change the oil and keep the battery on a trickle charger. I have not gone through the brakes system, but defiantly need to and I had the suspension serviced (springs for my weight and new oil, seals, etc) in 2018. How often would yall suggest getting the suspension service done, and what else should I be doing that I am not?
at your rate, brake fluid flush suspension service every other year.. pads would likely last 2-3 years depending on pace and riding style. oil change 2 times a year trickle when not in use.
Some of the racing brake fluid absorbs water quickly and depending how much you use your brakes, changing them more frequently may be recommended. I know people that change brake fluid before every race weekend. Of course if you don't use the brake that hard and never experienced fade, then you wouldn't need to use the racing stuff. So yeah, it's a lot like asking what's the best track tire... it all depends.
Properly maintaining your bicycle will be easier now that you know how to tune up your bike. A new bicycle will need to go through a tune-up after being used for a few weeks. The important first step in a full bike tune-up is a thorough cleaning of the entire vehicle. This is important to remove any grease or patches of dirt that may hinder you from properly inspecting the different parts for signs of wear or damage. Use a cleaning solution; it will be enough to remove grease, along with mud and dirt from the surface. Be thorough and wipe down the entire bicycle after washing.
all brake fluids absorb water rapidly. it's more noticable in motorcycle due to wet fluid boils at a lower tempture wich creates fade. Great info in this thread. i do my suspension and brake fluid once a season. oil changes mobileone 10w40t (blains farm fleet has the best price ) and filter every 3-4 weekends. i normally check the color and if i am having any rough shifts.