bike oil?

[Anonymous]

I have recently bought a 77 gs 750 it runs good but was about a quart low on oil. My boss says use motorcycle specific oil or non detergent oil, and my uncle says he has changed his oil every 3,000 miles and used 10-40w car oil and never had a problem. SINCE THE OIL CIRCULATES OVER THE CLUTCH DOES IT HAVE TO BE "MOTORCYCLE" OR NON-DETERGENT OIL OR WILL CAR OIL WORK? the bike has about 43,000 miles on it with most likely the stock clutch and I want to be sure the oil I choose will not deteriorate the clutch disk in any way.

I also changed the oil and filter and had to put about 6 quarts in it to fill it up, and that is with the bike on the kick stand as I 6 feet 135lbs. don't have enough azz to put it on the center stand by myself. It would probably be in the four quart range on the center stand but when I start it up the oil level still goes to below the full mark so I don't think it's to terribly over filled.

 

[Anonymous]

oh yeah I had used motorcycle synthetic oil but at 8.00 a quart you can see why I am curious. It was the only thing they had in stock. I had also changed the filter to. but want to be sure about what to use. This is my first bike and I have been riding for a couple three weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

You overfilled it. Put it on the centerstand. Learn how to do it. Ask someone to show you how. Not knowing how to do something as basic as putting a bike on a centerstand is inexcusable for a rider. The oil check at the window must be done with the bike on the centerstand, on level ground such as a garage or carport floor.

Six quarts is much too much. It should be less than four. Your engine probably has the correct amount of oil stamped on it, in mL.

What type of oil to use is a controversial subject on this forum; as many opinions as participants. I use motorcycle specific dinosaur (nonsynthetic) oil. I buy Valvoline 10W40 motorcycle oil at Auto Zone for about $3 a quart. Many people here use car oil, which is fine for them.

I also visit my local Yamaha dealer (Fredericktown Yamaha in Frederick, MD) quite often; known the owner and his family for 30 years. Every time I go there I buy at least one quart of Yamalube 20W40.

Now go put that bike on the centerstand, or go seek help from an experienced rider, or a friendly dealer. If you do it right, there's very little effort involved.

Nick

 

[redliner1973]

And whatever your choice in oil, be it automotive or motorcycle-specific, do NOT use non-detergent oil in a bike. Period!! Drain out the excess oil too. you do not want to blow out seals with that much extra oil in it.

 

[Anonymous]

Well said, Tim. Glad you pointed out these items. Motorcycle specific oil is certainly not nondetergent. (Two negatives make a positive, says the math teacher...)

Nick

 

[Poot]

Hello,


I also had trouble getting up my 850 on the centrestand (at nearly 600lbs..), but I now know the "secret", and why it wasn't working for me before.

the key thing for me, is that i cant do it in running shoes, b/c it hurts my feet (my shoes are worn), so i just use my riding boots.

step on the centre-stand peg, and just step up on it hard enough so that you can feel both points of the centre-stand contact the ground evenly. Just try standing on it with all your weight while its evenly balanced on teh centrestand and YOU WILL NOT fall over.

after this, rather than pulling up with your right hand, sor of use your leverage to rock the bike back on the centrestand. lean way back while you try this, and make sure your tire isnt pointed left, or your bike might want to fall.

 

[Anonymous]

another trick: put a board down and first push the bike onto the board, so the rear wheel is on the board--it'll now be higher and you will have a little bit better leverage on the centerstand.

 

[Anonymous]

Do a search for engine oil on these forums and read-up. Never use non-detergent oil. I use car oil in all four of my motorcycles. If you choose to use car oil, ensure it is of a suitable viscosity range (which can differ from exactly what the manufacturer specifies) and does NOT indicate "Energy Conserving" anywhere on the label/packaging.

 

[fast eddie]

I think a trick for putting the bike on its centre stand is to not try pulling the bike BACK- just try pulling it UP. Do like Poot said, put your foot down and feel the centre stand touch the ground evenly. Then, with one hand on the handlebars and the other under the seat, push DOWN with your foot (the one thats on the stand) and pull UP with your hands - don't pull back, the bike will do that by itself. Basically, just put all your body weight onto that centrestand, and lift up with your hands.

Try practicing this with your sidestand down, so if you don't get it and the bike starts to go over, you can just pull it towards yourself onto the sidestand.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm of a fairly average height, and the fella I bought the bike off of is about twice my weight and about four inches shorter than me. In order to compensate for this he adjusted the rear coil-overs to the lowest setting and bought a low profile back tire to make the bike set lower to the ground, thus putting the center stand, lower to the ground as well.
Now I may be new to bikes, but I'm not new to mechanics or trying new things (like riding bikes, love the freedom)
My boss who is also a casual friend of mine said and I quote "Ha Ha 750 my butt. I had a 650 and was more than capable of centerstanding it!" He has also owned several bikes and is a good rider with a lot of experience on me.
Ok I just sat back and watched him try about three or four times and he also failed to put the bike on the stand. He is about an inch taller than me and has about 130 lbs. on top of my weight.

Finally, the only successful way we have found to do it is to have one person straddle the bike and hold the center stand down while pulling the bike onto the stand and a second person pushes on the front forks untill the bike stops fighting it and rolls up onto the stand. (it felt good to watch him eat his words)

When it's time to get the tires changed I will deffinately invest in a taller or closer to stock size tire and I think that will help to solve the center stand issue as I am more than tall enough to reach the ground no problem while straddling this beast of a bike.

BACK to the oil. I checked it today and it was under the low mark, I stood the bike upright and the level went up to the full mark. I don't think the bike uses (burns) any oil but it does have a slow leak that keeps the toe of your shift foot pretty lubed on long trips. I hadn't noticed the leak till about a day or two after I changed the oil and filter with sythetic. the leak is an easy fix with a couple of tools and a tube of high temp silicone.
N E Ways thanx for the replys I was just worried about the clutch and wanted to be sure of what to do about the oil selection situation.

 

[bwringer]

Centerstanding is all in the technique.

I am large enough to just muscle my 850 up on its stand, which is just what I did the first few times. The 650 Kaw I had before my GS was a lot smaller and lighter, and the center of gravity was a lot different. I had to re-learn the center stand feel for my GS.

Now that I've got the technique and the timing down, it doesn't require much force at all. Any reasonably healthy adult is strong enough. The only problem is that you have to learn by doing, and unless you're big enough, there's little to no margin for error.

You might try having an experienced rider friend (or two) act as your spotter and coach for 15 - 20 minutes until you get the hang of it. It's well worth knowing. But there's no way to learn by reading tips on a web site...

 

[kahuna]

earl

earl

stamped on block should read 3200ml,thats your quanity.I use castrol
10/40.never go non detergent or full synthetic on the older vessels as
they will go pop and fart.

 

[Anonymous]

I'm of a fairly average height, and the fella I bought the bike off of is about twice my weight and about four inches shorter than me. In order to compensate for this he adjusted the rear coil-overs to the lowest setting and bought a low profile back tire to make the bike set lower to the ground, thus putting the center stand, lower to the ground as well...

Ah, so that's the real problem with getting it on the centerstand! Going back to the right tire will help, as well as turning the rear shocks up a couple of notches. Also, the front springs may be weak (sacked) as well, mine were so bad when I bought the bike that it wouldn't even hardly stay on the kickstand. (Progressive Suspension front springs are reasonably priced).

Bottom line: with the bike's frame this low to the ground, the centerstand is at the point in its arc where it doesn't get any leverage. The "board" trick i mentioned earlier will compensate for this. Run one or both tires on a board to get the frame up a little higher, then the centerstand will be almost at the end of its stroke (where all its leverage is), and raising it the rest of the way will be much easier. Of course the centerstand must not be on the board also!

 

[gremlin]

center stand trick is to remove it, then clean all the moving parts lube well with a good grease. you will be shocked at how a little bit of dirt can make you fight a bike up on the stand. dirt & sand builds up fast the center stand.

 

[Anonymous]

he was a short lad about 5'5 or 5'6 somthin like that.
N E Ways the real question was the oil and I will cease to use the sythetic and switch to something more practical for the older bike.

Speaking of front struts I think they are still functional but on there way out as the fork has a light film of oil around it. I will have to use the board technique as I don't need to replace the rear tire any time soon. I will use the board to develop my own technique and then by the time I do replace the tire It will be like butter and I shouldn't have any real trouble getting it on the stand by then.

On the side of the bike is has a sticker/stamp that says 3400cc. I new it wasn't displacement as the bike is a 750.

I will aslo try the uninstall and cleaning/ regreaseing of the centerstand as well but that will most likely be during the winter when I will do all of the preventative maintenance to it, so by spring all I have to do is ride it.

 

[dpep]

With regard to getting it onto the the centerstand. No problem; guaranteed. Takes only a few seconds to set up. Go to the updated method at the end of the thread.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/viewtopic.php?p=120989&highlight=centerstand#120989

 

[Anonymous]

Centerstand woes

Centerstand woes

I have never learned a technique to centerstanding a bike. My last bike, a 750 Magna took a good hard step and it was up, but my new old GS 1100 has dared me to try that! I can hear it laugh and laugh as I fight and struggle with it :twisted: I'm going out now with my wife and son for spotters and learn a technique that has been mentioned 8) Thanks for all the help, this site is great!

 

[Anonymous]

There's another technique for putting your bike up on the center stand that works really well with my 850. While straddling the bike, lower the stand with your left foot and put your weight on the "pedal" part of the lever. Next, apply the front brake and compress your front forks. Then let the forks rebound while stepping on the stand lever and pulling back on the bars at the same time. Be sure to release the brake when you do this.

It takes some practice, but I find it easier than lifting the bike the regular way. Besides, you can impress your riding buddies by simply popping your bike up on the center stand before you dismount.

 

[Anonymous]

Haha, you are built like I am, 6' and 145# soaking wet, I have quite a time getting my bike on the centerstand by myself. You're right on the physics aspect of it, I found the same with my bike. It's a little 650 but weighs in at about 4x my weight, and like your bike, my ride's previous owner was vertically challenged, meaning the rear of the bike has to be picked up more to get on the stand, as my rear shock is on the lowest setting.

I've always rolled my rear tire onto a 2x4, then put the centerstand down as is explained here, and voila! Easier than adjusting the rear shock (plus I like the lower ride height and stiffer feel to the rear when she's underway). I would definitely put her on the stand and drain a couple quarts out before riding her any distance. I usually 'top off' the oil and go MAYBE a pint over-full, but 2 quarts is 2 much 8)

And with the age and toughness of these bikes, I'd never hesitate to dump normal car oil in her. Changing it at the proper intervals and using the proper weight is more important than what brand or type you're gonna use. Good luck and have fun!