any thoughts on oil?

[surfdude]

besides use it? wondering if for hd bikes 40-65 - does everyone just use modern 50 or 60 weight that the dealers sell? does anyone use any other kind of specialized oil? have seen some ads in the club mag for different types. i am not running filters in my bikes. thanks.

[sirhrmechanic]

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=11577981446&searchurl=sts%3Dt%26amp%3Btn%3Dwhich%2Boil

Great book... Which Oil? by Richard Michell.

Cheers, Sirhr

[Skirted]

"Which Oil" threads are like asking who makes the best pizza and theres a enough info out there for hours and hours of reading.

After considerable research I settled on Brad Penn Penngrade-1 SAE 50 mainly because its forumlated for older engines and still maintains high levels of ZDDP. http://penngrade1.com/. There are many other suitable oil brands. This just happens to be the one I like. Probably more important than anything is to keep it changed often.

I'd think anyone who ran the Cannonball(s) as well as those who have logged many thousands of miles on the old iron would have the best opinion on oil. What better test bed than that? I am cautious getting opinions striclty from the "engineers". Often they are theory book smart but how many have real world experience riding and rebuilding vintage motorcycle engines.

[Tom Lovejoy]

Lee Standley told me years ago, any of today's oils are so much better than what they had back in the day. Their all good, just look for the ZDDP as advised. Valvoline Racing oil has it and is what I use, use HD oil in my four cylinder - why? that's what the builder told me to use. Good luck.

[surfdude]

thanks everyone!