Originally Posted by oldqwerty (Post 185359)

...Spudrider, total miles don't mean much after how many rebuilds? Really, get 50k+ out of an original top end, with nothing but routine maintenance, only to allow someone who should know better borrow the bike and run it down the highway for three days until it locked up from the oil pumping out. Poor Tdub. I know of three other TWs that went over 50k on their original parts, nothing changed except carb jets and spark plugs. All three did break in with Valvoline, long lives with Mobil 1, Royal Purple, or Amsoil (all ester based synthetics). Two are still going since there owners know how to say "NO!" One got XT225 engine internal and trans when the original started that darned base gasket leak at 62K...

Originally Posted by oldqwerty (Post 185359)

...Walmart has Valvoline 4-Stroke in quarts for about the same price per volume as Rotella T3 in gallons. I checked today stocking up for my Cyclone's break in.

Originally Posted by SpudRider (Post 185389)

Thanks for posting the good tip. :) Valvoline is excellent motor oil, and the price for the Valvoline 4-Stroke Motorcycle Oil is very competitive. :tup:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Valvoline-...e-Oil/16879749

http://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/dce0...5b56765.v1.jpg

Originally Posted by Weldangrind (Post 185411)

TurboT and I found that this Valvoline product turned black and seemed to lose all viscosity well within 10 hours of riding time on our quads. A switch to Rotella had the colour and texture where we thought it should be at 10 hours. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Weldangrind (Post 185411)

TurboT and I found that this Valvoline product turned black and seemed to lose all viscosity well within 10 hours of riding time on our quads.

Originally Posted by SpudRider (Post 185386)

Total miles also don't mean much if a bike is babied, either. My Zongshen Sierra has been ridden hard for over 69,000 miles, and that has to count for something. ;) However, I certainly understand your preference for synthetic oils.

Originally Posted by Weldangrind (Post 185411)

TurboT and I found that this Valvoline product turned black and seemed to lose all viscosity well within 10 hours of riding time on our quads. A switch to Rotella had the colour and texture where we thought it should be at 10 hours. YMMV.

Originally Posted by oldqwerty (Post 185451)

Nobody I know babies their motorcycles. Most are fat old farts like me who are too stupid to know when to quit. Tdub has done SS1000s, BB 1500s, 112*F desert days, two of the tallest peaks in Colorado, Death Valley, -35* Canadian ice roads in the winter, and a horde of other stupid stuff, and still went over 50k on her original top end. She was still running fine after being run out of oil, locked up, then refilled, restarted, and ridden ~330 smokey miles home. Yamaha builds some tough engines, almost as tough as Honda's CT90, which run fine with fry grease in the case from what I hear.

Originally Posted by oldqwerty (Post 185452)

Valvoline makes an ATV oil for a reason. Quad service is generally way more severe than motorcycle service. You were using the wrong oil for the job. Not surprised you had a problem.