Quote:
Originally Posted by mcwhorter-enforcer
So with those questions out of the way...
What fluids should I change before riding? I have heard a lot of people on here say to change the brake fluid, fork fluid, and the oil. Any recommendations on type or brand for all three?
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Some people will tell you to run it as is, but I am against that thought process. Just because they did it and it was fine doesn't mean it was a good idea. Most of the fluids and oils in these bikes are there for shipping purposes. None of them are expensive or difficult to change to a good known brand fluid.
Brake fluid, DOT 3 or DOT 4. Either will work fine, but most people opt for DOT 4. Both can be found at the parts store.
Forks - there are two mentalities here. Many use ATF, and even OE Manufacturers for the longest time would use ATF and recommend it in their forks.
I suggest a good name brand fork oil. Purpose built fork oil has anti-foaming agents to help keep the fluid stable during operation. Brand wise, there are a lot of good choices. Maxima, Valvoline, Lucas, Pro Honda, PJ1, Yamaha, etc. Personally, I love PJ1 or Pro Honda, but they will all do the job. Depending on your weight and personal preference you can run different weights to tailor how the bike behaves. I run a 15wt oil in mine, and it is usually a good starting point since it sits right in the middle of the scale.
Engine oil - everybody has opinions on what is best, so take your pick. As long as the oil is JASO rated oil for use with wet clutches. I use Shell Rotella T4 15w-40 in both of my bikes. It's a great proven oil, it's affordable, and it can be found damn near everywhere. You can buy a 4 quart jug of it from Wal Mart for about 13 bucks, and a typical CG250 engine takes about 1.5 quarts to get to the middle of the sight glass with the bike vertical, so 2 jugs = 6 oil changes for $26
Also, make sure to set the valve clearances before running the engine. They will come with 0 lash adjustment, and should be set to .003, plus or minus .001. Many people run .003 intake and .004 exhaust, but you can set them both the same.