@Two Plugs - I appreciate and hear what you are saying - change the synthetic oil only every 1-2 years (and we know you have a high mileage (sorry, kilometrage
) but I just can't change my culture even though I'm probably spending more on oil & filters. I guess it's old school? I changed the Motul after 6-7k kms ...I couldn't leave it in there any longer!
After the first 5-600kms I changed the "stock oil" ...my Vara is a 2009 purchased new in April 2011. Since then I've changed every 5k or so with Castrol 10W40 4 stroke M/C oil. I used the Motul 5000 (?) once and didn't really "feel" any difference. I'm quite happy to make the frequent changes, about 3 times a year, with "regular" M/C oil and filter. Almost 35k km now so another change is due soon...
The only "clunk" is between 1st to 2nd gear sometimes, especially if I'm being "athletic" ...otherwise quite smooth up & down the gears.
I think I posted in the old forum that for many of my previous bikes I simply used regular car engine oil (Duckhams 20W50, Castrol GTX etc) without any issues (e.g.no clutch slip). For me, I think that frequent changing of the oil & filter is the best. The Vara has only had M/C oil in it!
Same goes for using higher octane gas/petrol ...I normally use the cheapest (name brand) ...I haven't felt or recorded any better performance/mileage with higher octane fuel. I can still crack the throttle, the engine spools up and all I can see are Harleys in the rear view mirror
Sometimes the motor "pops" when rapidly downshifting and slowing down for that tight right hand bend at the bottom of the hill ...and then spools up again with no problem ....what beautiful machine
What to do?