first oil change?

[tinng321]

I bought the bike with 106 miles.
It now has 130.
When should I do my first oil change?
Or should I wait till 600 mile to do the first service?
Thanks,
Tin

[almost40]

Change it. It wont hurt a thing. I changed mine alot in the first 1000 miles. check the other threads here for a guide.

[Cali619]

change filter also too...

[tinng321]

is the motorcycle oi the same as the car oil?
can i get the oil and filter from auto advance or autozone?
and should i switch to synthetic?

thnx.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Tinng321 get ready for the debates of all time, car vs bike oil, syn vs conventional. I am sure there are some good threads on here regarding oil changes. Some auto supply stores will have the filters, others can order it. There is a whole argument of bike oil being better for the bike's clutch and standing up better to the abuse the oil takes from the transmission than car oil can take, there is argument of conventional vs synthetic, and if going synthetic when to switch to synthetic.

IMHO at 3,000 miles on my 250 I am using Spectro conventional motorcycle oil. I am probably in the minority using conventional, but my 2cents.

[backinthesaddleagain]

2 great links from this site:
oil - http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10346
changing oil by KKIM - http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10780

[almost40]

Motorcycle oil for sure. Synt oil after 1500 miles. Autozone carrys the motorcycle oil and filter for you bike. NO need to pay more at the motorcycle dealership. Brand of oil and filter is up to you. I use Fram and mobil 1 racing 4t

[noche_caliente]

be careful with the fram filters - the paper is low quality and is known to fall apart....

[bogdanb]

I wouldn't dare to put something else than synthetic.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by bogdanb

I wouldn't dare to put something else than synthetic.

I wouldn't with 150 miles on it.

[almost40]

Virtually all oil filters are made in China. The Fram and the one you will get from the dealership both come from China. Ive never had a problem with either. To each his own.

[dmonaco05]

ive been using frams on my cars and trucks for 5+ years now and not had a single problem.


to the op - i waited until 600 miles to get it changed for the 1st service, the OM doesnt say otherwise so thats what im goin off of.

[bogdanb]

Originally Posted by kkim

I wouldn't with 150 miles on it.

Excuse me kkim, you are the specialist.

Here we always use synthetic on new engines. Apparently it's not the same.

@tinng321 - never mind my post.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I actually worked for fram, bendix, autolite family of companys (Allied Signal) in the early 90's so of course times have changed regarding where items are manufactured. Back then they had a lab that could compare their filter media (oil and air) with competitors. They could show you microscopic particles going through a competitor's media and then being trapped by theirs. I am sure times changed. Lousy company to work for and then they pulled all their jobs out of Rhode Island (but then again so does any smart business).

Other useless trivia - Jack Wix was a fram salesman in the early 30's.

[backinthesaddleagain]

the only reason for skipping the syn oil until later is that engine parts really do wear in together during the break in period. Piston/ring relationship to cylinder bore. If oil is too slippery then proper wear might not occur and rings might not seal. That would lead to oil burning and/or lower compression.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Though I believe my mercedes came from the factory with syn oil already in it.

[subiegy2010]

I'm going to look at a bike tomorrow that has 1,300 miles on it. I haven't asked him if it has had an oil change or not, but if it hasn't would that be a deal breaker? What if it only had one? The bike has a 5yr extended warranty.

[backinthesaddleagain]

one oil change at 600 miles is infinitely better than none at 1,300 (imho)

[Sailariel]

Originally Posted by tinng321

is the motorcycle oi the same as the car oil?
can i get the oil and filter from auto advance or autozone?
and should i switch to synthetic?

thnx.

As far as a filtre is concerned your BEST bet is to go to NAPA and get your filtre there. It will be a WIX (NAPA Filtres are WIX) I would hold off on going Synthetic until your machine is fully broken in. I went stnthetic when my bike had 4000 miles on the clock. I would use Kawasaki 10W-40 as the owners manual recommends. Changing the oil and filtre now would give you peace of mind and would assure you that it is the right oil, etc. I would definitely steer clear of car oil for the first 4000mi. I changed oil and filtre at 100mi, again at 500, and 1000, and 4000. At that point, I was satisfied that the machine was fully broken in, and changed to Synthetic (Shell Rotella-T. available at Wal-Mart) Kelly--one of the wise men on this net, did that, and his bike runs like a dream. I have to say that mine runs exceptionally well. Broken in right, these bikes literally scream. It is well worth the wait (taking it easy as Kawa recommends) Went to the dealer at 7500mi to have the valves adjusted, and the service manager took the bike out, handed me the key and said, "See you at 12000---she was broken in right" I have to tell you, when everything is bedded in properly, the Ninjette is a pure joy---and freaking fast.