Synthetic Oil

[jetmechmarty]

When I buy tires online, I order a few gallons of Yamalube. It's inexpensive and shipped for free. No brainer.

[3Phase]

Yes, Mike, but they all charge as if they personally invented oil even if they all came out of the same hole in the ground on the same day.

[MPittma100]

Oil?

Yamaha, Honda, Ford, GM, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, BMW.......... Guess which one of these manufacturers makes their own lubricants? If you guessed NONE OF THEM, you win the prize. Judge your choice of oil accordingly.

[3Phase]

I'm so glad I have a bevel drive instead of chain and sprocket!

Just because I'm feeling froggy on this COVID-19 Stay at Home day, I'll comment on Metzeler tires. I tried the ME880, I believe. They were not cheap tires. The performed pretty well. They run BIG. I measured them. I ride my bike. I had to replace at least the front tire for cracks in sidewall and tread grooves. Fool me once, as they say. Besides, smaller tires turn in faster. I never got cracks in Avon Roadrunners, Bridgestone Spitfires, Conti Tours, Dunlop, or Pirelli tires.

My XS1100 has Yamalube 20W50 in it. I have a few gallons of it on hand. It's pretty clean and slippery.

Wash your hands! Don't touch your face!

Meh, COVID SHMOVID. Say that 19 times.

Viruses need to find a mucous membrane so -- don't pick your nose, scratch your butt, or bite your fingernails, either, and leave scabs alone too. Basic sanitation hasn't changed for decades so if anyone still needs to learn this stuff now they're hopeless and masks and gloves aren't going to help.


There is a better selection of tires for an XS11 Special with its 16" rear tire. The Standards with the 17" have a fairly limited selection but the longest lasting and toughest for me was the Kenda K657 6-ply Nylon. It had that odd thump when cold that all Nylon tires have but it also had all 6 plys instead of just a 'rating' and it handled alright when it was warmed up.

Conventional Yamalube is good stuff and the blends are alright, too. For me it's overkill though and they're too proud of their products so they're usually too pricey.

Yamalube full synthetic 10W50 is insane.

[dbbrian]

Oh my..

That's hilarious!

[jetmechmarty]

[jetmechmarty]

Just because I'm feeling froggy on this COVID-19 Stay at Home day, I'll comment on Metzeler tires. I tried the ME880, I believe. They were not cheap tires. The performed pretty well. They run BIG. I measured them. I ride my bike. I had to replace at least the front tire for cracks in sidewall and tread grooves. Fool me once, as they say. Besides, smaller tires turn in faster. I never got cracks in Avon Roadrunners, Bridgestone Spitfires, Conti Tours, Dunlop, or Pirelli tires.

My XS1100 has Yamalube 20W50 in it. I have a few gallons of it on hand. It's pretty clean and slippery.

Wash your hands! Don't touch your face!

[Bonz]

Sid, if we get some good weather in the next couple weeks give me a text. I'm doing online teaching with middle school kids but as long as I can check email on a phone I can teach from anywhere we stop for a break, hint-hint.

[skids]

Did I hear Metzeler mentioned?

Oil thread, or not... or otherwise....

I bought the Metzeler Roadtec 01 's last spring, road them for the summer and to VYR rally (about a 4,000km round trip) and I am happy to report they were much better than the three sets Shinko 230's I burned through previously.

Longer life, way better handling. I think sidewall is stiffer, reducing the high speed corner wobble to almost non existent.

I had a blast on all the rides at VYR, comfortably pushing the bike into corner, after corner, after corner...oh ya!

Brian

Oh man! I gotta get the xs11 out of cold storage!

[3Phase]

I really like the Metzeler Lasertec tires. The ride is fantastic and with the light sidewall and tread ply they handle like I could ride on walls.

Don't push the mileage though, when you see wear bars there's only tiny amount of rubber left in the center of the tread before you hit cord.

I'd still be using them but they wear out too quickly and the load rating is close to the limit, especially if I load up for touring.

[dbbrian]

Metzeler ???

Did I hear Metzeler mentioned?

Oil thread, or not... or otherwise....

I bought the Metzeler Roadtec 01 's last spring, road them for the summer and to VYR rally (about a 4,000km round trip) and I am happy to report they were much better than the three sets Shinko 230's I burned through previously.

Longer life, way better handling. I think sidewall is stiffer, reducing the high speed corner wobble to almost non existent.

I had a blast on all the rides at VYR, comfortably pushing the bike into corner, after corner, after corner...oh ya!

Brian

[3Phase]

Ha! An embedded tire thread! I like those Metzlers.

(simple grin) Busted... heheheh.

[skids]

You know what? I think the 6-ply Metzeler Marathon ME880 is the best tire for the XS/XJ1100.

Ha! An embedded tire thread! I like those Metzlers.

[3Phase]

Sorry for your loss, Steve, and I hope you get better!

I have too many friends and relatives affected by coronamadness so to keep my mind off of it I think it's time to go for a ride and look for deals at the parts stores to see if I'll be running conventional, synthetic, or a blend after the next oil change.

[Bergman16]

Sorry that just blew up out of me, isolation fever. I am glad to be in the 98 for sure. Not an urbanite by nature or background but I do love it here. Thought 9/11 was the worst I would see but this is bad. But good news is out there for sure! And I will go back to wishing I was closer than 90 miles from my SG with the new big tank! Hoping everyone stays safe!