Engine oil.

[piunit_imp]

Hi all.
How long do you usually change engine oil at?
Honda recommends every 1,800 miles but I basically change every 3,000 miles and sometimes ride many more than 3,000 miles.
I changed my engine oil by myself today and it took about 4,000 miles but my CB's condition is so good and the color of the oil is not so dirty.
What do you think about it?

[NightRider_imp]

I think Honda built your bike.

[Cormanus]

Piunit, really? My service interval is 6,000 kms or around 4,000 miles. Where did 1,800 come from?

[piunit_imp]

I think Honda built your bike.

Hi NightRider.
Sorry I cannot understand what you meant.

Piunit, really? My service interval is 6,000 kms or around 4,000 miles. Where did 1,800 come from?

It is written 1,800 miles ( 3,000 km in Japan. ) in User manual here in Japan.
Of course it is a recommended distance.
So I think almost all users usually change every 3,000 miles ( about 5,000 km ) as you said.
I think it must be no problem.

[Cormanus]

Piunit's post led me to look at the the two owner manuals I've been able to find online—Australia and Europe—and, while set out differently, both require oil and filter changes every 6,000 kms/4,000 miles with 12,000 kms/8,000 miles being the interval for major services.

I wonder why Japan should be different?

[kmoney_imp]

Seems weird. I'm sure they have a "severe service" schedule for the bike. I guess something about the climate in Japan is enough to want them to use it. 3000km oil changes seem crazy conservative though.

[Cormanus]

The climate of Japan is likely to be similar to lots of bits of Europe, North America and even parts of Australia. I wonder whether it isn't some regulatory requirement.

[piunit_imp]

Piunit's post led me to look at the the two owner manuals I've been able to find online—Australia and Europe—and, while set out differently, both require oil and filter changes every 6,000 kms/4,000 miles with 12,000 kms/8,000 miles being the interval for major services.

I wonder why Japan should be different?

Hi Cormanus.
A lot of users including me usually change every 5,000 km.
So I asked other Japanese bike riders on the Internet yesterday and some people told me they always change every 3,000 km.
Riding 3,000 km comes soon.
So I always change every 5,000 km.

Seems weird. I'm sure they have a "severe service" schedule for the bike. I guess something about the climate in Japan is enough to want them to use it. 3000km oil changes seem crazy conservative though.

Hi kmoney.
I think it must be Okay even if the humidity is not high but Japanese climate is incredibly humid.
That high humid condition is not good for oils.
So I guess bike makers recommend every 3,000 km.
Sorry. I mistook.
I read my CB's service manual again today and it was written 6,000 km.
I misunderstood.
I recalled why I thought so and it was a bike dealer's recommend distance.
They often recommend to change oils every 3,000 km.
Anyway, I'm so sorry my mistake.

[4 Paws_imp]

My Ural, the poster child for low tech, requires 2,500 km intervals for oil changes - paper filter, air cooled Russian airhead, very poor machining specs, lousy metallurgy straight from the factory. Oil always dirty and "swarf" on the magnetic drain plugs.

My original Hondas were also 4 cylinder air called bikes and I changed oil every 5,000 km or 3,000 miles.

The current generation of bikes from Honda are marvels of modern machining and engineering, impressive bikes. I will do 5,000 mile service intervals. I can only speculate that strict pollution standards in Japan require more frequent service intervals.

[Motogeezer1949_imp]

I change mine between 5 and 6k miles usually. Have used 6k as the benchmark on most all the other bikes I've owned.