Sooo, I have had a look through the archives, the 'how to' section and the normal search engine bit, but cannot seem to find any reference to how often I need to check the oil.

Obviously I am at a bit of a disadvantage, as I own a Buell Blast (9 years old) as well as the XB (1 year old), and my experience with the Blast was check the oil after EVERY ride, cos you KNOW it is going to need topping up, and always did.

The XB however, seemed a different kettle of fish. New bike, and, I assumed, new technology, so I guessed (maybe foolishly) that I didn't need to check the oil so often.

In my defence, the XB is not so easy to check the oil level as on the Blast....

Sooo.... I have owned the bike for 4 months, and haven't checked the oil once since owning it....... (I know, I know....... )

It seems to be running fine, BUT as I have done over 2,600 miles, should I have topped up the oil by now....??

It is booked in for its 5,000 mile service in a couple of weeks time though....

Stands back and braces myself for the tirade of abuse.....

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Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

.......a new engine can use up to 1L per 1K miles, so at 2.6K you could be running on empty

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Is it actually a NEW new bike? Or just new to you?

If it's new new, then surely the oil was changed at the 1000 mile service?

If I remember correctly, the advice to me when I asked this question for a brand new bike was:

Change oil & filter after first 500 miles.
Change oil & filter after first 1000 miles - normally included in the buy price

Then do changes every 2500 miles, ie twice as frequently as the official service guidelines.

Ah....sh*t. I really didn't think it would be anything like that. The XB's aren't the easiest of bikes to check the oil. At least on the Blast it was possible to check the oil whilst sitting on the bike holding it upright. Need two people for the XB as the oil dip stick is in the swinging arm (yes, I actually know where to check it). Not Twizzel, so cannot check it on my own!! Plus know that putting on a paddock stand would give an incorrect reading....

Surely if I were running low on oil, wouldn't there be some kind of indicator from the bike that it was running low on oil....??? i.e. running rough etc. etc.??

Have I really screwed up badly????????????

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Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

Bought the bike with just about 1900 miles on it. Steve changed oil for me when I bought it but nearly at 4,700 now.

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Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

XB oil level is checked with the bike on its sidestand

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Strange...I thought it had to be upright...level.

_________________
Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

Do you have an owners manual ?.......if so, try reading it

_________________
Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=15

You were right Pash, you may as well take up lap dancing.

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I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

I see Maz has just written, slightly more succinctly, what I was in the middle of typing

OK. Will make sure I check it before I ride the bike again. (obviously I will make sure the bike has been warmed up for a minimum of 10 minutes etc. etc.) Thanks for your input Maz, valuable, as always... x

Rest assured, I do have proper oil for the job.

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Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

Before I posted this thread I DID read this, but it didn't state that the bike can be checked on side stand.

Would be interested in seeing Pash lap dancing......

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Valencia Orange XB12Scg - serviced by Maz 2018
Black P3 Blast - serviced by Maz and fixed by Maz in 2019

Taken from Micks link to Pash's How To.......that you read before posting ?

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Mithered ta death.
92 MB
96 S2T
98 S1W
00 M2
01 X1
03 P3
10 CR

Quote from Pash's pre lap dancing days:

"Checking levels
An example of two departments working in isolation...

Engine oil needs to be checked with a warm engine, on the side stand. The level needs to be in between max and min on the dip stick with it screwed in. You can also save the trouble of screwing the dipstick in by identifying the required level by subtracting the length of the thread from the "upper" mark. This roughly corresponds to the "lower" mark. As the handbook says, the difference between these marks is 0.12 litres or 4 oz."

Maz, sorry about the echo! Must be the time-lag from Belgium (or the beer)


Night all!