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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Nebraska | cjnoho - 2008-02-09 12:27 AM
I bend over fenders 5 days a week, 8 hours a day (+1 Sat. a month). I bought the 5 year extended warr. Giving someone else $300 every 2500 mi. for service is well worth it to me. Plus it keeps the dealer happy and the company happy. If I ever need to use the warr. I know the dealer will extend extra effort to get things covered. Why? because he wants me to keep comming there to spend my money. No matter how well I take care of this bike it will eventually wear out and need major repairs, or replaced. If I take care of my dealer now, he has more incentive to take care of me later.
300 bucks every 2500 mi. Did I read that right ? That would cost me $1500 + a year. Then throw in tires on top of that. I'll just throw in some Amsoil every 5K and give the bike a once over and do the maintenance as needed. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3204
Memphis | My dealer charges me $90 for an oil change.
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Thats for a complete service. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 185
Nebraska | What all is involved in a complete service ? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| maddog - 2008-02-10 7:22 AM
What all is involved in a complete service ?
Squint pretty hard, walk around the bike, change the oil and filter. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 223
Valdosta, GA | lowtone9 - 2008-02-10 12:10 PM
maddog - 2008-02-10 7:22 AM
What all is involved in a complete service ?
Squint pretty hard, walk around the bike, change the oil and filter.
You forgot to wiggle the belt up and down to make sure it's still attached...
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | mike s - 2008-02-10 3:08 PM
lowtone9 - 2008-02-10 12:10 PM
maddog - 2008-02-10 7:22 AM
What all is involved in a complete service ?
Squint pretty hard, walk around the bike, change the oil and filter.
You forgot to wiggle the belt up and down to make sure it's still attached...
Don't forget when you do all the squintin' and jigglin', you're doing by the chart in the back of the owner's manual.
As far as using AMSOIL or anyother oil, I've not heard someone say, "Whatever you do, don't use ..." Well maybe I've heard that about Slick 50. Bottom line is all the oil, synthetic or otherwise needs to make a dollar. Honda told me to run the hybrid they sold, Victory says use the hybrid they sell, both basically a 50% natural 50% synthetic. I think as long as you are changing it regularly and not using Crisco I think you'll be okay. However, I will say that when I used a synthetic (A****L) my Honda seemed to run quieter and cooler, as well as shift a little better.
I'd be interested to hear where someone did a teardown test after xxxx miles, one on a hybrid, full synthetic and one on a full natural to see what the engine looked like.
Someone just told me that they went into a friends engine to do upgrades at 70,000 and they used AMSOIL. The clynders still had the factory hashmarks. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 177
NW Illinois | I agree with veryder if you change it regular you should be good with any of them
With that said I have never used a synthetic and with all the AMSOIL enthusiam here I have to wonder if you all sell it on the side
All kidding aside if you go to a synthetic is it best to wait a certain amount of time before changing over, do you need to flush out the natural before going to the synthetic
Also if you go with a synthetic can you ever switch back to regular oil. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | I agree also. Used regular oil in the HD, took it apart at 65k for 95" upgrade, still had the hone marks. Quit using HD oil, used to burn a quart between oil changes. HD's synthetic works well in the trans & primary. Started using it in the motor just to simplify buying oil. Most oils have additives regardless of their base. As long as you have the right weight, they all have to meet certain standards. If your down a quart on the road, any oil is better than none.
As far as the service, as long as I dont have to do it, they can wiggle and squint all they want. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | cjnoho - 2008-02-10 8:21 PM
I agree also. Used regular oil in the HD, took it apart at 65k for 95" upgrade, still had the hone marks. Quit using HD oil, used to burn a quart between oil changes. HD's synthetic works well in the trans & primary. Started using it in the motor just to simplify buying oil. Most oils have additives regardless of their base. As long as you have the right weight, they all have to meet certain standards. If your down a quart on the road, any oil is better than none.
As far as the service, as long as I dont have to do it, they can wiggle and squint all they want.
If you add a quart of oil to your Victory between oil changes something is seriously wrong. In the last four years of riding two different Victorys, have never added oil between changes. I would suggest talking to the lead mechanic at your shop on oil and changes. Get a good feeling from him/her so it does not lead to questions when you come in (possibly) for a warranty service. If you change your own oil, make sure you save documentation (receipts) on the oil and filter you use. This will also help if warranty is needed. Don't just throw any old oil into you Vision. Make sure the oil is formulated for motorcycles. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | VisionTex, thanks for saying "make sure that it is motorcycle oil" as I took that as a given when I buy, but failed to emphasize that with my comment above. And yes, adding oil between any change indicates there is a problem, or you're going long between changes. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 8
Prescott, AZ | I use AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF). It's 100% synthetic and API SG/CF. One of the biggest advantages of synthetic oil is the wide temperature range. The pour point is -51°F and the flash point is +453°F. That's a 504°F temperature range! No matter how cold or hot it is outside, the oil in my Victory Vision is not a concern. I also use the AMSOIL EaO13 oil filter on my Victory Vision.
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Cruiser
Posts: 82
Northwest of you | A couple of things: First, I use Shell Rotella T, synthetic in everything I own, but, find it perfectly suited to Victory's. Secondly, when I buy a new bike, I change the oil around 200 miles and have thought to do it earlier, I want any particles that are presesnt from initial "running" out of there. Third, for what it's worth, I was told by a dealer (and I believe him, though I don't have any real evidence for it) that the average "warranty" costs for Victory's last year was $16 per bike!!!!!!!!!!!! If that is true, these things don't break. Not only that, with the Vision being the "flagship" of the company, I believe they will do anything and everything to have happy customers. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 8
Prescott, AZ | Below is a correction of the API Service Rating from my previous post. The Correct API Service Rating for AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle is SL/CF. Higher API Service Ratings can be expected as future tests are performed.
I use AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF). It's 100% synthetic and API SL/CF. One of the biggest advantages of synthetic oil is the wide temperature range. The pour point is -51°F and the flash point is +453°F. That's a 504°F temperature range! No matter how cold or hot it is outside, the oil in my Victory Vision is not a concern. I also use the AMSOIL EaO13 oil filter on my Victory Vision.
Edited by JetJock 2008-02-23 12:33 PM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I just had the care center do the $300.00 oil change, I mean the 7,500 mile service. The next go around it'll probably be the AMSOIL with filter in my driveway. I do want to keep them in business since they are good people and care about their customers. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 10
Las Vegas, NV | tralphaz - 2007-11-05 9:07 AM
Lemme stir the pot one more time, I think the 2500 mile interval is overkill, my wife's VTX 1300 manual places the interval for her bike at 8k, the Vic on the other hand has a larger oil capacity and semi-synthetic oil, the VTX recommends regular M/C oil.
Is there a variation between the Vic and the VTX due to the fact that the XTX is water cooled? Seems the lower running temperature would help keep the oil from breaking down as fast. DW
(Owned an 03 VTX 1300. Great bike!) |
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Cruiser
Posts: 72
Eyota, MN | In my 2004 Kingpin, I used the Victory oil til it had 5000 miles on it, then switched to Amsoil. I noticed the shifting got smoother and never had a problem with it. I sold it in Nov. 07 to get my Vision and it had 33,500 miles on it and it ran like it was brand new. I run Amsoil in everything. It's a great oil. I'm going to run Amsoil in the Vision too, if this damn white stuff would ever go away and I could ride it. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 140
| The main advantage of synthetic (or type 4) oil is that it doesn`t break down as quickly. Its viscosity doesn`t decrease as quickly. Does seem to make transmissions work more smoothly also, in my experience.
Personally, I wouldn`t extend the change frequency very much unless I was using a syn or pseudo syn oil, although I`m sure the 2.5K is very conservative. These big torquey and powerful air-cooled engines really give the oil a work-out, it gets pretty thin quick, and it`s a piece of cake to change oil in these bikes anyways. Rotella T is what, like 12 bucks a gallon? And we`re riding 20 thousand dollar bikes? |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 8
Prescott, AZ | For those of you planning to do your own oil changes, don't forget to buy a supply of "Oil Drain Washers" for the oil drain plug from your Victory dealer. The Victory part number is P05812232 and the washers cost 75 cents apiece. You should use a new washer every time you reinstall the drain plug.
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Cruiser
Posts: 294
rhode island | mike s vision's compression is 9.4 the rest of the line of bikes has been dropped to around 8.5 as to oil changes 5000 seems to work,On my tc 25000 no problems. remember what the engineers all say; this engine is bullet proof! |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 35
El Paso, TX | First of all,
let's remember the the Vision is an air/oil cooled motor. No doubt the Victory motor is durable, but it will not be as efficient at regulating temperature as the liquid cooled Hondas. As keep in mind that the motor and transmission share the same oil. Cars have separate oil for both the motor and transmission. If you want to do 5k or longer intervals and take that chance go ahead. I'll be doing my motor the favor and changing my at 500 miles and then every 2500mi. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1324
So Cal | Like buckeye said in another thread, some of us were sucked into spending more than the bike (HD) was worth. We bought Visions partly because of less maintanence. What I have read here is mainly personal preference. If Victory wants services every 2500 mi. so be it. Anything beyond that is overkill. Even perfect maitanence is no guarentee(?). Things break regardless of how we take care of our vehicles. SHIT HAPPENS!!!! If you cant $300 for the service, shouldent have spent $25000 on the bike. Motorcycles arent a necessity they are an obsession. Take a look at the gallery a see how much some have spent on mods. Oil changes every 2500 mi. doesnt sound all that unreasonable. Your going to spend it anyway, might as well be on the Vision you love. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 904
29 Palms California | here,here!! Ah, heck, change your own oil every 5k, or take it to the dealer. Whats the big deal? they can do it in under 30minutes, and it's a good excuse to ride somewhere. then again, i might be talking out the side of my neck? jiggety, jiggety |
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Oil changing thoughts
