Hello all.

 

The name is John. At 54 years of age and after 4 Japanese bikes and a 7 year break from riding, I've just aquired an almost new 2010 XR1200. I want to get the best out of the bike, which has only 900 km on it and is in pristine condition. Some Q's:

1. What are the forum members recommendations for quality motor and gearbox oils? I am aware of HD's advice to choose a particular brand of motor oil and stick with it. For an air cooled, normally aspirated motor of moderate specific output, I am uncertain about whether the cost of synthetic oil is justified. What do you guys think, and what have you had good results with ?

 

2. What is the suggested technique for picking up this 250+kg lump when it's on its side? Its not that I'm a weakling but I remember my old Z900 Kawasaki and GS1000 Suzuki taking virtually everything I had in the tank to lift up off the deck, and I was 30 years younger then...

 

3. Does anyone know if K&N make an air filter yet for the XR? I've always used them and been more than happy with the results. Would usage void the warranty ?

 

4. Anyone know of a fix to make the sidestand more usable? ie. not so quick to fold under the bike and put it at risk of falling.

 

5. I'm already thinking about remounting the side mounted oil cooler into a more conventional position transversely under the steering head. Seems to be space there for it, even allowing for the bars at full lock both ways. Looks like a steel tube mount of the diameter of the current front main downtubes, on to which the oil cooler currently mounts, but across the upper reach of the downtubes, would do it. A plus would be that some carefully positioned Oggy knobs could then sit on the exposed ends of this mounting tube, afford the bike a little bit of crash protection, and neaten up the whole installation. The downside is that you would probably have to weld to the front downtubes to gain a strong enough structure to achieve real crash protection. Obviously you wouldn't do it while under warranty, which I've got 18 months left of, but how does this sound in principle? 

 

6. I had one or two anxious moments during the test ride with more limited sterering lock than I was expecting, U turns in streets etc. Is this common to HD's and can you ease things a bit by filing down the lock stops a little...or am I making you gag already?

 

Thanks for any and all advice you care to give. I will say this already about the XR: it's a hell of a way to deal with the male menopause.

 

Cheers,

 

John

 

 

Welcome m8

in reply to your questions

1   

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

hope that helps   

enjoy the forums

No2 When the bike is on its side turn the bars so the wheel is pointing up, put your arse against the seat with your legs bent facing away from the bike, grab the up grip and the back of the seat and straighten your legs (as in a leg press or Squat) continue to straighten your leg untill the bike is upright.
No 4 Have a better look at your side stand , as it bends out it locks into place . it is efficient enough to leave your bike in neutral on a reasonably steap incline.

Guys,

Okay, thanks to all for your suggestions.

Dickobigfish, I will look thru the forum posts as advised. Thanks for the steer.

ductor, I think I get the idea, good technique, cheers.

Flan, okay, will bear your comments in mind. No harleys locally that I would hang about with, especially if they remind me of unfortunate cases like sparra or What Taxi above, but will observe the riding approach of others HD riders when encountered.

Cheers all,

John

 Hi Shackman,

@The Don,

Thanks for responding intelligently. After 30 years of working in hospitals, I don't offend easily. But nor can I be bothered wasting much time on retards. They just give bike riders a bad name, regardless of what they ride.

The oil. Just interested as to why you and Flan feel synthetic is the go? Given that the XR is just 10:1 compression, pushrods, not a mutivalve head, 7K redline only, I'm assuming a plain bearing bottom end, and a pretty modest specific output of 75hp/litre,( ie. about where the first Honda K1 750 four of 1969 was), is there something about Harleys or even XR's, that really justifies or requires synthetic rather than a contemporary quality 20-50W, eg Castrol Edge, Havoline, or even mineral Bel-Ray or Penrite?

Given that the XR has an oil cooler, will generally always be operated in temperate conditions of say 50-90 degrees F, won't be raced and isn't force aspirated, what's the deal with them that needs exotic lube?

And while I'm venting, shouldn't a good quality automotive hypoid 80-90W tranmission/diff oil be adequate for a decent size constant mesh gearbox which only has to handle 90hp max thru a forgiving belt type driveline?

If you have the patience to respond to my picky questions, thanks again.

Cheers,

John

Shackman, theres a lot of good info around, have a look at these sites,
http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=264

http://www.xr1200ownersgroup.com/site/index.php

Robcig,
Thanks for the steer, have bookmarked those sites.

DAVO 66,
Look, I have actually got a pretty well developed sense of humour but it hasn't extended yet to spraying a total newcomers first post of reasonable questions with emoticons.
Let me put it this way-if you were in my position, how would you respond to them?

Regards,

John

Shackman .
Go through the older pages of this forum , New members constantly bombard the forum with a barage of questions . From info about their bike,then riding gear , helmets, boots etc. You ain't the first and you aren't the first to get their nose out of joint because everything wasn't given to you on a platter. Now Ride your bike, get to know it , and then you tell us what you,ve done to improve it.
And enjoy the Forum because it's a Forum. You'll be fine.
Be hearing from ya.
Ductor

 

Hi Shackman,

Have a look at this thread,

http://www.hdforums.com.au/Default.aspx?tabid=71&forumid=5&tpage=1&view=topic&postid=5169#5307

Cheers,

Cris

DAVO 66, ductor, The Don,

Thanks for your advices, duly noted. The Don, I have read thru the thread you linked to. Quite a bunfight, isn't it. The proponents of both mineral and synthetic oils seem to be able to put good cases. I understand the position of the guys who are mixing and running some of both in their engines- literally having a bit both ways. You may also have read the paper robcig above posts a link to. I printed it off to keep around. It's a 2005 journal article on lubrication in the modern HD engine. In general terms it makes a pretty good case for synthetic and suggests, although not explicitly, that Mobil 1 15-50 is a sound all round choice. Interestingly the author Lee C. Busy, who appears to be some kind of military lubrication scientist, asserts that "changing oil frequently actually causes more engine wear than using the lifespan of the oil" (bottom of page 24) and supports this with some theoretical and personal experience.

This all certainly gives me a number of starting points to chase up and again thanks to all for bothering to help out.

BTW, @DAVO 66, I have ridden for ~25 years but am not too proud to consider a Stay Upright course on the new scoot. Always more to learn, isn't there. Just as a point of clarification though, the Corolla forum wouldn't hold much interest for me- I'm more of an F1 and NHRA/ANDRA fan and I suppose have been since being just a nipper. I do drive a Magna, if that helps.
Anyhow, see you in church.

John