suggestions anyone?

[dogbrain007]

hey all, 20° here in va today, still hoping to get some riding in if the cold breaks before 2021.
looking for suggestions on a good quality oil for my '05 vulcan classic 1600, 22k miles. do they make an oil specifically designed for bikes? is a 5w-20 my best bet for cold weather?
and, any suggestions for an affordable trickle charger? what's the minimum in amps should i look for? are they ultimately bad for batteries?
thanks everyone- hope i'll be able to give someone some quality advice one day, too!

be well & safe,

dogbrain007

Sent from my LM-Q720 using Tapatalk

[mbarr10]

10w-40 year round works for me. i use the Battery Tender with SAE plug on the bike. then I can use the plug for usb adapter and my heated gloves. After I am done for the season I pull my battery and bring it inside. topping it off every 3 weeks or so. Works for me. Keep in mind we get well below zero F every February. Last year we had a few days of 30 below.

[Sabre-t]

Some people use non-MC specific oils (synthetic or conventional) as long as they don't have friction modifiers (lots of threads on this subject on the forum). I use Royal Purple Max Cycle. For cold weather, I use 10W-40 (I have ridden when it was as cold as 10°F, but I'm getting too old for that now) and it does just fine. Before I retired, I often rode to work in temps in the 20s and up.

5W-20 has much too low a viscosity, both for cold starting and for running after the bike gets warmed up, unless you are planning on riding in temps less than 0°F. The manual shows 10W-30 as the lowest weight oil to use, even for low temps (only goes down to 14°F in the Voyager manuals), but shows 10W-40 as the recommended weight for all temps below 104°F. If you regularly ride in temps above 95°F, you might want to use 20W-50 in the summer, if you ride enough to warrant changing the oil twice a year. If not, stick with 10W-40.

[smokier]

@DogBrain007 What @MBarr10 and @Sabre-T said.

10w40 is as 'thin' as you would want to go. I have ridden with AMSOIL and the old Mobil1 10w40s in the upper 20's with no issues. (Coldest ride for me, 26f for 30 miles. Ufda)


Without getting into another OIL DEBATE, a good quality Oil which does NOT HAVE Friction Modifiers (Causes clutch slippage) AND a good oil filter your scoot will be fine in any conditions YOU can tolerate.


Ride safe,
Smokier

[andyvh1959]

Stick with the recommended oil viscosity and SAE rating as indicated in your owners manual. No reason to select a lower viscosity oil for cold weather riding. Once the engine is warmed up the outside temperature means little. What matters more is how your bike is stored and initial startup.

Keep in mind, motorcycle engines are not like car engines. The camshafts run on plain bearings, meaning the steel camshafts turn on a thin film of oil directly on the aluminum journals. There are no real "bearings" in the top end of these engines, and those plain journals need a strong enough oil (meaning high enough minimum viscosity) to maintain an oil film between the camshaft and journals.

For certain, in cold weather, DO NOT routinely start the engine once a week, once a month, whatever. If you start it, ride it, for at least a 1/2 hour at highway speeds to get it fully up to operating temperature. If you start it once in a while, just let it idle and then shut it off you're doing more harm than good.

[mbarr10]

Originally Posted by andyvh1959

For certain, in cold weather, DO NOT routinely start the engine once a week, once a month, whatever. If you start it, ride it, for at least a 1/2 hour at highway speeds to get it fully up to operating temperature. If you start it once in a while, just let it idle and then shut it off you're doing more harm than good.

Yes, Yes ,Yes. If we had a sight glass (Like I did on my 1500 classic,) it would be foggy. Condensation can be an issue even in 40f weather. Need to run it out before you shut it off.

Just a thought.

[redjay]

I don't start my bike at all over the winter storage from October to April.

[ringadingh]

I have used snowmobile clothing for decades, it works pretty good.Ive found that if you keep your hands and feet warm, and a full face helmet with a neck warmer muff, you won't be cold.

[andyvh1959]

Originally Posted by mbarr10

Yes, Yes ,Yes. If we had a sight glass (Like I did on my 1500 classic,) it would be foggy. Condensation can be an issue even in 40f weather. Need to run it out before you shut it off. Just a thought.

I forgot to mention that. Condensation, (especially in the winter) moisture forms on the inside of the crankcase. If you start the engine once in a while and just let it idle, it doesn't heat up enough to dry out the condensation. Then when you shut it off the moisture gets in the oil. Then when you do it again, it adds more moisture into the oil. If you start your bike in the winter, ride it, get it fully hot so the moisture is burned off, and also the moisture gets burned off in the exhaust.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by redjay

I don't start my bike at all over the winter storage from October to April.

What he said

[Chuck A.]

Originally Posted by mbarr10

..........Condensation can be an issue even in 40f weather...............

Here in Bama, our temps can be 19 degrees at night then 60 during the day. I have went in my shop and the engine will be so wet the floor around the bike will be standing puddles. Only 2 months out of the year will be cold enough to stop you from riding. Left out last Saturday morning at 8:30 in 33 degree temps and came home about 3 pm in 62 degree temps.

Ain't no way I could survive not riding that long.

[DragonLady58]

Originally Posted by ringadingh

I have used snowmobile clothing for decades, it works pretty good.Ive found that if you keep your hands and feet warm, and a full face helmet with a neck warmer muff, you won't be cold.

What He Said! Snowmobile suites are excellent....I use some gerbing pieces from the Warming store, live glove liners, boot liners, etc. Nice little 12 V pigtails plug together, rotary knob control in my pocket, that plugs into my battery charging pigtail.

This morning, it was 38.....pants, jacket, socks, gloves liners, all plugged in, demin jeans w/chaps, leather jacket, couple of neck protectors/neck gators, Modular helmet.
Up at 8:45, on bike @ 9:15, warmed up and outta shop by 9:45.
Rode to Tacoma, to Mawasaki's parts counter to order some stuff. There at 11....
Holy crap that was a brisk ride!

[mbarr10]

Originally Posted by DragonLady58

What He Said! Snowmobile suites are excellent....I use some gerbing pieces from the Warming store, live glove liners, boot liners, etc. Nice little 12 V pigtails plug together, rotary knob control in my pocket, that plugs into my battery charging pigtail.

This morning, it was 38.....pants, jacket, socks, gloves liners, all plugged in, demin jeans w/chaps, leather jacket, couple of neck protectors/neck gators, Modular helmet.
Up at 8:45, on bike @ 9:15, warmed up and outta shop by 9:45.
Rode to Tacoma, to Mawasaki's parts counter to order some stuff. There at 11....
Holy crap that was a brisk ride!

Yah What she said !!!!! And......A lot can be said for engine guard covers and chaps. A wonderful warm combination, Leather blocks the wind then the other layers can insulate.

I have tried Carhart bibs and other items. They will not block the wind on a motorcycle the way you think they will. NOT AT ALL. On my Vaquero Plugging in is the only way to go in the cold. I run my glove wires in between my liner of my Oxford Adventure jacket. Hands Ok with the deflectors on the bars yet my arms get cold. Running with Sagebrush engine guards, nice wind block for my Tourmaster Caliber 2.0 Pants with liners installed. Careful they will make your nether regions sweat indoors.
Since we have Heal toe shifters I wear Baffin Eiger Snow boots rated at -100f with Darn tough wool socks. No issues there at all. NONE. One less item to plug in.
Nice thick Neck gator is a BIG plus to keep the wind off your neck, both sides and up and under your helmet.

And then you Suck it up and ride. You live, you might be cold but it is stories you tell your grandchildren. LOL
I have ridden thru a 35 car Snow storm pile up, cars off the road all over the place in the Texas Pan Handle on I-40 with a shaft drive 500 Honda CX custom. Slow going with a shaft drive. And NOT FUN at all. Had to use Arby's sandwich wraps, the foil kind to wrap my toes in to stay warm. The sandwiches added calories to help me keep warm. (yah, What ever they were good and filling and I like them)

Using ATV hand boots works well, Like a cheap set of Hippo hands. You may want to cut to fit and give you the dexterity you need and then burn the cut edges to keep them from fraying. works great. Used on my 1500 classic. Takes a bit getting accustomed to having your hands confined but great for warmth. No plug ins, if that is your thing. And a way that works pretty well.