[parik_ind]

@rangakishen - sounds good. I just checked the Motul website and the 2 variants of 300V are 15W50 and 10W40 where as Bajaj seems to recommend a viscosity of 20W50 which will be the Motul 7100 4T.

Parik

[rangakishen]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

@rangakishen - sounds good. I just checked the Motul website and the 2 variants of 300V are 15W50 and 10W40 where as Bajaj seems to recommend a viscosity of 20W50 which will be the Motul 7100 4T.

Parik

Had the same doubt last time when we went searching. But the first number refers to temperature ranges and I have read in quite a few threads that in a tropical country like India small deviation from it will not be harmful. And 300V is regarded as the best synthetic oil for bikes. So what do you say?

Edit: Just checked. Both are 100% synthetic. Lets do some research and decide!!
BTW 300V is latest with double ester tech.

[vibbs]

Originally Posted by rangakishen

Had the same doubt last time when we went searching. But the first number refers to temperature ranges and I have read in quite a few threads that in a tropical country like India small deviation from it will not be harmful.

A small two cents from me. 10W40 means that the oil will have a viscosity similar to oil of grade SAE40 at 100degrees and at zero degrees will have viscosity similar to oil of grade SAE10.
Similarly 15W50 means the oil will have a viscosity similar to the grade 50 at 100 degrees and a viscosity similar to grade 15 at 0 degrees.

15W50 should be in my opinion better than 20W50 as it gives us a better range. Viscosity at operating range is same (as denoted by 50) but since 15W50 has a lower viscosity at zero degrees than 20W50, it should be a better option during start ups providing better lubrication during cold climates at start ups. The colder you expect the climate to get the lower the first no should go. For bangalore where you get pretty cool mornings 300V with 15W50 seems a better bet than 20W50.

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

I just checked the Motul website and the 2 variants of 300V are 15W50 and 10W40 where as Bajaj seems to recommend a viscosity of 20W50 which will be the Motul 7100 4T.

Parik

Originally Posted by rangakishen

Had the same doubt last time when we went searching. But the first number refers to temperature ranges and I have read in quite a few threads that in a tropical country like India small deviation from it will not be harmful.

Originally Posted by vibbs

15W50 should be in my opinion better than 20W50 as it gives us a better range. Viscosity at operating range is same (as denoted by 50) but since 15W50 has a lower viscosity at zero degrees than 20W50, it should be a better option during start ups providing better lubrication during cold climates at start ups.

Agree with vibbs. From layman speak, if recommended is 20W50, you can go for a grade lower than 20 and higher than 50, for ex. 10W60. But it is not preferred to go for a grade like 10W30. Reason has been explained well by Vibbs above.

Motul 300V is a very good fully synthetic oil. Castrol also has a fully synth oil in similar grade as Motul but not sure if its single or double ester. You can check it out too. Has got favorable reviews on few online forums for p220 in particular.

[parik_ind]

Thanks vibbs and abhinav. I did some research as well and well the info is the same. I have read some good reviews as well. @rangakishen I am on

Will PM to figure out the details.

Parik

[parik_ind]

Crossed 10,000 km this morning so its definitely time for a few changes. While rangakishen and I figure out the logistics to change the oil, I will be picking up the K&N stock replacement filter. I have read mixed review, but what the hell. If it can improve the performance of the vehicle then why not.

I had decided not to get the K&N filter but I had the opportunity to ride a KTM Duke 200 last evening and I realised that the 220 seemed so sluggish compared to the KTM. I actually had a smile on my face as rode the other bike. I am not saying that the 220 is a bad bike, all I am saying is that I seem to have completely neglected it.

The daily commute to work at and avg speed of 25 kmph has resulted in me getting accustomed to a deteriorating bike. I never realised that there was a drop in performance because there was never an opportunity for that.

A couple of things to be sorted out over the course of the week; get the bike serviced and tuned properly, preferably change engine oil and oil filter outside and get Bajaj A.S.S. to take care of the rest; get the K&N filter and finally make plans for longish ride.

Should I get the oil changed first and then give it was the rest of the service or do it the other way round?

Parik

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

The daily commute to work at and avg speed of 25 kmph has resulted in me getting accustomed to a deteriorating bike. I never realised that there was a drop in performance because there was never an opportunity for that.

Redlining the bike once in a while helps clear the deposits and free up the engine to perform better.

Originally Posted by parik_ind

Should I get the oil changed first and then give it was the rest of the service or do it the other way round?

It's up to you. If you have good rapport with the Bajaj Service center guys, you can take your oil and get it filled there. If not, get the oil & filter change done outside and then get it serviced. This is what i follow for my bike. I do not use the TVS oil for my RTR. But in my case the service center was ok to use the oil i carried with me during the free services. Now i change oil at my own interval and only get servicing done at the service center.

[parik_ind]

Thanks Abhinav, I think I will do that today. Pick up everything I need and then once I have changed it I will take it over for servicing. There is a Castrol bikezone near my place, I most probably will drop it off there. I used to give my Fiero there and was pretty happy with their work.

Parik

[rangakishen]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

I will be picking up the K&N stock replacement filter. I have read mixed review, but what the hell. If it can improve the performance of the vehicle then why not.
Parik

But do you think a plug and play will increase performance? I've read that rejetting or atleast adjustment of the carb is necessary. I suggest you get in touch with Joel!! He is the best known Bike tuner in bangalore!

[parik_ind]

By performance I dont expect the power to suddenly go up. If the bike can breathe better and runs smoother then I am good. Will check out Joel as well.

Parik

[rangakishen]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

By performance I dont expect the power to suddenly go up. If the bike can breathe better and runs smoother then I am good. Will check out Joel as well.

Parik

What i meant was, that your engine might actually suffer with the new filter without tuning let alone an increase in performance. If I'm not wrong when you install a performance filter without tuning, your bike will run lean and this is harmful to the engine. I'm saying this only with my limited knowledge. So tread carefully!!

[parik_ind]

Got it . I did read that no tuning was required after installation. But I will check in any case.

Parik

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by rangakishen

If I'm not wrong when you install a performance filter without tuning, your bike will run lean and this is harmful to the engine. I'm saying this only with my limited knowledge. So tread carefully!!

Originally Posted by parik_ind

Got it . I did read that no tuning was required after installation. But I will check in any case.

If its a performance conical air filter, Rangakishen is right. You need to up jet your bike for optimum performance and tune the carb as well. If it is a stock replacement filter then you dont need any tuning since you are just replacing the stock foam type filter with a better quality filter of same properties as stock filter. The stock replacement filter gives you better filter life and marginally better filtration.

For more info of Joel's work visit the site here.

[parik_ind]

Thanks Abhinav. I am talking about the stock replacement filter and not the conical universal one.

But if the stock replacement is only going to be slightly better, then is it worth the three grand that one needs to shell out?

[abhinav.s]

Originally Posted by parik_ind

But if the stock replacement is only going to be slightly better, then is it worth the three grand that one needs to shell out?

It is a lifetime reusable filter. So you invest 3 grand now and you dont have to change the filter ever as per K&N manual. Just wash, dry and reuse. While the foam stock filter needs to be replaced once every 10k or 20k (not very sure of the interval of replacement for P220)

PS: 3K seems a little on the higher side for Stock Replacement filter. When I bought the conical for RTR160 few years ago, the Pulsar conicals were in the range 2.3-2.4k. So the stock replacement would have been much cheaper. Check in few other places before finalizing the deal.