[Raccoon]

Hmmm... I wonder why they would do that... esp. when CRB is pricier!

I guess it probably might even be better for the engine... but personally dunno anyone who has been using it long term in a 4 stroke bike; hence the curiosity.

[topedgemonk]

Testing Motorcycle Oil

Found this while trawling the web. Article on whether its worth paying extra for motorcycle oil

[Raccoon]

^^^Had read that sometime back. But I feel the discussion is not so valid for India, where price difference between car and motorcycle oils is much smaller.

[torqueyTND]

@ sankar : I came across this thread , I am still seeking advise
for BULLET Std 350cc engine oils is better?
Please share what make of oil is your picking for Engine , Clutch , Gear Box & Forks

Do you think Mineral Oil has some edge over Synthetic's ?
Is it worth worth paying more premium on an RE 350 ?

Cheers
TND

[Sankar]

On RE350 CI synthetic oil is not worth it, because whatever you put in leaks out. Definitely not VFM It definitely doesn't require a premium engine oil. But there is nothing wrong in using synthetic if one can afford to.

For clutch i was using Hero Honda 30W oil. Fork i don't remember, filled up only once and i guess it was Castrol fork oil what was used. In the engine i tried Shell Helix Ultra 40W (Syn) and when i had to change i used Castrol Magnatec 40W. Company recommends 50W oil for the CI engine but i was using 40W.

[iron]

Great article..
Very informative..
Thanks for putting it up on tbhp.
What oil is recommended for a 2007 Zma R other than the company recommended HH 4T Plus?

[Sankar]

In my R I was using Castrol Power 1 which was the recommended grade (40W) oil for the older spec Karizma. The R spec Karizma has 30W oil recommended in the manual. If looking for synthetic you get Motul 300V in 40W.

[torqueyTND]

Originally Posted by Sankar

On RE350 CI synthetic oil is not worth it, because whatever you put in leaks out. Definitely not VFM It definitely doesn't require a premium engine oil. But there is nothing wrong in using synthetic if one can afford to.

For clutch i was using Hero Honda 30W oil. Fork i don't remember, filled up only once and i guess it was Castrol fork oil what was used. In the engine i tried Shell Helix Ultra 40W (Syn) and when i had to change i used Castrol Magnatec 40W. Company recommends 50W oil for the CI engine but i was using 40W.

Boss! i saw your 110 kmph pull vid that to on the 3rd !
On that strech of road / highway which posted on Ytube and got to say its an amazing machine having the fact it was specially tweaked ( i guess under special supervision to be the first one to have twinspark tech)
before REML saw the point in incorporating that tech. I really like the Megaphone and i was like BLUE BARNACLES either its something with the engine or it must be some supercharged nitromethane fuel or some GROUNDBREAKING OIL in that crankcase !!!

Given the case I still get hallucinated to that Vid
Brother its still a big miss to not have her around

Cheers
TND

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by torqueyTND

Boss! i saw your 110 kmph pull vid that to on the 3rd !
On that strech of road / highway which posted on Ytube and got to say its an amazing machine having the fact it was specially tweaked ( i guess under special supervision to be the first one to have twinspark tech)
before REML saw the point in incorporating that tech. I really like the Megaphone and i was like BLUE BARNACLES either its something with the engine or it must be some supercharged nitromethane fuel or some GROUNDBREAKING OIL in that crankcase !!!

Given the case I still get hallucinated to that Vid
Brother its still a big miss to not have her around

Cheers
TND

I just saw that video of mine once again just now. It brought me back a lot of good memories. Thanks
Selling that bike off was a mistake

[torqueyTND]

Originally Posted by Sankar

I just saw that video of mine once again just now. It brought me back a lot of good memories. Thanks
Selling that bike off was a mistake

@ Sankar ,
Come on Man dont loose hope , theres always a gutted instinct
when people say "Old is gold, well almost GOLD"
but atleast in most scenarios the enfield pride
will certainly prevail & i can almost sniff an oppurtunity for you to own one of the CI's back again . On the hind side - how about stealing your old
CI from the person you sold it to ? and claim it as lost & found property, assuming the paperworks are genuine!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways ,
I have some queries and i think i need some input

1.whats the best tyre inflation norms on a CI 350 , i dont have a Owners Manual and i read elsewhere its 20 ft- 30 rear ,
tread in my reartyre is not prominent its not totally bald but
getting there , so i dont overdo just perhaps 22fnt-32rear psi MAX -
is this ok?Suggest the Best one for Rear!

2.One of my pal , to say member elsewhere suggested when
i showed him the oil which was almost dark brown , to get the
crankcase flushed with diesel before refilling mineral oil -
what is your say on this ?
He tried doing this on his CBZ classic twice before and
mentions engine is gone rev happy and got a ton of slurge
with the so called Diesel!

3.Where do i get the CI 350 cc Owners Manual from ?
i need to so do the engine restoration and i am going nuts over it

4.Black smoke issues - First time i saw it was a week ago when
giving more gas ,think mine has that duckbill pipe and
heared the mech say - Valve Grinding is the Fix ,
I didnt pay him Heed!

Now i read elsewhere where you suggested
cleaning oil catchcan and few other things but i am
wondering is my case tad more different if not ambiguous
What are my options Chief???

I hope i dont bug you too much

Cheers
TND

[Sankar]

Originally Posted by torqueyTND

@ Sankar ,
Come on Man dont loose hope , theres always a gutted instinct
when people say "Old is gold, well almost GOLD"
but atleast in most scenarios the enfield pride
will certainly prevail & i can almost sniff an oppurtunity for you to own one of the CI's back again . On the hind side - how about stealing your old
CI from the person you sold it to ? and claim it as lost & found property, assuming the paperworks are genuine!!!
---------------------------------------------------------------
Anyways ,
I have some queries and i think i need some input

1.whats the best tyre inflation norms on a CI 350 , i dont have a Owners Manual and i read elsewhere its 20 ft- 30 rear ,
tread in my reartyre is not prominent its not totally bald but
getting there , so i dont overdo just perhaps 22fnt-32rear psi MAX -
is this ok?Suggest the Best one for Rear!

2.One of my pal , to say member elsewhere suggested when
i showed him the oil which was almost dark brown , to get the
crankcase flushed with diesel before refilling mineral oil -
what is your say on this ?
He tried doing this on his CBZ classic twice before and
mentions engine is gone rev happy and got a ton of slurge
with the so called Diesel!

3.Where do i get the CI 350 cc Owners Manual from ?
i need to so do the engine restoration and i am going nuts over it

4.Black smoke issues - First time i saw it was a week ago when
giving more gas ,think mine has that duckbill pipe and
heared the mech say - Valve Grinding is the Fix ,
I didnt pay him Heed!

Now i read elsewhere where you suggested
cleaning oil catchcan and few other things but i am
wondering is my case tad more different if not ambiguous
What are my options Chief???

I hope i dont bug you too much

Cheers
TND

1) I don't exactly remember what psi i used to have on my Bullet wheels, so if i give a number here prolly it'll misguide you. I say try a few psi higher and lower than recommended and find your sweet spot.

2) It can be done. You don't have to do it on every oil change. Let the engine idle, increase RPM a wee bit but do not revv it out.

3) If you need the manual for engine overhaul it is better either to get Haynes (should be available for Bullet) or Pete Snidel Manual.

4) Black smoke is engine running rich. How do the plugs look like? And hows the compression?

There is no catch can in a CI 350 with duckbill breather pipe, so you're saved

[roy_libran]

Rated 5 Stars. Very informative article. Big thanks. Can you please add on a section where the recommended Oil for most of the common motorcycles, for Indian conditions, is listed? That would be a good reference point for a lot of viewers.

[torqueyTND]

Originally Posted by Sankar

2) It can be done. You don't have to do it on every oil change. Let the engine idle, increase RPM a wee bit but do not revv it out.

You mean just open throttle only a wee bit like one quaters, lets say
if the needle were to point to 15-20 kmph ? on neutral or depress clutch and do the same for all 4 gears and drain it out ??

3) If you need the manual for engine overhaul it is better either to get Haynes (should be available for Bullet) or Pete Snidel Manual.

I have heared about Pete's CD manual thingy not so sure about Haynes

4) Black smoke is engine running rich. How do the plugs look like? And hows the compression?

Plugs - I havnt checked, will ask the local mech for the same
Compression - Low & very less restraint felt when standing on the kickerlever

Few checkpoints :

1) How difficult or easy is it to start?
Definitely its not an instant start - maybe engine comes to life
after a good 5-10mins for cold starts only . Half kick when warm.

2) Do you see black smoke as soon as it started or at a particular throttle opening? Maybe 3/4th of an open throttle

3) Can you ride the bike with minumum throttle?
I didnt get this Q

4) Does the bike 8stroke? Means go phutphutphutphutphutphut as you increase throttle?
I am not sure about this too , shifting gears
especially engaging direct 2nd from Neutral gives
KHARRR sound also while downshifting (in motion)
from 4th to 3rd to 2nd

5) Has the bike been stood for a while or are you sing it regularly?
Yes its been not used regularly maybe 8 weeks it was not
getting my attention

6) Have you made any changes to the bike? none

Also when i first checked after about 8 weeks back ,
the VM-24 was leaking , there was also oil leak marks on
the forks , Clutch casing joints,gearbox . Immediately
after firing discovered the black smoke thingy when revved hard .

Also when i brought the bike some 24months back i had these blueish-green
bubbles/spots/heatnotes at the mouth on the bendpipe so i think i will have to
take a pic and post it out laters

Hope this helps

cheers
TND

[bluevolt]

The Karizma owner manual suggest oil change at 6000 KM but most HH service stations ask ZMA owners to change oil at 2000 KM.

Who is right?

Its painful for both pocket and environment to change oil so frequently.

[adityadeva]

Thanx for the great information on engine oils.