1998 Valkyrie Oil Change

[Tom Turnbaugh]

Want to know your recommendation for oil to use in 1998 Valkyrie, 31,000 miles. Do you recommend the

GN4, or is any good 10w40 oil ok with the wet clutch? Have used Pennzoil for the past change.

[Chrisj CMA]

Want to know your recommendation for oil to use in 1998 Valkyrie, 31,000 miles. Do you recommend the

GN4, or is any good 10w40 oil ok with the wet clutch? Have used Pennzoil for the past change.

No not any 10W40 will do.  It must not say energy conserving at the bottom of the spec seal.  Also most everyone prefers full synthetic over non, no reason to be afraid of synthetic.  You don't say where you are.  If its hot climate you can go up a tad like 20W50 with no problems.  I am using motorcycle specific mobile1 in 20W50 because I got a few quarts with a bike I bought.  I have used 10W40 Mobile1 car oil with no issues as well.  Honda doesnt make oil, they just charge a lot for putting their name on the container

[Fazer]

I use Rotella T6.  Lots of others do too.  You may get more than a few recommendations, but Chris hit the most important, that it must not say "energy saving". 

[Longlivedixie]

Want to know your recommendation for oil to use in 1998 Valkyrie, 31,000 miles. Do you recommend the

GN4, or is any good 10w40 oil ok with the wet clutch? Have used Pennzoil for the past change.

Like a lotta folks, I found that pure synthetic produces a smoother shifting transmission.

[Gideon]

I use Rotella T6.  Lots of others do too.  You may get more than a few recommendations, but Chris hit the most important, that it must not say "energy saving". 

I also use Shell Rotella-T6 Synthetic. It is a heavy-duty diesel oil. Though marketed as  engine oil for diesel trucks, Rotella oil has found popularity with motorcyclists as well. The lack of "friction modifiers" in Rotella-6 means it does not interfere with wet clutch operations.
Here in Indiana I prefer to use the 5W-40 weight. 

[Jim in Idaho]

Your gonna get as many options as responses on this question, but for what it's worth this is a bargain at Wal-Mart and well thought of by most.

Mobil 1 Advanced Full Synthetic Motor Oil 15W-50, 5 qt.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Advanced-Full-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-15W-50-5-qt/20713647

[RWhitehouse]

Another +1 for the Rotella T6. One gallon jug is the perfect amount for a Valk oil change. Dump the whole thing in, run briefly to fill the filter, check the stick, and it'll be bang on the full line. I noticed last time I was at Wally World they now had T6 in both the 5-40 as well as a new 15-40 I hadn't seen before.

I use the Napa 1356 filters, about $8. Same as the Wix 51356. It's about .75" longer than stock. Personally I'd avoid Fram (failure prone cardboard cores on their basic "extra guard" line, although their higher tiers seem to be built as well as any other brand).  Pretty much anything else is fine.

The 1358 is the "Motorcycle" oil filter that fits, but it's like $13 for no apparent reason aside from it being for motorcycle applications. The 1365 is the same as the 1356, but it's about .75" shorter, same size as OEM.

[LTD]

Castrol Power 1 synthetic 10 w 40 motorcycle oil

[..]

Non energy conserving oil.

Drain oil.

Remove filter.

Fit new filter.

4 quarts new oil.

Ride it like you stole it.

Repeat as you see fit.