I will be fitting my Otec genny cover this weekend so I will be draining the oil and changing the filter,,,,what's the best oil to use? Semi or fully synthetic,,,,my bike has only got 700 miles on it,it has had 1 oil / filter change at 180 miles.

My choice was to use the dino yamalube until 1500 miles. Then switched to RoyalPurple synthetic every 2000.

This topic is a can of worms on any vehicle forum....as long as you change the oil regularly and use the correct viscosity you cant go wrong (except if you use a fram filter ;P )

I am not an oil expert but would agree with both statements. Synthetic will last longer but if you like to change your oil frequently you should be fine and what I have heard is that fram filters have a different flow rate than yamaha.

I have 27K on mine now and from about 2K used nothing but Sikolene High Ester Full Synthetic I change about 4 K , this oil is expensive but the frequency is easily decreased by the quality of the oil , the Hi Ester base oils work really well with the transmission / Clutch
and provide good cushion on the gears and a good durable coating on start up , I did not buy this bike to scrimp on oil in any way
I have been consistent with this brand and it is paying off , this and Motul double Ester is what the racers use in a total punishment
Environment , 14-15 $ a quart really is not bad for the quality and durability , The 1700 DOHC 4 Valve engine is a work of Art and if
It helps preserve it then so be it.

Other than Clutch friction plates no problems with engine Transmission.

Keith Code swears by it and uses it excusively in his 1000 RR BMW's at his Superbik racing school as well and did an excellent testimony
On Sikolene 10-40

A Scott's Billet cleanable Oil Filter is a good addition to the System not only are they buy it once they have a Supermagnet inside on the frame and between the Magnetic drain plug and this minimizes any metal FM from clogging up the small oil passages this engine was engineered with and I feel that is a good reason to stay 10-40 year around .

royal purple XPR(xtreme performance) 10w-40 for me,have used it on all my bikes with no complaints except the price. lol

Here, read this and you can make some decisions from it:

www.oil-tech.com/motorcycle-oil-comparison.pdf

I do agree with Ragz...wouldn't run synthetic until at least 1500 miles are on the motor....

Jetman wrote:
I also agree, you need to scrub in the Cylinder Walls first. You can easily glaze them up when going synth. to early.

Would be nice to know if Yamaha used moly rings tho..

So I have 3 choices:
1. Fit Otec cover now at 700 miles with semi synthetic
2.wait until I have done 1500 miles before fitting the new Otec cover and change to fully synthetic
3.fit otec cover now with semi and then change it to fully at 1500.

Install the OTEC'S then next oil change do the deed. Do you have the full compliment of cases ?