Lubrication - Grease - Oil

First off, it's not "that type of lubrication", so no jokes allowed here. This is strickly for the Trike and Cycle folks. Ok, ok. Just say the word lubrication at some group of your friends or coriders and see what reaction you get.........

First, the safest rule is to use what the Manafacturer or your bike or trike says to use. It is usually listed in the Owner manual along with the frequency of service. Aside from that, there are other excellent choices. So if you own a Harley, Goldwing, or other cycle/trike check out some of these. If it specifies Moly Paste or Moly Grease, be sure you buy the proper one. See notation on Lube Suggestions to the right.

Grease

Honda's GL1800's specify this for an example.

Driveshaft lube for where it slides onto the splines of the eng's output shaft. Below is what the book calls for. Use molybdenum disulfide grease (containing more than 3% molybdenum disulfide, NLGI #2 or equivalent).
Examples:
Molykote ® BR-2 Plus manufactured by Dow Corning, U.S.A.
Multi-purpose M-2 manufactured by Mitsubishi Oil, Japan

www.improvedchemical.com/Products/Multi%20Purpose%20Grease%20M-2.htm

Honda Moly 60 Paste/Grease/Lube $11.35 from your dealer

Moly greases with 60% + molybdenum disulfide content:

Honda Moly 60 paste, $9 for 3oz, pn 08734-0001 at your Honda dealer, or $8 from Kim Leong, STOC 3073, California Sport Touring .

LocTite Moly paste, 65% molybdenum disulfide. $20 for an 8oz tube from Enco , part #505-1197, 800-873-3626

TS-70 Moly Paste, 4 oz. ctg. $14 from TSMoly . (800) 508-5545

Neely Industries, L.L.C., 2704 W. Pioneer Pkwy, Arlington, TX 76013
Phone: 817-274-4300 FAX: 817-274-4504 E-Mail: sales@neelyindustries.comsales@neelyindustries.com
Molykote® BR-2 Plus multi-purpose, extreme pressure grease , 14.1 oz (400 g) cartridge
Molykote® BR-2 Plus multi-purpose, extreme pressure grease , 14.1 oz (400 g) cartridge
Item SKU:4043213Weight (LBS):0.89 About: $8.00

Gear Oil

Options other than using Honda Gear Oil, which is a great product too. Many independent tests show these oils are better in the long run. Search and you can read them too. Honda Direct Online is a good place to buy, as are many local auto parts stores and stores.

AMSOil AGL sae 75w-90 synthetic gear oil, about $8 / quart

You can buy direct for $20/year distributor fee or buy from your local Amsoil Dealer.

Mobil-1 75w-90 synthetic gear oil, about $8 / quart

Valvoline 75w-90 synthetic gear oil, about $8 / quart

Oil - No Arguments Here Just Facts

Before you go any further, read the interesting independent tests at the Best Oil Comparison site I've seen <Here>. This test was on auto engines, but every oil company makes comparable oil for your motorcycle too. Shell Rotella is one very good oil for wet clutch cycle engines/trannies. Make sure what you use meets the oil specifications for your motor. Cycles generally do not tolerate the wrong oil or the transmission either.

Most important - Read the Conclusion Part which I posted below for you.

CONCLUSION
There are many names, numbers, values and suggestions throughout this article, and to an extent many of the results show how even the oils are. The one point proven is just how much better synthetic oil is over a "mineral" or petroleum based product.

In the case of a pure performance or race engine where power is priority and oil changes can be frequent, the 0-30/40 oils such as the Mobil 0-40, Castrol R, or Royal Purple would be best suited. However, for regular street-driven engines, it would be better to look at an oil with a good service interval.

An overall analysis of the 11 oils suggests in ay case, see your owners manual for the recommended grade of oil. Torco and AMOSIL supplied the "recommended" oil for our testing, but added if it were an outright horsepower shootout, they too would have supplied a zero weight oil.

Although we've provided criteria to pick and choose an oil, the stand-out to us appears to be the AMSOIL , rating well in the viscosity and producing good horsepower.

In the 0 up to 40 weight category, it seems Mobil's new 0W-40 produces terrific power, insignificant viscosity loss and a middle-to-fair wear particles rating.

With the variety of grades, use this test as a guide but always follow the manufacturer's recommendation. But if we were to stick our neck out in anticipation of the law suits, from the information we gathered specific to the supplied oils in this test, we'd rate the oils in the following order:

1. AMSOIL
2. BP Visco 5000
3&4. Both Mobil 1 (difference between price)
5. Hi-Tec HTO
6. Shell Helix Ultra
7. Royal Purple
8. Castrol R
9. Castrol SLX
10. Torco