Maxima in a Concours 14

[smoothxman]

Proud new owner of a Kawasaki Concours 1400. Trying to settle on a oil for this bike. It is an inline four with wet clutch. Manual calls for 10W40 but allows 10W30 through 20W50 depending on temps. I had some Kendall GT 1 that I needed to use that up so that was put in at first change. The few analysis I can find on the C14 seem to show that it chews its oil up pretty good.

One option is a HDEO at 2500-3000 miles. I guess in my old age and increased laziness I would like to extend that interval. In my search I ran up on Maxima Pro Plus for around $7 per quart delivered to my door 10W40 or 10W50 if I buy 5 gallons. Company web site says it is a full synthetic with an ester base. I can only find 1 oil analysis with this oil and it was excellent. Very low wear over 6000 miles. Price seems good.

Anyone have any input/experience on the Maxima brand or this oil in particular.

 

[Cardenio327]

I used their 10w-40 mineral for a couple of years, no complaints. Easier cold starting and smoother shifting than Rotella 15w-40.

 

[FastGame]

The guys over @Concours Owners Group (COG) with the high mile C14's are using Rotella T6 5W-40 or T 15W-40 at Kawasaki's recommend OCI (so they say). They either don't know about shear or they don't care...? The bevel gears for the drive system is doing the shear in the C14 vs ZX14.

I used Rotella T 15W-40 in my C14 and it was fine, now trying Mobil 1 15W-50.

The price on the Maxima Pro Plus 10W-40 looks good, give it a try and let us know with UOA

 

[smoothxman]

Yes I noticed the love fest over there with T5, its got to be a 20 weight by 5000 miles

 

[FastGame]

Originally Posted By: smoothxman
Yes I noticed the love fest over there with T5, its got to be a 20 weight by 5000 miles


Yep

For the $ I would give the Maxima a try, that's cheaper than Mobil 1 4T or Amsoil.

 

[Kawiguy454]

I put ~35k on a ZX14 and have ~23K on my modded 2012 C14 without a single problem. One bottle of M1 4T and the rest m1 15-50 for heat of arizona.

FWIW I also use M1 75-140 in the rear