Greetings fellow motorcycling tribologists!
I have a 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 300 commute bike now (need to update my sig), and am a bit confused about the oil to use. Pertinent background, this is a water cooled parallel twin, bucket shim tappets, with a common sump between engine, gear box, and wet clutch. The clutch is a "slipper clutch" design. I imagine this little motor shears oil very quickly. Let me elaborate on my confusion...
The owners manual calls for "...4-stroke oils with API SG, SH, SJ, SL, SM and JASO MA, MA1, MA2 rating
"Viscosity: SAE10W-40"
A few pages later, it says:
"Although 10W-40 engine oil is the recommended oil for most conditions, the oil viscosity may need to be changed to accommodate atmospheric conditions in your riding area."
There is a graphic that provides additional information. 10W40 is good from -10C to 40C (14F to 104F). Now, I have no desire to operate my motorcycle in sub-freezing conditions, but we do, occasionally, get ambient temperatures above 104F here in tropical North Florida. This corresponds to the recommendation for 20W50 oil.
So what's my confusion? Probably just the marketing aspect - most companies call this "V-Twin Oil."
So, is there something in these "V-Twin Oils" that make them unsuitable for the micro-Ninja? They operate typically at much lower RPM, and don't have slipper clutches. Or is it just the marketing wanks trying to steer un- or under-informed owners (no disrespect intended) to the correct oil? If there is something not obvious in the specifications printed on the bottle, what do I look for?
Thanks,
- Arved
I have a 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 300 commute bike now (need to update my sig), and am a bit confused about the oil to use. Pertinent background, this is a water cooled parallel twin, bucket shim tappets, with a common sump between engine, gear box, and wet clutch. The clutch is a "slipper clutch" design. I imagine this little motor shears oil very quickly. Let me elaborate on my confusion...
The owners manual calls for "...4-stroke oils with API SG, SH, SJ, SL, SM and JASO MA, MA1, MA2 rating
"Viscosity: SAE10W-40"
A few pages later, it says:
"Although 10W-40 engine oil is the recommended oil for most conditions, the oil viscosity may need to be changed to accommodate atmospheric conditions in your riding area."
There is a graphic that provides additional information. 10W40 is good from -10C to 40C (14F to 104F). Now, I have no desire to operate my motorcycle in sub-freezing conditions, but we do, occasionally, get ambient temperatures above 104F here in tropical North Florida. This corresponds to the recommendation for 20W50 oil.
So what's my confusion? Probably just the marketing aspect - most companies call this "V-Twin Oil."
So, is there something in these "V-Twin Oils" that make them unsuitable for the micro-Ninja? They operate typically at much lower RPM, and don't have slipper clutches. Or is it just the marketing wanks trying to steer un- or under-informed owners (no disrespect intended) to the correct oil? If there is something not obvious in the specifications printed on the bottle, what do I look for?
Thanks,
- Arved
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