Higher prices in the lubricant market place has been wreaking havoc on customers pocket books especially in the motorcycle market. In most cases a persons motorcycle is their “toy” or their “play bike”.  They ride their bikes for pleasure mostly on the weekends.
What seems to be happening (this is what we are hearing from motorcycle shop owners in our area) is that people are complaining about the high price of synthetic oils they have been running in their bike. What I’m seeing is once the price got over $12 per quart they start looking for alternatives. This is understandable, everyone has a price point in which it’s “too high”. I would like to give some alternative suggests for motorcycles for those that would still like to use a great product and save a few dollars at the same time.
AMSOIL works tirelessly to keep lubricant prices in check but as everyone knows the price of crude oil has been going up and down like a yo-yo. Though the trend line keeps inching up, using AMSOIL in your equipment is still one of the best ways to save time and money. Using the best products will reduce wear, reduce maintenance intervals, while increasing power and performance (efficiency).
The first and best recommendation for motorcycles is still the AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Line. MCF 10w40, MCV 20w50 and MCT 10w30 are designed for motorcycles and help them give the highest performance. But what if you still want great performance, a great “full synthetic” product but don’t need the best of the best?
AMSOIL offers several products that meet motorcycle performance needs. Motorcycles differ from automobiles in the fact that the engine and transmission use a shared sump, or they have separate sumps but have a “wet” clutch. A wet clutch is bathed in oil and if the oil contains “friction modifiers” damage or premature clutch wear would occur. Friction Modifiers are added to oil to change the friction characteristics depending on application. For Automotive oil, friction modifiers help make the lubricant “more slippery” to increase fuel economy. Using automotive oil’s in your motorcycle can have a detrimental effect on the wet clutch over your motorcycle. Also, these friction modifiers are not always “shear stable” meaning they can become sheared (break down) easily. This would tend to happen from the motorcycle transmission gears “chewing the oil” up. Most engines do not contain gears (except for gear driven cams and that’s another story). Typically engines are designed only with rotating or sliding parts; think cams, cranks and valves. The other aspect of modern automotive oils is the lack of Zinc and Phosphorus (ZDDP) see my article on High Zinc Oil. Motorcycles are considered high performance, the power to weight ratio is higher for motorcycles and in most cases the pressure, cams and other internal components require higher amounts of ZDDP additive to maintain proper boundary lubrication (reduced metal to metal contact).  Basically its a bad idea to use automotive oil in a motorcycle.
I know several motorcyclist that use Shell Rotella or Chevron Delo for their motorcycles. This could be a good choice for those that would like to stick with a conventional type of petroleum lubricant. But what if you want more performance and protection? What if you want to move up to a synthetic based oil, but can’t justify the cost of the AMSOIL Motorcycle oil line? We have a solution for you. Several products in the AMSOIL line are suitable for motorcycles.
So lets cover some of the AMSOIL products that could be used as an alternative to the motorcycle line.

AMSOIL ARO/AMO 20w50 and 10w40 Synthetic Premium Protection:

AMSOIL Premium protection line is formulated for both automotive and diesel ratings. It is a multi-function motor oil that can be used in a variety of applications. These two products do carry the JASO MA for motorcycle wet clutch performance. In truth ARO 20w50 is the same product as the old AMSOIL V-twin 20w50 product code AMV. And the AMO 10w40 is the same as the old AMF 10w40 motorcycle oil. With the premium protection line you can get full synthetic performance while saving about $1.50 per quart vs the current motorcycle line. The AMO/ARO premium protection contains high levels of zinc and phosphorus for excellent wear protection in all riding conditions. As a matter of fact, customers have been using AMSOIL 10w40 in their motorcycles in since 1972. Yes, AMO 10w40 was the original synthetic motor oil.

From the AMSOIL website:

Exceeds the Requirements of Wet Clutch Transmissions
AMSOIL Premium Protection Synthetic Motor Oil contains no friction modifiers, making it ideal for motorcycles, maintenance equipment and other wet clutch transmission applications. Formulated to prevent clutch glazing and slippage, it helps insure smooth clutch engagement and long term, dependable transmission operation. AMSOIL Synthetic 10W-40 and 20w50 Motor Oil reduces clutch wear for extended transmission life.

AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke® 10W-40 Synthetic Scooter Oil(ASO)

The AMSOIL Formula 4-stroke 10w40 Synthetic Scooter oil is wet clutch compatible and formulated for a wide variety of motorcycles including scooters. AMSOIL Synthetic Scooter oil could be a great choice for anyone who wishes to have unsurpassed wear protection and friction reduction for longer equipment life and cooler operating temperatures. Its exceptional shear stability ensures consistent viscosity protection and provides additional protection for transmissions and gear boxes, while its friction modifier-free formulation ensures wet clutch compatibility and smooth clutch operation. A special anti-corrosion additive package provides long-term protection during periods of inactivity and storage.

• Shear Stability
• Thermal Stability
• Transmission and Gear Box Compatibility
• Wet Clutch Compatibility
• Rust and Corrosion Protection
• JASO MA/MA2 (motorcycle wet clutch)

Just because it has a picture of a scooter on the front, don’t be fooled. This Formula 4-Stroke oil will perform great in all motorcycle and ATV applications that call for a 10w40 viscosity. This could be a great product for someone who wants the AMSOIL protection without spending a lot of money. Also a great choice for someone who rides infrequently and cannot justify the cost of the AMSOIL Motorcycle Oil MCF product.
No matter what type of motorcycle you have, AMSOIL has a product for you. Determine your performance, determine your price and pick a product. AMSOIL’s got you covered.

Preferred Customers Save up to 30%

If the $12+ per quart retail pricing is more than you care to spend for a motorcycle oil take a look at the AMSOIL Preferred Customer Program. The Preferred Customer program works like a wholesale buyers club. (Think Sam’s Club or Costco). You pay $20 per year and purchase AMSOIL products at dealer cost. The 25-30% discount is exactly what dealers like myself pay for AMSOIL products. Join today and start Your savings.
You can add the preferred customer program to your shopping card and get the wholesale pricing immediately.

If you have specific AMSOIL compatibility questions, or application questions please don’t hesitate to contact me,
Michael Sparks your servicing AMSOIL Dealer.