Can I ask why use 300V? This seems to be the oil everyone is using but Motul 7100 is the better option unless you are changing the oil very very frequently. The reason being that the 300v does not have any corrosion inhibitors or detergents to help protect the engine, and has no stabilisers to help stop the oil breaking down. It's not a dig, just genuinely interested. Personally on my R1 I was always using the 7100 as it used to do loads of heat cycles with trackdays and then would sit for weeks between.
Its very interesting you brought it up as I'm already having second thoughts about it. I decided to give it a try after watching loads of Obsession engineering on YouTube over the winter and liked his no nonsense approach, I've used the 5100 semi-synth? in the Thruxton years ago and thought the 300v being a proper full ester based synthetic would give the best protection for the 675. But since the oil change to 300v at the start of the year two things have changed with the bike, I now get slight cam chain rattle for a few seconds on virtually every start, even if the bikes only been left a few days, this never happened before unless I hadn't used it for months. Its either a coincidence or the 300v is draining from the cct overnight where as "normal" oil wouldn't. Secondly the bike has developed a whining noise at higher speeds (not the usual triple whistle) which sounds to me like gearbox noise, again this wasn't present before putting the bike away for the winter, now unfortunately I did replace the chain and sprockets at the same time but I'm pretty sure I've done that enough times to know what I'm doing and it doesn't sound like chain noise. Again I'm wondering if there's something with the 300v that maybe allows the engine to run with less friction and produce more power that's creating this noise in a 25k mile bike. But as I can't put my old chain and sprockets back on then dropping the oil is the only way to prove it or not. I wasn't aware of the lack of corrosion inhibiters or detergents, so I guess its more for frequent changes on race and track bikes, I know when I checked the level recently it looked perfectly clean and still had its almost fluorescent green appearance, I took that as a good sign but maybe its because its not cleaning any contaminants. I've got some tried and tested Castrol power 1 racing and filters in stock so I think I'll change it , if the issues disappear its a win, if they don't then just I've just thrown away some good oil. Appreciate your thoughts.
Years ago, JHS serviced my 2010 Daytona and used 300v, immediately afterwards I would get cam chain rattle when it started, which I didn't get on the original factory castrol oil. The bike only had 4k miles on it. So I would definitely try changing it, as mine would have been a hydraulic cam tensioner like the 2013+ bikes. On the whine...on my Daytona's I've always found if I had the chain over tightened, or tbh near the 'recommended' tension, I've got a whine from around the front sprocket countershaft area. I have always run the chain just the very slightest bit looser than recommended and it's been fine. I think this is made worse with different sprocket sizes, but all my Daytona's suffered with this (my 2010, 2012 and my 2013)
Update Changed the 300v yesterday and filled with Castrol power 1 racing and new filter, ironically had no cam chain rattle when I started the bike to warm up prior to the change, despite it not running for nearly 4 days, typical. Straight out for a test ride and the "whining" noise is still the same, bugger, £60 worth of fresh oil and filter wasted, I'll only find out later if the cam chain start up noise has been cured. So went back to suspecting the new chain and sprockets, removed the sprocket cover, triple checked everything, alignment was spot on, tension was on the loose side rather than too tight but put it back to spec anyway, think it was 2 flats on the adjustment, gave it a thorough clean and lube despite it only doing about 1000 dry miles since brand new (I had lubed it before), went out for another test ride and the noise is marginally reduced and only appears at a higher speed than before. Conclusion is the noise is from the new chain and sprockets which is disappointing as I've done everything I can think of to get rid of it, I did think after fitting that just spinning the wheel by hand it didn't sound as smooth as you'd expect with new parts, considering I'd just fitted the same make chain and sprockets on the Thruxton not long before and that felt a lot smoother. I'll see if it goes on its own, or gets worse, in that case I'll have to bite the bullet again and chuck the chain & sprockets in the bin with the oil. On the upside it means I've had more rides on the Daytona recently, probably almost 50:50 with the Thruxton for the first time since buying the Thruxton almost 4 yrs ago, so glad I kept both bikes and didn't sell the 675R.
Lovely looking Daytona mate,and indeed looks good as new. Not sure if I should say this but my attention is drawn towards the RD400.Nothing to do with my age though. Very cool pic of very cool bikes.
Same here tbh, although in my case it definitely is my age, sounded as good as it looks on spannies as well. Despite them being much slower than current bikes In my mind they're still an intimidating beast, probably because I revert back to a 17yr old when I had the 125 twin version and my mates older brother had the 400.
That's a good, early start on a Saturday! VG good work . I've mine to sort this week also. Going to try and MOT all 3 in a day. I'm pondering new tyres for the fest.
I did 3 in a morning last year, all due october/november at the time. 6 mile each way to test centre, and tester did other mots in between mine. Was an unusual day
Further update, first start on the Castrol Power 1 Racing after the bike had sat for several days and still have the slight camchain rattle for a second or two, so turns out neither new symptom was due to the Motul 300v, so apologies to Motul and anybody using the 300v oil. I know the very short start up "rattle" isn't unusual and not really anything to worry about, but frustrating all the same as its never done it before, could it be the tensioner near to click over to the next step, depending on mileage this year may do another valve check in the winter and reset the tensioner or even try a new one, maybe its just not holding pressure as well as it did @ 10yrs old.
New tyres for the Daytona Went for the newish Avon 3D Supersport, as I don't do as many miles on the Daytona as I used to, anything harder wearing would last too long, I think at 5 years old they feel past their best. The previous front Avon Ultrasport was just down to the limit after 7,500 miles and was 5 years old, also rather than squaring off had worn more on the shoulders than the harder compound on the centre so had a "step" in the profile. The previous rear, an Avon Storm 3D XM still had 6mm left after 3 years but only 2,700 miles, at that rate it would be 10 years before wearing out and well past its best age wise, seemed a shame to remove it but my reduced mileage allows me to fit some softer rubber and still last 3-4 years hopefully. Pity I can't use it on the Thruxton as I run the same tyres on that, but it only has a 160 rear and no clearance for a 180. Only done 100miles scrubbing in so far but as you'd expect the bike feels much more natural and smoother dropping into a corner with the new front, in reality I've probably got more grip than i could use as I had no issues with the previous harder wearing rear, the ride feels a bit harsher though with the same tyre pressure and suspension settings, maybe the carcass is stiffer than the sports/touring Storm 3D XM. Cost £273 fitted on loose wheels, usual great service from SMD tyres in Leigh.
The "Problem Child" has been having some serious garage time this past week. It's had the crank position sensor changed (why won't you start you piece o' sh???). Then the shonky cracked headers changed. New(er) side panel fitted. Last on this current list of never ending work was fitting the carbon exhaust shield to hide the ugly standard can whilst the Arrow is being repacked. It's been such hard work... Watching Mr J through the window slaving away while I'm drinking coffee and working from home.
