Final Drive Oil - What is your experience and best recommendation?

Good evening, all.

New to the forum and have been marinating in all these various oil posts.

Thank you for all the knowkedge and experience you share on this forum!

For the original XJBikes guys, long time contributors and riders - what do you use and find works best for your final drive oil?

Thanks a bunch for sharing your experience with a noob.

JohnO

BTW my ride: 1982 XJ650 MAXIM

 

Gear oil

So I bought a 1982 Yamaha Seca 750, now it's clicking. Please help.


Maxim-X Rear & middle gear synthetic

XJ650 Gear Oil Question

 

Specifications > brands.

GL-5 is also suitable.

A multi-grade gear oil is also perfctly good to use, so long as it covers the heat range that you ride in.

 

Thanks, K-moe. What do you use? I have seen all types of oils, but some of you have deep years of experience with what works well. I am hoping you and the long running XJ community will share particular choices and some insights why you like it.

Thanks again to you and the community.

 

There is more info about oils in the link in my signature (gear oil is mentioned on page two, IIRC). I generally like an oil that meets industry standards for the application, and that doesn't pass along the cost of advertising to me. Advertisements are a poor lubricant, and I'd rather not pay for them.

 

You more than likely will not get a brand endorsement from anyone.....I was in the same boat after finally finding my Seca 750, and asked the same question....I ended up just getting the yamalube final drive oil, ordered it online from somewhere along with my engine oil and fork oil....price wasn't bad, and no more than it takes I have enough for about 10 years........close to 3000 miles on it this summer, and it has not blown apart yet....

 

Thanks, Plug.

Maybe I missed something in the mix...I have seen posts about different brands of oil that folks use, so I hoped some folks with years of experience with these bikes would share their preferences on final gear oils, too.

Not even looking for a brand endorsement as much as saying - "this works for my bike and I have been using it for years with good results". Or I tried this final oil and it didn't work on my XJ

If I am not following some protocols for the sight let me know.

Thanks.

 

XJ final drives are very robust. So much in fact that you never read about any failures here. Seams the only issue I’ve read is leaking seals. Outstanding after 35 years. Change the oil with anything meeting the specs and ride. Personally I bought a synthetic gear oil at a bike shop, a 1 litre bottle will do several changes, cheap insurance. I’m pushing a sidecar with more hp than designed for.

 

Thanks, Simmy!

 

I use el cheapo 80w90 from sprawlmart. Tune It brand maybe? But it's not in a rear end, and it's not on an xj. Chain oil for my Rebel. Doesn't help you, but might encourage participaction

 

Thanks, Matt

 

Yellow bottle.
Pretty sure it's Pennzoil 80W90.

I do not work for Pennzoil and in no way endorse the use of their product, just that I have 2 and 1/2 bottles of it laying around...

 

I use mystic 80w-90 in all bikes in the stable, all are xj's. I guess because the price isn't bad and grandpa has always had good luck with mystic lubricants on the farm. Oh, and it's a cool red color, because that may matter to some people? Ha.

 

I spent a lot of time tracking down my bike when I decided it was time. I spent even more time going through it from the ground up.....I figured I would just go with the Yamaha stuff, no more than I would be riding it....little did I know that I would actually put this many miles on it in a few months........now the next decision is now that the temps are starting to hit the 20s and 30s at night is should i switch from 20w-50 to a lighter oil, now that I am due for an oil change........decisions, decisions, decisions

 

unless you are riding in those temps below 40 degrees no need to change the grade