Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Honda Tech
Honda Tech Honda Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to Honda riders only.
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 21 Jun 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 182
Question XR250 oil change frequency

Planning our next trip on XR250's (dry sump) and from the haynes manual and other websites I have read, it seems the recommended oil change frequency for these bikes is approx every 600miles and changing oil filter every second oil change.

This would mean a hell of a lot of oil changes and filters for a long trip! Obviously they are recommending this for a reason but I was wondering if anyone has ignored this and gone for longer intervals whithout any problems?
__________________
Africa Trips web journal
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 10 Aug 2006
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
These bikes hold very little oil so the oil wears out VERY quickly. The engines are also highly tuned which doesnt help matters.

The 600 mile recommendation is what you should do if riding the bike how it was meant to be which is fast trail and off road riding.

If you just touring, you should be ok for 1000 miles using high quality oil and having the motor is good order in the first place.

Any longer than this and your going to wear the engine out considerably faster than you should be.

How long is your trip and how old are the bikes ?
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 11 Aug 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
My '03 XR250 in Baja last year
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 24 Mar 2009 at 20:38.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 30 Aug 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 182
Smile

hmm thanks for the answers. My bike is the XR Baja which is not sold in UK. Imported from Japan...I have tried to attach an image but not sure if it's going to work. Like you pics by the way...but you should have had an XR Baja in Baja!!

I think the gearing is lower than the std XR250R it is a 13:40 ratio and I think the XR250 is 13:48 or something like that. They also come with a more comfy seat and a 14L tank and the word BAJA scrawled across the tank

We are taking the bikes across Africa and I won't have access to really good oil...multi-grade mineral at best I would say. I am thinking of stretching to 1500 miles between changes - we won't be thrashing the bikes - at least not all the time.
Going to add a magnetic drain bolt as an extra cleaner but hoping it's not going to damage the bike too much.
Attached Images
 
__________________
Africa Trips web journal
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 30 Aug 2006
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Santiago, Chile
Posts: 2
I have a 1996 XR250R and I use it mostly for street riding. I use semi-synthetic 20W50 and change the oil every 3500-4000 km. The bike is at 3200 km since the last oil change, and the oil on the dipstick is still golden yet dark.

Far more important than the oil change frequency is checking the oil properly. Checking the oil on thse bikes is a b*tch and if not done properly might give you either a near-empty reading, leading you to overfill the oil.

Also, when used at high revs for extender periods (on the highway, for example) I believe they use a little oil.

If you don't have access to semi-synthetic then I'm not sure what a good oil change interval is. Probably less than 3000 km, and probably more than what the service manual states, which, as others have pointed out, is aimed at a competitive off-road regime, where you ride less distance for the same time period than on the road.

Hope that helps.

d.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 30 Aug 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Have a great trip, hope you'll post some pics on HU or a ride report!
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 24 Mar 2009 at 20:38.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 28 Sep 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 182
Talking

thanks for responses!
__________________
Africa Trips web journal
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 28 Sep 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: London, UK
Posts: 635
oil-changes? think of all the things that can go wrong!
1) you round-off the sump plug
2) you lose the sump plug
3) you over-tighten the plug
4) you can't get the filler cap off (or back on!)
5) you over or under fill it

its all a nightmare so avoid the aggro ...
yes, its a dry sump and yes the good book says 600 miles and no you don't want to blow it up, but you'll hear it tinkling before it gets damagingly low. my friends and I have done hundreds of thousands of km on Honda singles from 400-650cc with oil changes from 4000 to 15000miles
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 2 Oct 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
All in the interest of longevity on a long haul you understand.
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 24 Mar 2009 at 20:39.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 2 Oct 2006
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: London, UK
Posts: 635
I admit I was being a bit of an a#se, but my point is to relax and add a big margin to recommended oil changes. not least cos you can't always find suitable oil.
Martin, Tim and I have thrashed and crashed XR400s, XR650L and XR650Rs all over Oz and Africa including the Sahara - often having to negotiate deep, soft sand/dust on steep climbs in fierce heats and with huge loads (we had 50 litres of fuel and 15 of water on the Canning in Oz) at depressingly load speeds (10-20kmh on the steep, deep stuff). and we barely got over 30kmh (not my choice!) in the soft stuff around lake chad after I dislocated my collarbone - neither I nor the bike had much fun, but the oil was still good for another 5000km(?) to Mali. it was opaque/dark because of normal clutch wear rather than because it was "burnt".

PS FWIW I think I recall problems with early XR250 heads cos the camshaft runs direct in the head
PPS my ZX6R runs terribly in our damp weather so I'd happily have some of your SoCal sun!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 2 Oct 2006
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,822
Couple pics from last weekend, Black Rock Desert.
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 24 Mar 2009 at 20:39.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 4 Oct 2006
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 182
Thumbs up

Wow, nice pics Mollydog!

yes I was taking RichLees comments with a pinch of salt. But good to know they can take quite a thrashing if they need to...thats why I got Honda! So yes I will not be sticking to the recommnened oil change frequencies (600miles)...probably stretch it to 1500 to 2000 miles. I have been stretching it here is UK to 1500 miles and the oil is looking pretty tired when it comes out...very opaque, not grey though.

I also agree that semi or fully synthetic oil is the way to go because it holds it's properites better but that stuff ain't around in Africa much...lucky to get multigrade mineral oil.
__________________
Africa Trips web journal
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 4 Oct 2006
*Touring Ted*'s Avatar
Contributing Member
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
Posts: 5,654
Quote:
Originally Posted by RichLees
I admit I was being a bit of an a#se, but my point is to relax and add a big margin to recommended oil changes. not least cos you can't always find suitable oil.
Martin, Tim and I have thrashed and crashed XR400s, XR650L and XR650Rs all over Oz and Africa including the Sahara - often having to negotiate deep, soft sand/dust on steep climbs in fierce heats and with huge loads (we had 50 litres of fuel and 15 of water on the Canning in Oz) at depressingly load speeds (10-20kmh on the steep, deep stuff). and we barely got over 30kmh (not my choice!) in the soft stuff around lake chad after I dislocated my collarbone - neither I nor the bike had much fun, but the oil was still good for another 5000km(?) to Mali. it was opaque/dark because of normal clutch wear rather than because it was "burnt".

PS FWIW I think I recall problems with early XR250 heads cos the camshaft runs direct in the head
PPS my ZX6R runs terribly in our damp weather so I'd happily have some of your SoCal sun!
You cant judge an oils performance on its colour, there's way more factors involved in how oils work... You can stretch the change frequencys by 2 x times if you know you are riding 2-3x less than a hard ridden bike over 600 miles but its not clever and theres no need unless your stuck in the middle of nowhere.

Im guessing the 250's prob hold about a litre or less of oil so if you think thats fine after 15,000 miles then remind me never to buy a bike you have had !!

I guess you going extreme with 15,000 miles but even going 2000 miles on a 250 single is taking the piss, ridden hard or not.

If you want to keep this bike any length of time, change the oil before 1500Miles. Keep spare sump washers and a plug in your toolkit and make sure threads are clean before tightening up
__________________
Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Oil Change! brutale KTM Tech 4 19 Mar 2006 17:32
BMW Phase Change vs Ullfrotte furious Equipment Reviews 9 30 Jan 2006 19:24
f650 oil change richardb BMW Tech 3 27 Aug 2005 16:59
"correct" oil change for 3AJ cabron Yamaha Tech 7 11 Feb 2003 20:46
Change from French Francs to Euros Ben Hirst North Africa 3 7 Sep 2001 23:51

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:26.