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Which oil to use at -20? Which oil to use at -20?
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Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
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  #1  
Old 5 Jan 2011
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Which oil to use at -20?
Hi all

Has anone ridden a bike (especially a Ural) at -20? We're doing a little Siberian trip on Urals in early March and wondering which oil will work best..

Thanks

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Old 5 Jan 2011
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Hi,

I have been riding Honda Transalp all winter long scince 10 Jears also at -20 every day with normal 10W40. The better question would be wich battery and wich gloves to use

Have fun, Tobi

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Old 5 Jan 2011
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Thetimelessride.com
You might email Hubert Kriegel at his website or find him here on the Hub. He's ridden his 2wd Ural through -40 degree temps all last winter in and out of Mongolia. He also rode across like Baikal in mid March last year. Enjoy!

Thetimelessride - Hubert Kriegel

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Old 6 Jan 2011
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Thanks guys, that's really kind - I'll check this out. So Tobi - tell me, which gloves and battery do you use!?

Cheers

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Old 6 Jan 2011
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Use synthetic oil .
Check the pour point temperature in the specs .
I imagine in a Ural they normally want you to use 20/50 .
You could probably use 0/40 or 5/40 without any ill effects .
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Old 6 Jan 2011
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I changed my 20W50 mineral for 15W50 in my Ural when the weather started to get a lot colder but so far it's not been much less than -10: I expect it will get colder in Jan and Feb. At that point, I'll change it again for 10W40.

Synthetic would be more flexible and so would not require changing with a 10 degree change.

Personally, I still plan to use mineral as Urals need oil changes every 2000km or so and I don't think that the difference between mineral degradation and synth warrants a 200-300% price difference.

If anything I'll opt for semi.

If you go for 10W40 I've been warned to watch the oil for consumption. Russian rings are apparently as effective as onion rings in keeping oil in the sump, so a thinner oil could well seep through. My Ural does not appear to burn any oil between changes when on 20W50: time will tell with thinner oils!

Gloves.
I've recently bought these used with handlebar muffs.
The battery si the oine that caem from the factory: a regular sealed battery.

I know that Hubert has two batteries on his bike! As for oil, I think he's used several different sorts but after a winter riding Siberia and the Alaskan (Dalton? Dawson?) Highway a few years back, I'm sure he could advise you!
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Old 6 Jan 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ta-rider View Post
Hi,

I have been riding Honda Transalp all winter long scince 10 Jears also at -20 every day with normal 10W40. The better question would be wich battery and wich gloves to use

Have fun, Tobi
I have the same TA, but differnet colours: I don't know how anyone manages to ride in snow: hard enough to walk.

I'd like to try, but I'm sure I'd drop and trash my TA in no time....
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