Why Is Motorcycle Oil So Expensive?

Hardwrkr13

Hardwrkr13

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First off, I’m not cheap AF but I’d rather spend my money on cool stuff. What really grinds my gears is that I pay $34 for 5L of top-quality Pennzoil Platinum for my cars/truck but it costs me ~$87 at least for 4L of synthetic motorcycle oil.
So why the 200% surcharge for MC oil? Surely getting this rating or the different additive pack doesn’t cost this much.
The saying “gotta pay to play” just doesn’t hold any quantitative weight on its own. When I crash (often as I ride off-road lots) I’ll pay to fix it and I’m fine paying for that play.
I did find Liqui-Moly for $64 4L so I ordered that but still that’s the rare exception deal and still too expensive.
Ok, rant over (well for a few minutes anyways).
 
I don't use MC oil. I use good quality synthetic. I haven't seen a reputable source yet that says MC oil is better. The only time I had a problem was on an old bike where I used oil with friction modifiers in it and that caused me issues with the wet clutch. Avoid gimmicks and it's worked for me.
 
I never really thought about it.
I just buy whatever I can get at Crappy Tire.
Probably all the same oil just different packaging and marketing.
 
I dunno... there was a time when Motul 7100 spiked up to $100, I swear before COVID. Now you can get a bottle for $80, that is probably about right with inflation. :/

Still costs more than it should, I really don't believe there is any secret sauce that makes your average synthetic moto oil more expensive than auto synthetic oil. Now oil filters are stupidly expensive too. Honda filter is $22

Maybe time to go back to Rotella T4 and Fram PH6607s... (trying to summon Bitzz)
 
I have used Rotella T4 in every motor I’ve owned (except turbos) for decades.

I have never had an oil related failure - ever.

My Jeep just rolled 400,000 km an, no noise and 130psi in each cylinder and she doesn’t I’ve never needed to add a drop of oil between changes.

I’ve run motorcycles well over 100k with the same outcome. My last Ninja 250 had 70,had 70k when I sold her- perfect compression and ran like new.

If you race a motorcycle, things might be different.

My advice: prioritize timely maintenance - it’more important than spending an extra $15/l to get strawberry or grape coloured motorcycle oil.
 
I used Rotella T4 for 18 years in my ST, bought it by the jug and then by the pail. Great value. At one point I was paying $55 - $60 for an 18l pail. I know dozens of people on the ST forum who have used Rotella T4 in their ST1100 or ST1300 and no one has ever had an oil related engine issue, or any engine issue for that matter. 100% bullet proof bike. We're talking bikes with 300,000 - 400,000 km on them. Mine was at 138,000km when I sold it, barely broken in.

I purchased Motul 5100 semi synthetic at GP Bikes for $50 a jug, not a bad price at $12.50/l. IMO the Tracer engine runs at a higher state of tune and harder than the ST1100, so I opted for the Motul. Do I really need the perceived extra value (and cost) of the semi Synthetic. Who really knows, but oil is dirt cheap vs. the cost and hassle of potential issues.

Why is bike oil so much more expensive than comparable auto semi or full synthetic? Relative low volumes and because we're willing to pay for it
 
In 4 stroke engines I`ve always used conventional Dino oil and factory filter, whatever the manual states. If the Honda RC166 and RC116 spun at 18 to over 21 thousand rpm using Castrol 60`s era oil, I`d imagine I`m safe. For two strokes, RM`s, YZ`s and IT`s I premixed Castrol Super 2, my RD350, RZ350 and RZ500 I used the Super 2 or Castrol injector oil to fill the tank. Never had any issues.
 
justride said:
Is there such thing as Rotella T6 10W40 full synthetic?

btw

Liqui Moly Oil 4T Synthetic Street 10W40 on sale at GpBikes​

www.gpbikes.com

Liqui Moly Oil 4T Synthetic Street 10W40

Oil 4T Synthetic Street
www.gpbikes.com www.gpbikes.com
Click to expand...
The 15w50 that I need isn't on sale though sadly. Same price as Amazon but that is what I bought.

I'd run a non-bike oil but finding something in a 10w50 or 15w50 that I need for the SAR isn't common. I run T6 in the 300.
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
The 15w50 that I need isn't on sale though sadly. Same price as Amazon but that is what I bought.

I'd run a non-bike oil but finding something in a 10w50 or 15w50 that I need for the SAR isn't common. I run T6 in the 300.
Click to expand...

germanparts.ca usually has 20% off for boxing week as well as the start of the summer, if you wanted to stock up at those times.
 
And here I thought motorcycle oil was something special and would specifically buy it at CT….

So full synthetic / normal is good so long as it meets the spec? Car or motorcycle?

And to answer the OPs question…it’s because it’s for a toy…they know most of us will pay it to play.
 
Hardwrkr13 said:
The 15w50 that I need isn't on sale though sadly. Same price as Amazon but that is what I bought.

I'd run a non-bike oil but finding something in a 10w50 or 15w50 that I need for the SAR isn't common. I run T6 in the 300.
Click to expand...
In this type of situation I'd be asking GP to extend the sale price to the weight you need. If the 10w-40 is on sale really no reason why the 15w-50 could not be sold to you at the same price.
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