Real NO NO to use any friction modifier.
Goldwings use a WET clutch and it is bathed in the crank case oil....

Stay with oils that don't use friction modifiers.....

now, a lot of us use Shell's T5 and T6,
Chevron's Delo 400 LE 15w40

both of those are priced right at wally world.

recommended weights are 10w30 but most of us use something like 15w40 in the 1500 bikes.

 

Valvoline makes a motorcycle specific oil you can find at Wal-Mart for about 3 bucks a quart.

 

I used Honda GN4 when I had my GL1500.

 

It is a water cooled engine after all. It can take the heat. Chevron 400 LE 15W40 can handle what ever you have in Florida. Use the modifiers only if you want clutch slippage.
gumbyred

 

It is ok to switch over to synthetic oil (but don't use friction modifiers).

I used Honda GN4 (regular 10w-30) first 5k miles. Then Honda HP4 (synthetic blend) to 90k miles. Then switched to Shell Rotella T 5w-40 (full Synthetic). At 219k miles my engine is very happy.

 

I feel that using synthetic oil in a Goldwing is kinda like running premium fuel. It's not necessary.

Rayjoe

 

A lot can be said for using mineral based oil especially if you change the oil quite often. When you change oil once/twice a year synthetic may be a better alternative.

As for using synthetic oil in a GW, Ed Belanger (1954-2015) did a test on his GL1200 back in '09. Put it on a dyno and the results were impressive. Here is the link to his thread regarding this.

http://www.gl1200goldwings.com/gl1200/showthread.php?tid=6124&pid=44852#pid44852

The reader's digest version is that there was an increase in HP at the rear wheel when switched to synthetic, and a further increase when AmsOil fuel additive was introduced into the equation.

Very specific testing with recorded results.

Cheers

 

I don't consider 2 horsepower impressive. And changing the oil to the same brand and weight may have increased the horsepower, just because it was fresh.

And I don't believe two horsepower will be noticeable from the driver's seat, in normal use, or even on a romp through the back road twisties.

 

And I don't believe two horsepower will be noticeable from the driver's seat, in normal use, or even on a romp through the back road twisties.

It would be impressive if you rode a moped.

 

2 horsepower

My vehicles seem to run better after I wash them.>

Any of those guys Amsoil dealers?

Rayjoe

 

My vehicles seem to run better after I wash them.>

Any of those guys Amsoil dealers?

Rayjoe

Now see, that can be proven true as the friction coefficient of smooth, clean surface will obviously be less than a dirty surface, making the car/bike faster.

You'll need a big wind machine to test the results, but I'll bet you can gain nearly a mile per hour top speed.