| You're right Rob,
It has been done a million times before and the same answer keeps coming out really..
"Ensure you meet the minimum specs recommended for your engine and choose a reputable brand of oil and you won't go far wrong"
More development time/money has gone into fully synthetic oils cos they're the ones that get put under the most strain in their natural environments. There's nothing wrong with semi's but they're less likely to handle the high revving, high compression, high 'shear' characteristics of a modern superbike engine.
Quite often the required spec will dictate the choice between semi or full synth' oils for you.
Ducati recommend Shell cos Shell have ploughed millions into them in sponsorship and have developed oils for their race bikes. This technology and experience is then transferred into the road oils.
That doesn'tmean tho' that only Shell will hold your block together and honour warranty
If it meeets the minimum specs it will hold water in a warranty argument regardless of whether it's Shell or not.
I use Castrol R4 cos a) I worked for them for 5 years and am happy with the development that goes into their bike oils, and b) I've done 35k+ miles on Dukes with it in and only had one rocker changed.
Others swear by Motul 300V or Silkolene.
Both are reputable brands (Like Shell) and both have a grade that falls within the viscosity ranges stipulated in the Ducati owners manuals.
Follow the guidelines Rob, but after that, it's pretty much up to you which one you choose  |