Bel-Ray is my #1 Choice of V-Twin fluids in both new and old Harley!
I LOVE BEL-RAY Fluids! Bel-Ray V-Twin fluids have become my #1 fluids of choice in both my old and new Harley! A few years back, I started using Bel-Ray in my 1997 Harley that I purchased new 26+ years ago. I have changed oil, primary and trans fluids with Bel-Ray in that bike myself 2x a year for the last 26 years ( over 50 oil changes ) and have used many brands of oil in that bike so I know what my bike likes and don't as oil is not all the same in a Harley, I have actually had another top brand oil make my bike tick! My evo engine prefers mineral Bel-Ray! I get the lowest valve train noise with the mineral Bel-Ray! I have not tried this Semi-Synthetic in my old bike and won't but I did in my new Harley! <br /><br /> I now also have a new 2023 Street Glide M8 107 engine that at 100 miles I changed to Bel-Ray mineral as the mineral Bel-Ray was suggested fantastic for break-in, I noticed less noise in my new m8 too vs factory fill oil! I ran Bel-Ray 20-50 mineral 900 miles until the 1st dealer service. <br /><br />As much as I love Bel-Ray mineral oil, now at 1,000 miles, I decided to change to this semi-synthetic and my dealer was happy to use my supplied Bel-Ray fluids! <br /><br />I have seen it suggested in reviews / forums that this Bel-Ray semi- synthetic may help lower oil temps in the hotter running M8 Harley engine and perhaps offer some benefits of synthetics? <br /><br />Unfortunately, I did not check oil temp prior to using this Bel-Ray oil but after using this oil my oil temp is under 185F at highway and traffic on a mid 80's summer day and that looks to perhaps be a lower temp than many others experience?<br /><br />This Bel-Ray semi-synthetic also runs great in my new Harley, This semi-synthetic still offers low valve train noise. I can't say for sure but the mineral may offer a slight bit less noise over this oil but I can't be 100% as it is minimal if not the same. <br /><br />My plans are to do 2 up higher mile road trips with my new bike so I think I will keep using the semi-synthetic in my new Harley and the 100% mineral Bel-Ray in my older bike that I use for around town. Regardless I prefer Bel-Ray and not just the oil as the trans and primary fluids perform the best in my bikes as well. Nothing but Bel-Ray in my bikes! Very, Very, smooth, cool running, less top end noise with the oil products and less clunk and EZ to find 1st gear when using the Bel-Ray trans and Primary V-Twin line of products! Bel-Ray is my FIRST CHOICE IN V-Twin fluids! <br /><br />Unlike some others, I believe synthetic oil has benefits but I know especially my older Harley has less noise with mineral oil and I expect my new bike does too so I hope and expect this Bel-Ray Semi-Synthetic will give me the advantages of lower temp from the synthetic and the lower top end noise from the mineral / synthetic blend.