Best time to check your oil? How much oil does your SV use?
 

Hi.
Can anyone out there confirm the best time to check the oil level on the SV? I usually follow the same advice for cars which is to get the engine up to running temperature, find a flat spot (usually my drive), switch off and let stand for 3 mins and then check with my wife sat on the bike and me peering in to the window through the lowers.
My bike (03 curvy) has done about 8k miles and uses little oil - is this what others find? I ride pretty hard at times.

regards!

That's what the manual (at least for the pointies) says - run (idle) for a few minutes then turn off, wait 3 minutes and check. All on level ground.

Oh - and yes, they don't use much oil. Never had to top mine up.

Thats like asking how long is piece of string!

How much oil a bike uses depend a lot on how well the engine was "broken in". There are two schools of thought on this but if the by the book method was followed a little top up every few thou should be plenty.

Mine loses a bit out the bottom, because I'm being p***ed about by Factory Pro waiting for a new bit, and I don't wnat to change the clutch cover o-ring till it gets here... But unless things have changed it doesn't burn an appreciable amount of oil, never needs filled between services. SVs don't tend to suffer from piston ring wear so much, but they can spit a fair bit into the airbox up the crank breather.

What the others said and the most important thing is to check it often.It only has to run low once and bang goes the mill.

Has anyone got any clever techniques for holding the bike to check the level whilst on your own? Don't want to drop it on myself!

I crouch by the right-hand side of the bike and pull it upright off the stand. It's fairly easy to balance it but if it feels like its going to fall just push it back to the left and it will fall onto the stand. Keeping hold of the front brake is probably a good idea too.

Bear in mind that I'm reasonably strong and take no responsibility if you attempt the following and hurt yourself:

With the sidestand down, and the bike on a flat bit of ground, I squat down so I can see the sight glass. I then grab the (riders) seat with my left hand and the RHS bar with my right hand. I then carefully and slowly pull the bike towards me, until it's upright. I then check the sightglass. I then stand up (still holding on!), and look over to ensure the sidestand is still out fully, before lowering it back onto it. I roll the bike backwards (as if it were reversing) for a couple of inches once the sidestand is just starting to touch town to ensure it really is locked in place. The one time the sidestand had swung up a bit, I help the bike upright, cocked my left leg over the saddle and once astride the bike, kicked the stand forward. If you're too short, this may not be an option/you may lack confidence doing this (I think getting on the bike when it's already upright requires a litte bit more height than when on the sidestand).

Like most moving the bike around when you're off it manouevres, you don't have to be that strong (although that helps if you have to catch it :wink: ), it's more about smooth, confident movements and using momentum. I've never dropped it, or come close to, doing the above. HTH

Depends how tall you are.... Im 6'3" and while straddling the bike, i just hold the front brake with my left hand and lean over, put my right hand on the ground to stabilize myself, and take a look.