I am going to change oil soon on my 05' 400ex. It shifts real rough sometimes especially to get it into neutral. I am trying to decide on either Maxima or Belray which one would you suggest, which weight and synthetic blend or full synthetic and why thanks.

 

If it shifts real rough, most likely an oil change wont change a thing.
Is the idle speed too high, clutch cable adjusted correctly, clutch or basket worn out?

 

Belray is a petroleum/synthetic blend. There are three different kinds of synthetics, and I have never been able to discern which one they actually use (I doubt it is ester, which is the best chemistry of the three but very expensive). Their philosophy is that you should change your oil often, so it doesn't make sense to have an ultra high quality/high priced oil that you are just going to throw away quickly anyhow. Makes sense on some levels.

As for Maxima, they have the highest levels of anti-wear additives in the industry! Their Blend is moderately priced and fortified with ester synthetic, which is good.

Maxima Extra is 100% synthetic, and ester based. Besides the monster additive package, it also has excellent film strength, and all the many advantages that esters have to offer. (Leave Maxima Ultra for the racers.)

I am currently running Redline (polyol ester based), but for many years I ran Maxima Extra, and at times in the past I have run Maxima Blend in the kids quads. Here in the southwest, the summers are very hot, so I ran 15W50. Winters at low altitude are cool to mild, so I ran 10W40. If I were running in the mountains in winter where it can be very cold, I might run Maxima's new 530 (5W30), also an ester synthetic.

 

If it is shifting rough, I don't think that is something that a change in oil type is going to fix...I think your problem may be more basic than that!

If it were me, I would try Redline MC oil for one oil change and see what happens. It is very slick, and rated JASO MB. Normally, you wouldn't run an MB oil with a wet clutch, but Redline is an exception....it is low friction and wet clutch safe, so you get the best of both worlds! It is a long story, but it contains friction modifiers that might help....but I wouldn't bet the farm on it!

 

Once I changed my notchy shifting Yamaha Big Bear and Moto 4 to Full synthetic it shifted buttery smooth. Stay away from blends their a rip off and contain 10%-20% synthetic tops. More than you cared to know about motorcycle oils link.

 

I have to say a word about the link TLC quoted above. It is what started the "Rotella diesel oil craze" among the motorcycle crowd. I have talked to the author several times, and he is a high mileage California freeway rider. His motives are mostly economic...he wanted to find descent oils, but most important was price. It was never a quest to find the "best" oil out there!!!

First off, the information is now very dated! Diesel oils have been reformulated, because new diesels now have catalytic converters. They no longer contain the higher levels of anti-wear additives like ZDDP that they had in the past. This is the same downgrade that car oils got years ago, and that is why these oils are not your best choice...not to mention the friction modifiers that might make your clutch slip!

You can't go far wrong just picking a motorcycle specific oil that is API SG/JASO MA!!! Beyond that, the synthetics are better than plain petroleum, and the ester synthetics are better than the other two types of synthetics.

 

Thanks, Maxima it is!