I've been riding the bike hard now for a while. You see, although I might not be riding for long distances or going super fast, the engine has been getting a really hard workout. Practicing in the schoolyard is really tough on the bike.

In the middle of the day (the time when I'll be out there) the air temperature is around 97 degrees. The bike is always starting and stopping. Top gear used is 3rd. Most of the riding done in 1st or 2nd. RPMs are usually below 4000. And, since the bike is not moving at an appreciable speed for very long, it really doesn't get much of a chance to cool off. Typically, while practicing in the schoolyard the engine runs at a blazing 222 degrees. Considering that the temp warning light will come on at 239 degrees I think that's pretty scary. However, to put it in perspective. If you sit at the stoplight on a hot day the engine temp usually climbs up to 212 degrees easy. I guess that's why the manual specifically states no extended idling. Once the bike keeps a steady pace though - say around 65 mph - the temps come down to about 165 degrees. I've seen as low as 140 degrees on a cool day (82 degrees ambient) traveling at 40 mph.And it's not just the engine either. The tires get a proper beating as well. Hard breaking, hard swerving, skidding both front and rear. The chain, the gears, the clutch everything gets pretty well baked while practicing for 2 hours.

So after 145 miles I really think we need to change the oil. Yeah, I know; the manual states the first oil change will be done during the first maintenance. But, do you really want all that sheared-off metal bouncing around your engine, scraping against everything, impinging and sticking to the clutch. Umm, I don't think so. Actually, I think this oil change is coming quite late, but, I was just afraid to do it earlier (you know, experience and all). Anyway, I went out and got the oil and the filter, propped the bike up on the stand and proceeded.

This is my first time and I'm nervous. Moving on! I lift the swingarm up onto the stand and then unscrew the drain plug. Damn, those factory guys really put this thing on tight! I'm going to need a longer handle. I get the plug out, and so far so good. I open the filler cap too, to make sure it comes out smooth.

Looking at the oil as it pours out into the drain pan I can see it does have a metallic color to it. So, there you go. It did need changing. After it seemed like that most all of the oil was drained, I replaced the plug, and proceeded to undo the fairing bolts and screws. I then kind-of slid the fairing out of the way. It's slid back just enough so I can reach and remove the oil filter without spilling oil on it.

Damn! These factory guys tightened up this filter pretty good too! I had to get my extra large channel locks to pry the filter loose. I ended up crushing the filter real bad while removing it - well, now it's crushed so there is NO WAY you can ever use it again. You see I got a Purolator Pure One filter PL14612, and I wasn't sure if it was even going to fit.

The new filter fits no problem. However, I will be using the larger PL14610 the next time since there is plenty of room for it.

Okay. I replace the oil, button everything up, and go out for a test ride, of course.

Now the nightmare begins.

When I first start up the engine the Oil Pressure light stays on! Alright, I know I just drained all the oil, and..., since this is my first time changing oil in a motorcycle, I figured OK, maybe, the oil hasn't reached everywhere yet so that's why the light is on. Fair enough assumption. So, since the engine was already warm, I put it in gear and gently rode off up the street. I got to not even 50 ft from my house when I heard the most gut wrenching sound coming from the muffler. I would describe it as the wheezing of an asthmatic 80 year old on the 21st mile of a marathon. It was just plain scary!

Now, I had plenty of cause to be scared. First oil change, different oil, different filter, never worked on a bike before, bike is brand new, and now I freakin' broke it! Crap!!!

I turned some more on the throttle and the sound just got worse. It was like the engine just didn't want to push! And, there's that darn oil pressure light still. And then, guess what?! It shut down on me. Now I'm really panicking. This can't be good. Only 145 miles and I destroyed it already. What the hell! How could I have been so stupid! Why didn't I just carry it to the dealer?

Why?! 

Hold up just a &%$#@ minute though! What did I do wrong? Even if on the off chance, that it didn't like the new oil would it react this way? Well, maybe it didn't like the new viscosity and it's having a hard time moving around in it? You know if you don't have experience with something and then something abnormal happens you doubt all the choices you've made.

I tried starting the engine again. It wouldn't. Again. No. With the choke open/half-way. No. But, I heard something on that last try, so I pressed the ignition button while giving it some throttle and it fired up. It sounded like crap, but at least I didn't have to walk back down the street. I got back to the garage with the oil pressure light still on, so I checked the oil level again. Well it had definitely dropped from the level it was at when I filled it up. And, that's why I was taking it out for a test ride anyway. Alright, so maybe it is the amount of oil. I added some more oil, bringing it back up to the correct level in the sight glass, and hoped to he** that this fixed the problem.

I rolled the bike out to the street and tried to fire it up again. Yeah! No! It didn't even want to turn over. Brand new bike, and the engine seized and no good anymore.

What the %$#@!

*&%$#@!!!

The weirdest thing about the whole scenario though, is that on that first time I took it out after the oil change, even though the oil pressure light was on, the engine temperature was only 153 degrees. I mean that's like the coldest it's ever been while moving. So for the engine to seize just didn't make sense. Different viscosity oil? Yes. But I changed from 10w/40 to 15w/50. I mean come on, it's not like I put peanut butter in there!

So, I'm sitting there looking at the gauges. I had turned the key to off. So, I turned it back to on just to confirm the temperature. 156 degrees, that looks pretty darn cold to me. Perplexed, I took a look over at the trip meter. Nah! Could that be it? You know when I'm mowing the lawn and.... Let's see.

I reached down and switched the fuel petcock from ON to RESERVE and pressed the ignition switch again. WHOOHOO!!!!! That's the sound I'm looking for!

When I had looked at the trip meter it was showing 145 miles. Now, granted this bike might give you about 50 miles to the gallon. However, most of my riding has been practice, which, burns a lot of gas. And, it just so happens that I was running out of gas at the same time I decided to do the oil change. Just my luck.

It fired up and sounded good so I immediately took it to the gas station and filled up the tank, then went for a real test ride. The oil pressure light went out before I even left my driveway.
When I came back now there was too much oil in the tank so I had to remove some.

My first oil change, and first time running out of gas. Live and learn.