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[geezerglide]

Hey Don

How have you been? The bike has been running great all last year. Bought a 2013 Anniversary Road King to play with this upcoming riding season. Already going through Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado in June. As you are aware, it's a 103" as you know. It runs great. Mileage is 67,00o KMS. Just did a three-hole change on it. What should I look for soon? Going to check the tensioners soon.

[SIKBIRD]

I quit SYN 3 about 2 years ago, when my local dealer added a $4 per quart surcharge to the price listed in the P&A catalog (which was already way overpriced) went to Mobil 1 V-Twin and had 6 quarts delivered to my door for about $60 vs. the $130 it costs through H-D.  Still buy the oil filter from H-D just because I haven’t taken the time to find a suitable replacement.  The boys at the counter asked why I’m buying a filter and no oil, after my tirade they said just said oh. These dealers can only see short term gains and have no concept of customer retention.

[Eqcons]

I've always used Amsoil V-Twin for the motor, Red Line with Shockproof for the transmission, Red Line V-Twin Primary.  Never had a problem, and always preferred these to Syn3, on the basis that HD don't make oil, so what they badge will always be from whatever supplier gave them the cheapest quote.

[kojak]

You know oil threads can go on forever, I think any major oil brand would be fine with the right specs. Harley says btw:
Proprietary Formula: SYN3 is not an "off-the-shelf" Citgo product; it is a custom-blended formula developed with Harley-Davidson engineers to meet their specific performance and heat-management standards for V-twin engines.

[Tractor Bubba]

Worked in the ag & ce equipment industry for over 40 years.
Every OEM that I worked for had OEM branded lubricants, and not one of them “refined” or “blended” their own oils. But every one of them had their own specs and proprietary additives/blends (particularly for hydraulic/transmission fluids, especially for wet brakes and/or wet clutches & powershift transmissions). None, to my knowledge, were “off the shelf” specs from the supplier. And Harley is no different, I imagine.