Breva 750 engine did not explode.

[M0T0Geezer]

Yesterday I took my 2004 Breva 750 on a 300 mile spring ride.  It was 83 degrees F in Denver yesterday.

At least half of those 300 miles were at 5,000 rpm (about a true 75 mph).

The bike has 31,500 miles on it.  I was running Syntec 5-40 weight oil in the engine (as I have for the last 20,000 miles).  I have no crankcase extender.

Apparently the baby Breva used no oil (that was detectable on the dipstick).

Still running great and always gets at least 55 mpg.

How is all this good even possible on the "wrong" oil?   Harr Harrr  ~;

'Geezer

[bigbikerrick]

Thats great to hear ! Ive always felt Guzzis were "overbuilt" even the smallblocks!  In your case, the proof is in the pudding, as they say, that running a decent synthetic oil, and regular maintenance are key. ;-T 
Good for you, for experimenting, with different oil/ weights. Ive had a tendency ,myself for the last couple of years to lean towards less viscous lubricants in all my vehicles, as tests have shown flow is very important  to use the oils ability to cool to its best.
PS ; I bet you it will run another 30 K without blowing up !  ;D

Rick

[normzone]

Ah, but once you factor in the altitude that changes everything. You must repeat the test at sea level.

 :beat_horse

[guzzisteve]

Thin oil for thin air.

[sign216]

Heresy.   The gods of Agip / Eni will punish you by, um .... premature points wear.

Yea, I'm sure.

[Don G]

Ran 5-40 synthetic for ever in my EV Hydro engine for years, whats the big deal?  ??? DonG

[Arizona Wayne]

My `04 750 Breva has 42K on it and it's been run on 10w-40 WalMart dino oil since I've owned it.   It uses a little oil that leaks out the front crank seal @ speeds above 4,500 rpm a little bit.   Seems to be a design weakness and just ignore it.  No sump extender and have ridden 2up, loaded for thousands of miles with the wife in triple digit temps up to 127F @ 65-70 mph.  Put a 130/90 rear tire on to slow the rpms down by 200 in 5th gear and to be able to use longer wearing touring tires.   Hardly ever need to adjust the valves.  Get 50 mpg on 87 oct. and accurate speedo w/taller rear tire. Many times have put in 500 mile days.  ;D

[kirb]

Yesterday I took my 2004 Breva 750 on a 300 mile spring ride.  It was 83 degrees F in Denver yesterday.
At least half of those 300 miles were at 5,000 rpm (about a true 75 mph).
The bike has 31,500 miles on it.  I was running Syntec 5-40 weight oil in the engine (as I have for the last 20,000 miles).  I have no crankcase extender.
Apparently the baby Breva used no oil (that was detectable on the dipstick).
Still running great and always gets at least 55 mpg.
How is all this good even possible on the "wrong" oil?   Harr Harrr  ~;
'Geezer

There is a 750 Breva owner 'round these parts who fits the guzzi mold perfect...he never changes his oil or filter for a REALLY long time. He has over 70k miles on the bike. No sump extender. I would bet anything he runs the cheapest dino oil possible.

[normzone]

Is that the same guy who boasts about all that riding he did drunk with his elderly wife ?

" have ridden 2up, loaded for thousands of miles with the wife in triple digit "

[oldbike54]

Is that the same guy who boasts about all that riding he did drunk with his elderly wife ?

" have ridden 2up, loaded for thousands of miles with the wife in triple digit "

 The wife was in triple digits  :o

  Dusty

[Arizona Wayne]

You non-believers make a joke of my record all you want.  I change my dino oil every 3K miles and my filter every 6K miles.  The only time I get drunk is when I'm not riding.  Some times the wife drinks, some times she doesn't then.  I also have other rigs that recommend synthetic oil and they don't get anything but dino either and still run just fine.  Whether you guys want to believe me I don't care.   :-* 

[normzone]

I believe you just fine, but my sense of humor will be the death of me yet. As for the death of my motorcycle, that would take real abuse - as long as I keep plenty of oil in it of the approximately correct weight I'll be fine. And I think your wife is really hot for being in her triple digits. I too don't enjoy drinking when riding - for me it's an adrenaline / endorphin sport, and alcohol takes the edge off of those.

Those 3K oil changes will keep you going forever. In my Eldo days with no filters we just dumped the oil every thousand miles.

[Arizona Wayne]

I believe you just fine, but my sense of humor will be the death of me yet. As for the death of my motorcycle, that would take real abuse - as long as I keep plenty of oil in it of the approximately correct weight I'll be fine. And I think your wife is really hot for being in her triple digits. I too don't enjoy drinking when riding - for me it's an adrenaline / endorphin sport, and alcohol takes the edge off of those.

Those 3K oil changes will keep you going forever. In my Eldo days with no filters we just dumped the oil every thousand miles.

Used to change the dino oil on our `71 Ambo every 1,500 mi. as recommended w/o filter.   Same thing on my `78 650 Yamaha twin.  :)

[M0T0Geezer]

Yesterday I took my 2004 Breva 750 on a 300 mile spring ride.  It was 83 degrees F in Denver yesterday.  At least half of those 300 miles were at 5,000 rpm (about a true 75 mph).

The bike has 31,500 miles on it.  I was running Syntec 5-40 weight oil in the engine (as I have for the last 20,000 miles).  I have no crankcase extender. Apparently the baby Breva used no oil (that was detectable on the dipstick). Still running great and always gets at least 55 mpg.

How is all this good even possible on the "wrong" oil?   Harr Harrr  ~;  'Geezer

UPDATE: I misremembered the brand name so it is only fair that I name it correctly:

Shell ROTELLA 5-40 Synthethic.

This same oil has lubricated all the bikes I've had since 2003:

• ST1100
• ST1300
• GL1800
• 3 hard-working scooters (Reflex 250, Majesty 400, Silverwing 600),
  and of course my personal favorite of all, the intrepid
• Breva 750

That's at least (at least!) 100,000 trouble free miles on this "wrong" and inexpensive (Wal-Mart) oil.

'Geezer