CAUTION
Prolonged or repeated contact with used motor oil may be harmful to skin and could cause skin cancer. Promptly wash affected areas with soap and water. (00358b)
NOTICE
Do not overfill oil. Doing so can result in oil carryover to the air cleaner leading to equipment damage and/or equipment malfunction. (00190b)
NOTE
The oil level marks for checking with motorcycle upright or on jiffy stand are on the same side of the dipstick. Carefully read dipstick when checking oil level.
Check engine oil level at each complete fuel refill.
Oil Level Cold Check
  1. For pre-ride inspection, place vehicle on level ground resting on its jiffy stand (unless sidecar is attached).
  2. See Figure 1. Remove filler plug/dipstick and wipe off the dipstick. Insert the dipstick and tighten into the fill spout.
    3. NOTE
    Oil level on a cold engine should never be above the midway point.
  3. See Figure 2. Remove the dipstick and verify oil level. Remove filler plug/dipstick and check oil level. The correct oil level is midway (2) between the ADD QT and FULL HOT marks on the dipstick.
NOTE
If oil level is at or below the ADD QT mark, add only enough oil to bring the level midway (2) between the ADD QT and FULL HOT marks. Never bring the level to the FULL HOT mark on a cold engine.
Oil Level Hot Check
NOTICE
Do not allow hot oil level to fall below Add/Fill mark on dipstick. Doing so can result in equipment damage and/or equipment malfunction. (00189a)
NOTE
Perform engine oil level hot check only with engine at normal operating temperature.
  1. Ride motorcycle until engine is at normal operating temperature.
  2. Place vehicle on level ground resting on its jiffy stand (unless sidecar is attached). Allow engine to idle for 1-2 minutes. Turn engine off.
  3. See Figure 1. Remove filler plug/dipstick and wipe off the dipstick. Insert the dipstick and tighten into the fill spout.
  4. See Figure 2. Remove filler plug/dipstick and check oil level. Oil level must register between the ADD QT and FULL HOT marks. If oil level is at or below the ADD QT mark, add only enough oil to bring the level to the FULL HOT mark. Do not overfill.
    5. NOTE
    Use only recommended oil specified in Maintenance and Lubrication → Engine Lubrication.
  5. Start engine and carefully check for oil leaks around drain plug and oil filter.
Figure 1. Engine Oil Filler Cap
1ADD QT (lower) mark
2Cold check level
3FULL (hot check) mark
Figure 2. Engine Oil Dipstick