I already did !

And I take PayPal !

OldFeller and Routy both get their $50.     Just fly over and get it ! Get it ?  

No, really, the list method appears to be an ingenuous system at first, but if we consider that many sidestands will gradually list more and more as the bike gets older...
...geez, my bike is 25 years old and I'm the 6th owner, I don't know what the original list was! So a "worn" list reading may give a false (low) reading, leading to overfill...

My intent is to find a way to either:
- get a dipstick somewhere in the belly of the crankcase, or
- get a larger window there where the original window is, so that reading oil level may be easier.

One idea I came up with was to remove the oil window and replace it with a "J" shaped "elbow" so that one could use a dipstick.
Not necessarily a screw-in dipstick, even a normal plug-in dipstick might to, as a thermometer/dipstic as well.

This would allow the rider to sit, balance the bike with his legs, reach down and take a dipstick reading.



Now, do THAT and you've got my attention !!!

I am not so old that I can't grab the front fork and the rear shock and hold the bike upright while I take a look at the sight glass without dropping it.

I also can run the bike into a Harbor Freight wheel chock that holds the bike upright and look at my convenience. Takes all of 30 seconds. Life is not complicated.

http://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-stand-wheel-chock-97841.html

In a few days I will be 69 and I have not reached that point yet.

I check my oil every 100 miles ridden. It does not consume any but I don't ride that hard, no interstates. I rarely get over 55 with the occasional 60 mph burst. I have always been very religious in my maintenance and keeping things to what the factory specifies. I always pay attention to detail. I do a general inspection before every ride and check tire pressure and bolts weekly. I have never had a problem doing it.

I have never turned the bike over or even came close. When I get to where I can't control my bike it may be time to retire from riding.

Keeping a higher level of oil than what the factory specifies may be for the people who don't pay attention to detail and neglect proper maintenance. Since I don't belong to that crowd, I will continue with what I have been successfully doing since 1958.  

I know, I'm no fun at all, I haven't blew one up yet.

The handbook does suggest checking hot or at least warm. The level should be between the small dots cast into the cover beside the window. I have found it easier to get a block of wood about two and three quarter inches high and six inches square and put this under the stand. This supports the bike in a near vertical position. Another member sits on his bike and uses a telescopic mirror to check his level.

Routy wrote on 06/19/13 at 13:04:27:


Maybe that's the problem, too much discussion so it's confusing to us noob owners!!!!!! I NEED to know IF you use the "SIDESTAND" check do you look for the oil level to come slightly over the bottom of the site glass, when it's COLD or HOT! Tell me that and I'll never bother anyone again!

The side stand method works either hot or cold.  It doesn't matter.

What you do need to do at least once is the specified hot check to make sure your oil level is appropriate for your shocks and your bike.

Newbies get confused, it is part of the learning experience.

Hot check is a one off test to verify your chosen brand of oil doesn't over expand when filled to peep up over the bottom of the oil window when resting on the side stand.  Your test is to set the oil level cold, then the hot test is to do a vertical check when idling hot.  The expanded oil should be below the upper edge of the window.  This verifies your running oil level stays below your oil shelf.

Now, if you really feel that Suzuki had "all knowledge" when they put the bike together in 1987, then you should never need a verslaggy, your carb should never need tweeking and your petcock should be immortal.  Good luck with that, some like Bill still do feel that way.