TOPIC:

Hi
I am just starting out on my z1300 journey. My first question is about the oil capacities of the engine. Is the larger oil capacity simply achieved by putting on a bigger sump or are there other engine design differences.
Any info gratefully received

Cheers

This might enlighten you:

www.kz1300.com/index.php/forum/welcome-n...oil-pan-details#1879

The topic has been discussed many times on the forum.

I think it is true to say that if you keep the oil level at maximum on the smaller sump, you should not have any starvation issues, assuming you are not doing Arto Nyqvist style wheelies.

I have the smaller sump on mine with no issues and I ride pretty hard, but no Arty style wheelies. I also check my oil along with my tires before every ride, as I always do on all of my motorcycles. I have a deep sump here, and considered swapping it but unless I plan to do something else that requires removal of the exhaust I am not going to do it just for the deeper sump. I plan no wheelies in the near future.

This not my first 1300 and I rode my original 79 very hard for many years without even knowing the sump could be upgraded. I did do wheelies and burnouts from time to time but I was young and foolish. Still, the mighty Zed survived my foolishness to be stupidly sold in the late 90s.

Hi thanks for that. I don’t intend riding hard (I say that now) so from the sound of it I should be ok with the smaller sump. I am going to do a complete resto so it is something i can consider when I do the rebuild.

Cheers

Yes, you will be fine with normal riding or even hard and checking your oil level before every ride, as you should.

A full resto is a perfect time to change it.