Where did the oil go?

It seems to me.... I don't Know..... But somewhere in the back of my mind I think some Harleys need to be on the side stand..... But I think that may be because of the oil tank.... But I'm pretty sure 99.9% of all other bikes need to be straight up.... What you might try is to find a (SAME) spot at home where you can measure your oil (get a carpenter's level and put it on the ground and look for a level spot), then always check your bike when it's in that position... Also I'd dig out your Owners manuel and read though it... And also look though the service manual(you can download from this site)... and re-read both in a few months.... Works for me!

 

Checking the oil level when upright, on its centre stand to the correct mark on the dipstick seems elementary to me.
I'm not being nasty or insulting, this just reminded me of a story I heard years ago on the radio, told by Mick Grant of Kawasaki fame, from when he had a chain of bike shops here in the UK.
Apparently a blokes parents bought him a new (i think), Honda 250N Superdream(don't know its US name).
The bike soon developed a problem and eventually seized up, Irate Dad insists on repair, under warranty of course,
Shop agrees and picks up bike, takes it back and starts to troubleshoot likely causes, primary of course, no oil But no signs of any major leaks.
On stripping the motor further they find it almost bereft of oil.
Questions & answers fly back and forth between shop & Dad, Dad & son,Dad & shop,"did he check the oil,did he top it up, was it correct oil, was it done correctly,etc..etc
Yes he checked it ,yes correct oil,done correctly in fact everything done according to the Honda manual as studied by aforementioned son.
After much head scratching at the shop and further exchanges like above,the shop invite father and son to come demonstrate Son's prowess on the dipstick.
They used as a demonsrator an identical machine in for a service,but awaiting oil refill.
Son was asked to check oil level and top up as needed,
No probs,Son approaches bike removes dipstick,cleans it on rag, reinserts, removes stick and studies it,
"needs oil" he declares reaching for the can provided, then procedes to dip stick into can, to middle mark on stick and replaces in engine.
"there he announces, just like it says in the manual, there must always be oil showing on the dipstick".
Dad struck a deal with shop for new motor.

Whether true or not, the above story demostrates that we're not all mechanical geniuses and forums like this one where people are not derided for their misunderstanding of something, as shown in the above replies,are needed and very welcome. Otherwise we stagnate in ignorance.
Gentlemen,I salute you.

 

ya, iv got a clymers. it said straight up, without screwing in the dip stick.

I plan to get the perfect level, take a pic of the stick both level, and on the center stand. ill post pics in this other thread...

http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/26081-correct-way-check-oil.html#post204975