oil consumption

[zorba]

Hello everybody,
I have a 93 model rd07 that since the last oil change started to consume a bit of oil, about 150ml per 800 kms (around 500miles).
The old oil was Bellray 15-45 and the new motul 5100 15-45, both synthetics.
The usage was mainly two-up with speeds up to 80km/h and the engine was getting hot often.
Also, the engine has about 75000km and during the last service, my mechanic said that the camshaft chains need to be changed.
Could it be the camshaft chains as the cause of the oil consumption or I need new piston rings, or is just normal?

[paultheold]

The cam chains do not cause oil leaks, piston rings cause oil to burn.
When you check the oil level, does it smell burnt ?
Do you have a lot of oil around your drive sprocket ?
By oil around the drive sprocket I don't mean chain lube, you might have a damaged oil seal.

You do not need to run the engine on fully synthetic oil, they run on semi synthetic.

Cam chains mean that the engine needs to come out the frame, that costs, the chain guides might be worn.

[YEN_POWELL]

I had my camchains changed by Tony Galea (near Basildon Essex). He carried it out with just the tank, fairing side panels and bashplate removed. He does it all through the cam cover by splitting the original, connecting the new and pulling them through, then uses a rivet link to join the new back up. Takes about an hour and a half and he's quite happy to let you help as much as you want. He checked my guides, waved them at me and they were fine. This was at 70,000 miles. He reset the automatic tensioner and checked all the valve clearances before putting the cam covers back on. Cost me about £180 all in.

He's done about 3,500 bikes like that since the early 80 and says he's not had one break. He's done a couple of my previous bikes. I asked him about a guarantee and he said that if it broke, he guaranteed I could keep both halves.