Magnusson-Moss Act (MMA)

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If your motorcycle is covered under a regular or extended warranty, you may at one time or another, from either the Dealer or the service department heard that using Synthetic or any other oil, other than OEM type lubricants, will void your warranty. Nothing can be further from the truth. As long as you use a lubricant/oil which meets or exceeds the standards and designations set forth in your service manual, No Dealer or Manufacturer can void your warranty. This practice is misleading not to mention illegal.  There is a law in place called the Magnusson-Moss Act (MMA) that restricts Manufacturers and Dealers from this practice.

It is as follows: THE MMA-"(c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer's using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission. If - (1) the warrantor satisfies the Commision that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and (2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public in-terest." ( 42 U.S.C. 2302(C))

Basically what the MMA does is prevent manufacturers from forcing consumers to use OEM lubricants/oils, and or, OEM parts to maintain warranty coverage, unless the oils or parts are provided Free of Charge by the manufacturer. This law also keeps manufacturers from charging outrageous prices for OEM equipment. Most parts, accessories, oils, etc are available through the aftermarket, and when manufactured by a reputable company, they typically meet or exceed OEM specs.