simple oil question read 40 posts now

I changed my oil everything is fine just wanted to know the best way to check the oil level window. stand bike on flat survace and upright. should it be warm or cold. completely full, 2/3, or 1/2. Thanks Im just worried that im not reading it right. Also should the bike be running or off when you check the level. :bow

I changed my oil everything is fine just wanted to know the best way to check the oil level window. stand bike on flat survace and upright. Definitely straight up-and-down on flat ground. should it be warm or cold. Every one of my Yamaha motorcycle Owner's Manuals for their motorcycles that use a wet sump oiling system (like the R1 does) says to first check the level and see if there's at least some oil showing in the window so you can start the bike. Next, start the engine, warm it up for a few minutes, shut it off, wait a few minutes, then check the level - it is at this point in time they want you to gauge how much oil in in the engine. Myself, using this method word-for-word results in an oil level that will read as if the engine were a bit low on oil, and what I do is to allow ample time for the oil to drain back down into the bottom of the engine before I feel like I'm getting an accurate reading. In other words, I tend to go by what shows in the oil level window when I walk out to the bike first thing in the morning. completely full, 2/3, or 1/2. There are two little marks beside the level window that are shown in the Owner's Manual. It has to be somewhere between the two marks to be OK, though I'd want mine at the upper mark if I already had a bottle of oil in my hand. Also, if you're riding a 2000 YZF-R1, they've shown that keeping the oil level half way between the marks might set the low oil warning light off, even though you have enough oil in the engine to be OK. Also should the bike be running or off when you check the level. Definitely off.

thanks for the peace of mind