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Talking to a 70's Ducati 350 single rider while waiting at the top of Loton Park speed hill climb today after a run he rates Fuchs (Silkolene) semi-synthetic API SF/SG. They also do a 'V twin' 20w-50 mineral oil API CF/SG/SH/SJ.
The FE project 350 engine survived four runs on the Motul 15w-50 semi-synth today without sounding any more like a bag of nails than when it was first started up after the rebuild (on Halfords 10w-040). I'm blaming the roller timing side main bearing and a reground cam without quietening ramps until further evidence becomes apparent.

Cam follower photo as promised

Never seen a follower like that. This surely has nothing to do with the oil.

Those are truly horrific!

Unbelievable.
One for the black museum...
Begs the question ; What were the pushrods like? At some time very bent or very broken..

Pushrods are fine, however the gudgeon pins had very bad wear on them, one big end shell has turned and shagged the crank, it is looking like a lubrication issue. Pump or oil I am not sure, will probably change both.

Pete,

That is not wear, that is catastrophic failure, possibly caused by heat. As you do not know the bike's history, could a previous owner have let the oil run low or not changed it for a long while? Nothing wrong with Halfrauds 10/40 semi, in my opinion, if changed every 2.5 k miles / 4k kms.

When I was running my Strada 40 miles per day commuting plus other rides, I was using GTX 20/50 with changes every 1000 miles. The engine was perfect. I think the halfrauds oil is probably a better quality than the original GTX.

Low mileage, frequent short runs and not warming up an engine are probably the biggest problems for an engine. Starting a Morini on both chokes always worries me!