Hello to all from a newby with some stupid ?'s

04919rider · 10-06-2007, 8:16 PM

First off, Hello

I'm new to the forum, and new to the motorcycle world. I just got a new 04 919 and had a few ?'s.

How often should I change the oil?

I live in a snowy area and was wondering what I should do to winterize my bike.

And finaly, Are their any reasonably priced slip-on pipes for the 919?

Thank you in advance.

Bryce Auten · 10-06-2007, 10:34 PM

not the best first bike try and keep it under 6000 rpm after that its wild and i change the oil with a motorcycle specific oil every 3000 miles some people on this site as well as i use rotella t 5-40w from walmart blue jug for about 16 bucks and a pur one filter i forget the number its pl 1614 or something please be carful

MaxwellEdison · 10-06-2007, 11:33 PM

I usually change the oil every 3K-4K miles, Honda says 8K but that's just blasphemy to me. As for winterizing, disconnect the negative battery cable for sure, if you're not gonna ride it at all during the winter (With me, if it's clear and the road is dry, I'm riding) it's not a bad idea to drain your oil while it sits. Oh and cover it if it's stored outdoors!

04919rider · 10-07-2007, 3:30 PM

Thanks for the info!
I'd been told to change the oil every 8k by the dealer, and a buddy told me every 500 miles. There was just to big of a difference, so I thought I'd come to a place were I could get a few trustworthy answers.

Should I disconnect the battery, or put a tender on it?

Thanks again.

6pak · 10-11-2007, 9:10 AM

Wow! My dealer in Japan said change the oil every 2000km but i have settled on 3000km. They also own Sakurai Honda Racing Team so. The clientel are very much into racing and riding fast on the twisties. I would say it also depends on how you ride - commuter versus riding at 5000rpm over alot. Then decide how often you should change the oil...

ratdog · 10-13-2007, 1:36 PM

google up winterizing tips for motorcycles and you'll find a wealth of informatoin that is applicable to the 919 and pretty much every other motorcycle...

standard Honda GN4 and change according to manufacturer specs and you'll likely see 100k problem free miles on the 919....assuming you'd actually rack up that kind of mileage instead of the more typical 10k-20k before sellin the bike...

if you bought new, go ahead and change the oil after the first 300-500 miles, after that, standard interval will keep you good to go

battery?
spend the $5 on the quick disconnect, leave the battery in and plug it into the $28 battery tender jr...no worries

honda service manual blasphemy????!?!?!?
that's blasphemy right there
truth be told, i change my oil more frequently just because, don't need to though...just like i don't need a valve adjustment at 16k miles...it's a honda !!

XRsteve · 10-14-2007, 2:42 AM

I change the oil more often than actually recommended by Honda. It's much easier and cheaper than having to rebuild an engine. I haven't actually changed oil on my 919 yet. It only has 400 miles on it. But I will be changing it in about a 100 more miles.
Battery tenders work better than disconnecting the battery. An inactive battery can sulfate, which causes a loss of capacity.

04919rider · 10-15-2007, 3:24 PM

Thanks for all the help!

Do you use synthetic oil?

KenB · 10-16-2007, 7:40 PM

Wash, wax, change oil, lube the chain and cables, fill the tank and add Sta-Bil and run for five minutes, Battery Tender, plug exhaust (no critters allowed!), put up on stands, cover up, and kiss goodnight.

sheepofblue · 10-16-2007, 8:36 PM

Battery tenders are your friend. I will stay out of the oil wars but do be sure it is oil for a wet clutch (no energy saving or stuff that contains moly at a MINIMUM). I do the road bike at 3K and the track bike anywhere from 300-500 miles.

Can't help much on wintering as ours lasts a couple of days (I leave water/water wetter in the RC year round).

Since it is an '04 consider changing antifreeze and brake fluid in the future. Brake fluid is probably overdue (look at the color) and antifreeze due soon. Also depending on miles check air filter.

Helminc.com has the official service manual and your owner manual should have a service schedule.

Some say get the tires up off the ground but that is not super important to me. (Pitbull stands ROCK though <-- biased as they are great people that are up the road a couple of miles)

jhonda41 · 10-16-2007, 8:48 PM

winterize? I didnt know folks below the mason dixon performed such a task.

I hear stabil and a battery tender is a good start.

I will be winterizing my gear next month when I pick up some Gerbings.... I did pretty good without the electric gear in 22° weather here in NY last winter... but I am tired of the layers when I get to work.

edit: oh and congrats and

to the org

-jh

leatherlilly · 10-17-2007, 2:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratdog

battery?
spend the $5 on the quick disconnect, leave the battery in and plug it into the $28 battery tender jr...no worries

honda service manual blasphemy????!?!?!?
that's blasphemy right there
truth be told, i change my oil more frequently just because, don't need to though...just like i don't need a valve adjustment at 16k miles...it's a honda !!

I was wondering if you could tell me where i could get a few quick disconnects...i have 4 batteries on 4 bikes to keep healthy..

and wher ei might be able to find a batttery tender jr as well.....I keep seeing these items at about $45-55 each

SamoanzRR · 10-17-2007, 2:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 04919rider

Thanks for all the help!

Do you use synthetic oil?

I wouldn't run synthetic oil until approx 1500 mi so that the engine is fully broken in first......

leatherlilly · 10-17-2007, 3:31 PM

okay so can you all help me prepare the two that i will be winterizing???

why shoudl the tires be up and off the ground?? how do you get them up?? one is a suzuki and one is a (gasp) harley. what is the rationale for keeping the tires up??

okay

leatherlilly · 10-17-2007, 3:34 PM

okay so can you all help me prepare the two that i will be winterizing???

why shoudl the tires be up and off the ground?? how do you get them up?? one is a suzuki and one is a (gasp) harley. what is the rationale for keeping the tires up??

okay now with the batter tenders....i obviously have alot of bikes to take good care of.

By the way thanks for the reinder to take care of the exhuast...would never have remembered to do that and i have issues with critters trying to keep them out of my house...will an old pair of sox do the trick obviously keeping them hanging out a bit so that i can remove them easily before starting them up.

I will be riding the other two honda babies all winter long as i am able...basically if it is isnt raining and snaowing im planing on hopping on a bike and i figured i would alternate them and that shoudl keep the batteries good right?/

some one please tell me if i am mistaken??

and well help??

red

sheepofblue · 10-17-2007, 3:46 PM

Tires up to avoid flat spotting, really not much of an issue though. Also UV hurts tires so you could cover them but again I would not bother.

FMF makes plugs for exhaust. That is what I have for the RC if it is in the rain at the track (but now it has a canopy

) A sock could be very tempting to a nesting critter to chew and haul in with them. Though you could detect them earlier maybe.

ratdog · 10-17-2007, 9:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leatherlilly

I was wondering if you could tell me where i could get a few quick disconnects...i have 4 batteries on 4 bikes to keep healthy..

and wher ei might be able to find a batttery tender jr as well.....I keep seeing these items at about $45-55 each

4 bikes ?!?! niiiiiiice

i pickup quick disconnects at the local shop (name brand) or at walmart (generic)

walmart has them for tractor battery chargers, just make sure the polarity is good for the charger of your choosing

battery tenders have also been purchased locally (i have 2)...i usually get a break from the local parts manager...might want to try kneedraggers.com or tricktape.com for some pricing

oh yeah, i'm runnin syn, like SoB says, just need to be careful and get the good stuff...

Twincam · 10-18-2007, 2:10 PM

Well you can keep the bike off the floor using a paddock stand (lifts up on swing arm) or you can get a frame stand (picks up from the centre of the bike)

Also you can think of putting a battery tender on it (i have an optimate but an accumate would work) or remove the battery.

Cover the bike if it will be outside and if used with salt on the roads, clean the downpipes and wash the bike.

Just care for it like you would normally, change the oil every 3000/4000K miles and you should be fine.

XR'S only · 10-19-2007, 12:16 AM

I personally change the oil every 2000 miles.
I use Repsol semi synthetic 10w/40 & a factory Honda oil filter.
I have noticed at 2000 miles the oil starts to get dirty a lot faster.
I also ride it every day & I don't baby it.
As far as any help for winterizing, I can't help. My winter prep is, get more gas & keep riding.
Enjoy it. It is a fine first bike. Easy to ride & cheap to maintain.

leatherlilly · 10-20-2007, 11:06 AM

my 2 hondas should be okay...Im doing the oil changes as scheduled....they are due in about 1k each..the other two I am not running at present...the harley is a classic...the battery is an ad on because and i dont understand it entirely (the harley is a 69 kickstart) and the lights dim at traffic lights so the guy I bought it from added battery power to it to aide in the start abit.(how i dontknow) and helps wth the electrical needs so like if i wanted to use electric warmer clothing. the suzuki is currently not feeling well and wont catch when i try to start it... so i move the HD and the SUZ around the garage a bit to get them out of the way....but the hondas get acton they see the street.

I have a HD mechanic as a buddy and he has offered to put the pig tails on for the battery tenders i just need to buy them...and he said i should be able to share 1 tender withthe 4 bikes especially if i am goignto keep riding the other two bikes....I sure wish i would have thoguht about this stuff during the summer and bought this stuff then.......thanks for letting me know i an find such things at walmart...I wouldnt have thought of looking for them there

Ol' Gravy Leg · 10-21-2007, 8:12 AM

for the winter, make sure you apply True-Coat to the under body. it's a heck of a sealant to keep the salt off. Stan up near Brainerd will set you up, you betcha.

sheepofblue · 10-21-2007, 9:45 AM

For the real paranoid or maintainence freak. If they are going to sit all winter change the oil now. Oil gets acid build up as it breaks down. Better to have clean oil sitting in it. Given you long winter use a cheap motorcycle oil then change to the good stuff in spring.