New owner, RC-51 Oil question

*juspimpin* · 05-18-2005, 12:38 PM

Everyone has their first post, here is mine. I have owned 5 CBR 600s (The original Hurricane, 2 F2s, and 2 F3s) and never came across this issue. I recently bought a 03 RC. I know the oil was changed recently and has used HP4 since the first change so I will stick with that. I do not have an owners manual but am looking. I realized after taking off the fairing that there is no dipstick but rather a window for oil. When on the kickstand, the oil level shows empty in the window but full when level. Is this right? With the CBRs, the dipstick showed something when it was on the kickstand, but not this one.

Any feelings on the 'shop manual' on CDs that I see everywhere? Are they better than the owner's manual or a Haynes manual? Is the owner's manual worth 25-30 bucks? Is the shop manual on CD worth 10?

My RC recently had the rear tire only (bad, I know) replaced with a Pirelli. It is a 190/50. I know about the 2 sizes, but with a new tire my speedo is about 10-12% off. That is excessive I think. I think a 200/50 or 200/55 would be more accurate. Anyone run a larger tire? The guy who had it before me had money and age (52) but not much knowledge. Honda did all the maintenance and he knows very little. He had to ask what oil was in it after I asked him. It runs great and I love it but had these questions.

Thanks in advance for the answers, there are more to come.

TGZ13 · 05-18-2005, 12:43 PM

To get a good level you should warm the bike up then let it sit for just a few min so some of the oil works its way back into the pan. Once you let it sit you need to get the bike level and off of its stand. That will give you a pretty good idea of just where the level is. And I know on mine if I were to look at the oil level right now while it was on its side stand it would show up empty as well.

As for the manual.. I have the honda issue manual and its perfect for the weekend mechanic

As for tire size I run a 190 and can't imagine running anything larger then that

abtech · 05-18-2005, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juspimpin

Everyone has their first post, here is mine. I have owned 5 CBR 600s (The original Hurricane, 2 F2s, and 2 F3s) and never came across this issue. I recently bought a 03 RC. I know the oil was changed recently and has used HP4 since the first change so I will stick with that. I do not have an owners manual but am looking. I realized after taking off the fairing that there is no dipstick but rather a window for oil. When on the kickstand, the oil level shows empty in the window but full when level. Is this right? With the CBRs, the dipstick showed something when it was on the kickstand, but not this one.

Any feelings on the 'shop manual' on CDs that I see everywhere? Are they better than the owner's manual or a Haynes manual? Is the owner's manual worth 25-30 bucks? Is the shop manual on CD worth 10?

My RC recently had the rear tire only (bad, I know) replaced with a Pirelli. It is a 190/50. I know about the 2 sizes, but with a new tire my speedo is about 10-12% off. That is excessive I think. I think a 200/50 or 200/55 would be more accurate. Anyone run a larger tire? The guy who had it before me had money and age (52) but not much knowledge. Honda did all the maintenance and he knows very little. He had to ask what oil was in it after I asked him. It runs great and I love it but had these questions.

Thanks in advance for the answers, there are more to come.

According to the owner's and shop maunual, the oil level is to be checked with the bike upright on a level surface and not on the sidestand.

I don't think you will like the handling with a 200 in either profile, and you may run into some chain length/tire clearance issues as well. It was designed for a 190/50 or 180/55. The 190/50 that you have is the OEM size.

Regarding the service manuals on CD: They are illegal copies and violate several Federal and International copyright laws. An honest dealer should charge you around 50 bucks for a "real" one.

And welcome to the ORG

phobiaphobe · 05-18-2005, 12:51 PM

I picked up a used honda shop manual on ebay for around 20 dollars. They're quite common.

sheepofblue · 05-18-2005, 1:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I picked up a used honda shop manual on ebay for around 20 dollars. They're quite common.

Be sure it is legit so thieves aren't supported though.

There is speedo-healer products rather than affecting your handling just to fix the speedometer.

Check upright the RR and RC both are empty on the kickstand. although they are close to correct on a Pit Bull stand (in case you are paranoid like me of a one person window check)

Bring it to Grattan in June!

As far as manuals if you don't go e-bay. Ron Ayers a site sponsor, local dealer or Helm Inc on the web are all legit official sources. From Helm you can get the owners manual and/or repair manual.

Welcome!

JAMI6989 · 05-18-2005, 3:47 PM

It's a widely known fact on Fireblades that sales of bootleg copies of RC51 service manuals support Al Qaeda and you will suffer the indignity of knowing you support terrorism. However, if you want to save yourself $20(which you could use to buy a bitchin' set of Tireflies) just hit the RC51 boards and someone will burn you one for free. You will just have to live knowing that you didn't pay for something that should've came for free when you bought your $10k bike.

Welcome to the RC51 club. They are great wheelie machines!

phobiaphobe · 05-18-2005, 3:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMI6989

... You will just have to live knowing that you didn't pay for something that should've came for free when you bought your $10k bike.

abtech · 05-18-2005, 3:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMI6989

It's a widely known fact on Fireblades that sales of bootleg copies of RC51 service manuals support Al Qaeda and you will suffer the indignity of knowing you support terrorism. However, if you want to save yourself $20(which you could use to buy a bitchin' set of Tireflies) just hit the RC51 boards and someone will burn you one for free. You will just have to live knowing that you didn't pay for something that should've came for free when you bought your $10k bike.

Welcome to the RC51 club. They are great wheelie machines!

Funny, I never received a service manual for my 40K+ BMW either. Maybe it's the standard in the industry to sell them as a seperate item rather than burden the consumer with the price of what would be an unnecessary item for most people.

*juspimpin* · 05-18-2005, 4:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMI6989

It's a widely known fact on Fireblades that sales of bootleg copies of RC51 service manuals support Al Qaeda and you will suffer the indignity of knowing you support terrorism. However, if you want to save yourself $20(which you could use to buy a bitchin' set of Tireflies) just hit the RC51 boards and someone will burn you one for free. You will just have to live knowing that you didn't pay for something that should've came for free when you bought your $10k bike.

Welcome to the RC51 club. They are great wheelie machines!

I assume there is a bit of sarcasm in here as far as support goes. My life is in the hands of others everyday as I am in the Army. I have not been sent over yet, but it is only a matter of time. I am not taking anything personally, but as you understand, I hear that too often as do others. My truck gets 10 MPG and people say similar things and then they see the DOD registration stickers and apologize.

When you refer to the RC51 boards, are there others that you recommend? I was not going to pay for the .org ROGUE membership until I knew what was to be had there. I am not trying to get something for free, but rather a quality product to learn more about the bike.

I do appreciate the welcomes and information. I will be around here for a while as I rarely sell items that are no longer in production. I just lost a Bronco in a collision and now replaced that with an Excursion. I understand that the future of the RC is in limbo.

I'll see you out there!

JAMI6989 · 05-18-2005, 4:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Funny, I never received a service manual for my 40K+ BMW either.

That's not funny at all, that's SAD! Not that you didn't get a manual, but that you paid 40 large for a BMW bike.

I guess the joke was on you that day.

abtech · 05-18-2005, 4:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAMI6989

That's not funny at all, that's SAD! Not that you didn't get a manual, but that you paid 40 large for a BMW bike.

I guess the joke was on you that day.

Yep, it's the cool 3000cc 330i model, you know, the bike with 4 wheels . . .

BDA116 · 05-18-2005, 5:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abtech

Yep, it's the cool 3000cc 330i model, you know, the bike with 4 wheels . . .

I didn't get a service manual with my four wheeled two seater bike, either. And it cost a few dollars more than a measely 10 grand.

phobiaphobe · 05-18-2005, 5:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

I didn't get a service manual with my four wheeled two seater bike, either. And it cost a few dollars more than a measely 10 grand.

You drive an S2000?

BDA116 · 05-18-2005, 5:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

You drive an S2000?

Nope. I don't like convertibles.

phobiaphobe · 05-18-2005, 5:11 PM

It's a roadster.