Maintenance questions - when new bike becomes old one?

[ridetheworld]

Hi all!

As some of you know still buzzing around South America on my XR 250 Tornado. Overall I've loved this bike though we've fallen out at times, mainly due to altitude and especially lately as battery seems to be on it's way out and with no kickstart had some troubles so guess I'll replace battery now I'm back in Chile (should have done it in Argentina but very pricey), thought they were supposed to be good for five years not one!?

I suppose main questions would be, after 25,000k should I think about any other replacements other than usual filters, plugs, oil, pads etc? On second set of sprockets and chain and they seem okay, but I wonder should I bother changing cables or at least take a spare set? Or should modern Honda cables not be good for a good few years? Bike is a year old almost to the day. I was going to change brake fluid oil in Bolivia but mech said it'd be fine for 100,000k!?

Bike drank a little oil but been pushing it quite hard, long days etc. Still absolutely no problems, really solid actually. One thnig lately, I had the valves checked at 12,000, now at 25,000k I'm almost positive the engine is making more noise than before, but running perfectly well nonetheless. At first I thought it was a bit of engine knock as sounds like a high-pitched tapping, but maybe the valves are a little loose no?

Any tips would be great! About to put another 8 to 10,000k on the clock for a round trip down to Patagonia before I either sell up or at least store it for another trip, so keen to have bike in good working order for the last phase of my journey and no avoidable mishaps.

Cheers!
RTW

Here's how she's looking these days; taken just yesterday after camping on Ruta 40.

[mark manley]

I would take out the rear wheel, shock and swinging arm, grease all bearings and pivots and put it back together, if you can put a grease nipple in the swinging arm while it is out. You could also take the forks off to check out and grease the headrace bearings which might be a bit dry by now. If you are keeping it long term take out and grease the engine mounting bolts one at a time, it will help if you need to take the engine out in the future.

[yokesman]

How often do you the oil,if air cooled the oil needs to be changed more often.
start with a normal full maintaince and inspection then you will have a better idea of what needs to be done beyond that. Oil regardless of the current opinion doesnot have an unlimited usefull life. go back to the 3000k mile change n see how you lill Honda does.

[mark manley]

Originally Posted by yokesman

How often do you the oil,if air cooled the oil needs to be changed more often.

Yes you don't mention how often you change the engine oil, it should be every 4,000 km at maximum.

[yokesman]

I check my oil with a white cloth ,when it starts to leave a color on the rag i prepare to change it,I have to very different bikes one a Suzi 650 which is very clean running,the Buell runs at about 400 degrees rear headtemp during the summer and the oil there is really getting a workout.
I probably just jumped to conclusions n should not have posted it(which I do often after rereading them) n did not intend to offend you.
Being a honda that bike should be good for 100k kilos so it is about to just give you back reliable service now that you got your moneys worth from the first 25k.some have reported that much on the original sparkplug(In this case it was not a Honda )
I use standard grade petroleum oils,lately ,a japanese spec ,shell diesel oil,should be easy to find most everywhere.Cheap

[ridetheworld]

I try to change the oil around 2k, but a few times I've ran up 3k (recommended by the manual). Bike runs well I think and fancy I'll always put synthetic oil in her from now on. I was just wondering if there are any issues I should watch out for that are not covered in the manual i.e. if after a year throttle/clutch etc cables are likely to fail or if this is something you need to worry about after several years, not one, etc.


Cheers!

[yokesman]

It only takes a few minutes to wrap the clutch cable with a paper n tape funnel n let it drain into the cover.good maintence would keep failure to a minimum besides flats ,crashes .Of course any design have some weaknesses, the best service a bike can get is yours,who has the best of intentions which we just need to turn into experience.?
As far as when does it become old,just look at the transalps n xt's still giving reliable service.Clean it,inspect it ,R&R it ,lube it ,ride it. It is sorry to say but I would not expect an inexperienced mechanic to follow a factory service manual.