Topic: How often should I start my Honda while waiting and waiting and waiting

[kyle750]

A quick question to the Honda Community about starting the bike.  I've had the bike for a month now and it always starts right up - except today.  Battery was dead.  As I was only starting and idling the engine for a few minutes once a week the battery never fully charged and every time I started it it drained the battery.  I have a battery charger on it right now so once fully charged I will try again. Battery is new and holding a charge OK.

It will still be some time before I can get the bike running.  The first consolidated shipment of Honda parts shipped from the USA today but it will be a while until the shipment arrives in Thailand and if I'm unlucky and the shipment gets held up in Thai Customs who knows how long it will take to clear and get delivered.  My question is: How often should I  start the bike.  Once a week OK?  How long should I run it? How do I know if oil is circulating OK? No oil light comes on after the bike starts.   I would hate to damage the engine.   I will use a battery charger to maintain the battery. Thanks in advance!

[69cb750]

Oil light comes on when you turn key on, oil light goes off when engine starts.
If bike cannot be ridden starting engine every six months is fine.

[kyle750]

Oil light comes on when you turn key on, oil light goes off when engine starts.

Yes

[BallAquatics]

[kyle750]

Thank You for the very useful infomation and the video.  I just watched the video and I had no idea.  Combustion creates moisture and without riding the bike and heating it up properly the moisture stays in the engine and exhaust and causes problems. Riding with load heats up the engine and expels the moisture.  Really eye opening!! 

BTW I also read your bottom tag "You will regret the bikes you DIDN'T buy much more than the ones you DID!!!  It's never too late to start a new adventure!" and I completely 100% agree with this about everything.  Regret sucks and lasts forever but if you make a mistake it is quickly forgotten!

[BenelliSEI]

+1 to Calj. My bikes will sit for 4-5 months right now. Batteries are out on a shelf and get a trickle charge every few months…..

[kyle750]

^ ^ ^ What is that white stuff?   Does not look like Thailand ^ ^ ^

I understand that there is a winter storm warning for much of the middle of the US.  To everyone who lives in the affected part of the country please drive safely and stay warm!

[kyle750]

I bought this cheap charlie battery charger for 580 baht or $17.  Ordered on Friday and was delivered in 1 day by motorbike courier right to my front gate.  Delivery charge 29 baht or $1.  Charger was easy to use and took about 8 hours to fully charge.

[kyle750]

Also I am not storing the bike for the season - there are no seasons here in Thailand - it is always Hot! As soon as the brakes and front forks are fixed I am going to ride the beast. Ah yes . . .  the delusional project bike buyer with the best of intentions . . . that would be me!    I can always dream!

[MauiK3]

+1 don't run it unless you ride it, even here on Maui.
I don't "show start" it for visitors, too much condensation develops and my no number Yamiya exhaust was expensive.

[kyle750]

I'm guilty of  "show starting" it for myself.  Actually not "show starting" but "sound starting".  I like starting the bike to get a better feel of the choke, carbs, and throttle action and then listen to the roar and rumble of the pipes.  Can you blame me!

[PeWe]

You need a garage with an air drier device to avoid corrosion? It is very humid in Thailand.
Or park in house with air con

[kyle750]

Many thanks for the humidity warning and very useful information.  I am extremely concerned about the bike being in Thailand.  The humidity here is very high all the time.  I also live very close to the ocean so very high salt content in the air. Any exposed and untreated metal rusts extremely fast here and I am very concerned about it.   The bike was imported into Thailand in 1995 so it spent roughly half it's life in Japan and half of its life in Thailand.  IMO the rust and corrosion on the bike is not too bad for being in Thailand for so long.

My Honda CRF250L is now 12 years old (bought new) and it has some rust on the cable couplings, kick stand, and even handlebars where the paint has come off. Bike is stored in a covered garage exposed to the high humidty and heat.  Most of the body parts are plastic so no worries. I use the bike daily, year round and do about 5 km per year, used mostly as an in town commuter (no off road). I also ride in the rain (sometimes heavy) - I just put on a rainjacket and Go.  I really enjoy riding in the rain!

From my experience using regular chain lube I've learned that regular lube evaporates and disappears VERY QUICKLY in the Thailand heat, humidity, and ocean air  and the chain will rust.  Instead of chain lube  I use a heavy marine grease with lithium on my chain applied with a brush.  Not the best performance and gets heavy and gunky  but the heavy grease is needed to keep the chain from rusting. I reapply at about 6 months.   I completely clean the chain with kerosene and dawn liquid detergent once a year and reapply. Not the optimum chain care or best maintenance schedule and I will most likely use regular spray chain lube on the Honda CB750

[PeWe]

I use Motorex chain lube  road strong.
The best I ever have tried. It lubes the chain and sprockets.

I tested Maxima Chain Wax that killed the chain within 5000km maybe half.
It did not lube between links, the rubber x-rings that reduced in size. Chain got a very strange sideways play and rusty dust around front sprocket.

Motul not that good either. Reminds me about glue lube. It sticks too hard to chain that looks lubed but is not.

The lube must flow over the warm chain during the ride and relube where rubbed off and still not fling off. Between links and keep o/x-rings lubed.
Motorex fulfills that. If riding in heavy rain for a while, more can be needed. If only dry roads it stays over 500km.

[Stev-o]

I bought this cheap charlie battery charger for 580 baht or $17.  Ordered on Friday and was delivered in 1 day by motorbike courier right to my front gate.  Delivery charge 29 baht or $1.  Charger was easy to use and took about 8 hours to fully charge.

That appears to be a battery "maintainer", and if so, will charge the battery and turn off when fully charged. Then turn back on when battery voltage drops back down.

I'm leery about the cheap china maintainers but I use one on my "ol Chevy" and the battery is always ready to go when I want to start it.  Many here may not agree, but I start my classic car periodically to keep the fuel circulating and not just sitting in the carb.  No need to winterize in Texas as I can drive it year-round.