Oil change. Need advice

[David Williams]

I ordered the magnetic drain plug and went to get oil today for the first oil change. I was going to get synthetic oil but the dealer said it’s really not recommended for these bikes with automatics. Please comment . Thank you

 

[m in sc]

doesnt matter ive used both. no negative effect. and its not an automatic.

 

[David Williams]

Non clutched? What is the proper term?

 

[dmonkey]

Honda's specifications for the bike call the transmission semi-automatic. There are two wet clutches in the CT125, a centrifugal clutch with weighted and sprung clutch shoes, and a multi-disc friction plate clutch.
The owners manual recommends:

API Service Classification SG or higher except oils labeled as energy conserving or resource conserving on the circular API service label, SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903 standard MA, Pro Honda GN4 4-stroke oil (USA & Canada) or Honda 4-stroke oil, or an equivalent motorcycle oil.

You may have heard rumors of synthetic oil causing wet clutch slippage, this might be true for the energy conserving oils that Honda explicitly recommends you not use, so if you're buying a synthetic just check the label to make sure it isn't one of those and you can be relieved of that worry. Honda's recommended GN4 is a petroleum-based (mineral) oil. With the short engine oil service interval due to not having an external filter element you miss out on a lot of the benefits of synthetic oil and generally pay more for the synthetic oil while the mineral oil will do just fine.

 

[m in sc]

if its designated for a 4 stroke motorcycle, its good to go.

its an auto clutch. automatic shifts gears for you. .02

 

[jBIRDt]

My first oil change last fall (before winter storage) was done at the selling dealer with their choice of oil. The cost for the massive quantity of oil to service the bike I think the Trail 125 deserves to be treated to Hondas best.

 

[SneakyDingo]

Me: I guess it's beans and rice for a month.

Also me: Nothing but the finest for my donkey.

 

[Shoot870p]

I know “we are our own warranty station” but the dealer said there was a mandatory first service that must be done by Honda. Any truth to this?
thanks
shoot870p

 

[dmonkey]

The dealer might be referring to the gear shifter recall. If so, then yes, they're not likely to let you leave with the newly purchased bike until they can take care of that safety recall and replace the gear shifter pedal/lever, otherwise it's a liability for them. Other than that, the actual first service at 600 miles can be done by you if you want and the Honda police aren't going to come after you.

 

[Fun4me]

I know “we are our own warranty station” but the dealer said there was a mandatory first service that must be done by Honda. Any truth to this?
thanks
shoot870p

The short answer is no. The duration of the warranty on the Trail is for defects in materials and workmanship, for one year. The maintenance schedule in the owner's manual specifies an oil change and clutch inspection at 600 miles. The first service that requires either inspection or cleaning of several items in addition to an oil change is required at 4,000 miles. Many of these additional items are identified as intermediate level maintenance that's recommended service by your dealer, unless you have the necessary tools and are mechanically skilled. Performing the work yourself will not void your warranty if you have the skills to do so.

Due to the facts that the little engine works so hard, only holds less than a quart of oil, and doesn't have an oil filter, I followed the path of many others on this forum and changed the oil myself at 300 miles. I also installed a magnetic drain plug recommended by others during that first oil change. I changed the oil again at 600 miles and 1,600 miles. In the future I plan to change it about every 2,000 miles.

I've had the bike about 10 months, and it has a little over 1,800 miles on it. Spring is around the corner, but I doubt I'll put 4,000 miles on the clock before the warranty is up. I still plan to take it to the dealer for the 4,000 mile service just to make sure everything is checked out.

I realize my approach seems like overkill to many of the old graybeards on this forum. Especially since there are countless stories about earlier versions of the Trail that were used and abused with little or no service for decades, that are still chugging along doing what they were built to do. I hope my grandkids will be telling stories like that about the bike they'll inherit from me. A few dollars invested before that happens is worth it to me.

 

[Shoot870p]

This was the first service “after 6 tanks of gas”. Only a cool $189.00. He did say one may want to shop around and check to see other dealers price.

 

[m in sc]

I know “we are our own warranty station” but the dealer said there was a mandatory first service that must be done by Honda. Any truth to this?
thanks
shoot870p

absolutely not. I just needs 'to be done'. do it yourself , take a few pics and hang onto receipts. if there's ever a question, you have proof it was done.

 

[Shoot870p]

That’s what I thought. Thanks for backing me up. That cost sure made me wonder just what was up!
shoot870p