Low mileage 1800

[Spence]

I just bought a 2010 1800 with only 1700 miles, a beauty but....... Not sure of past maintenance on it so I had a pre buy inspection done by our local dealer and it came through fine.

I think I should change out all the fluids just to have a known baseline for future maintenance but I'm not sure which ones to do first, brake/clutch or cooling? Engine oil I can and will do this week and of course new tires.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Spence

[Viking]

Has it had all the brake recalls done? If so, then rear brake fluid should be fine. If not, then when you get that done they will flush and fill your complete rear system. Then you would only have to do the front brakes. The coolant is likely pretty okay also with that low a mileage. I do not believe coolant goes bad from sitting, or they would have to throw the stuff away in the auto parts stores. With the mileage on the bike I would also not be worried about the final drive oil, as it is synthetic and synthetic does not accept moisture in a closed system. So, as you mentioned, oil and filter change, and the front brake system and new tires, and you will have about as close to a brand new motorcycle as you can get.

[DaveO430]

And the clutch fluid. A pain to do but needs to be done.

[Viking]

Yup... clutch fluid. I overlooked that one and Dave is correct. Pain to do but makes it all work better.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Your best reference for this is in your Owner's Manual > index > maintenance > periodic.

In your case, pay attention to time. For example, the brake and clutch fluid needs replaced every 2yrs or 12k whichever comes first. With coolant every 2yrs or 24k. At this point, those are your critical items. There'd be nothing wrong with changing the oil and filter too. Since the bike has sat, you might want to inspect the air filter. Sometime a critter will make that area his home. Also, have the battery tested so that you know you have reliability with it.

[Spence]

Thanks for all the advice. I had the new tires put on yesterday, Dunlop E4, "Happiness are new tires"
Next I'll have them change out the front brake and clutch fluids. The bike did have the rear brake recall done so that fluid should be OK.
Thanks again,
Spence

[am3098]

I recently picked up a low mileage 08 that sat for a while. I did all of the fluids; oil, brake/clutch, coolant, rear diff. Like you, I wanted to set a baseline, that way I have a good baseline to start, and fluid changes are relatively inexpensive.

I didn't use the Honda bike coolant, instead I went to the local Honda car dealer and got the Type 2 extended life (blue) coolant, which is silicate free; it was less than half the cost of the bike coolant in the quarts. I changed the coolant on a maintenance day my GWRRA chapter held and the guy who helped me change the coolant said that the blue extended life is the way to go, I believe he said it was good for 6 years. If you want to save even more money, Walmart sells a Valvoline extended life coolant for foreign cars that's silicate free and it's even cheaper than the Honda coolant at the car dealer. From what I've read, as long as you use is silicate free, you should be good to go.

Valvoline also makes a synthetic brake fluid that will work in DOT 3 and 4 systems; I use it because you can buy it just about anywhere and being synthetic, it takes the heat better which could come in handy if you're buzzing through the Dragon for example.