If Your Engine Quits or Won’t Start
Proper operation and maintenance can prevent starting and engine performance problems. In many cases, the cause of the problem may be a simple operational oversight.
If you have a problem starting the engine—or experience poor engine performance—the following information may help you. If you can’t correct the problem, see your Honda dealer.
If your motorcycle won’t start, listen as you press the start button. If you don’t hear the starter motor turning, refer to the Starter motor doesn’t operate symptom. If you can hear the starter motor working normally, refer to the Starter motor works, but the engine won’t start symptom.
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If Your Engine Quits or Won’t Start
| SYMPTOM: Starter motor doesn’t operate. | |
|---|---|
| POSSIBLE CAUSE | WHAT TO DO |
| ignition switch OFF | Turn the ignition switch ON. |
| engine stop switch OFF | Turn the engine stop switch to RUN. |
| transmission not in neutral | Shift into neutral. |
| side stand down (when transmission not in neutral) | Put the transmission in neutral or raise the side stand and pull the clutch lever in. |
| blown fuse | Replace with a new fuse of the same rating (page 202). |
| battery lead loose | Tighten the battery lead. |
| low (or dead) battery | Charge the battery (page 166). If charging doesn’t help, see your Honda dealer. |
| faulty starter motor | If all possible causes are negative, the starter motor may be faulty. See your Honda dealer. |
184 Taking Care of the Unexpected
If Your Engine Quits or Won’t Start
| SYMPTOM: Starter motor works, but the engine won’t start. | |
|---|---|
| POSSIBLE CAUSE | WHAT TO DO |
| out of fuel | Fill the fuel tank. |
| flooded engine | See Flooded Engine (page 55). |
| loose or unconnected ignition coil connectors and ignition coils | Install the ignition coil connectors and ignition coils securely. If the engine still won’t start, see your Honda dealer. |
| loose battery cables | Tighten the battery terminal bolts. |
| weak battery | Charge the battery (page 166). If charging doesn’t help, see your Honda dealer. |
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If Your Engine Quits or Won’t Start
| SYMPTOM: Engine starts, but stalls as you shift into gear. | |
|---|---|
| POSSIBLE CAUSE | WHAT TO DO |
| side stand down | Raise the side stand. Start again. |
| SYMPTOM: Engine starts, but runs poorly. | |
|---|---|
| POSSIBLE CAUSE | WHAT TO DO |
| idles roughly, too fast, stalls | Check engine idle adjustment (page 125). If the problem persists, see your Honda dealer. |
| overheating | Check the coolant temperature meter. Refer to If Your Engine Overheats, page 199. |
| low oil pressure | Check the low oil pressure indicator. Refer to If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator Lights, page 201. |
| runs erratically, misfires | May damage catalytic converters. See your Honda dealer. |
| blubbers (rich fuel mixture) | See your Honda dealer. |
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If Your Engine Quits or Won’t Start
SYMPTOM: Engine starts, but runs poorly. (cont’d)
| POSSIBLE CAUSE | WHAT TO DO |
|---|---|
| sooty exhaust (rich fuel mixture) | See your Honda dealer. |
| detonates or pings under load | If applicable, switch to the recommended octane gasoline (page 100) or change your brand of gasoline. If the problem persists, see your Honda dealer. |
| afterfires (backfires) | May damage catalytic converters.See your Honda dealer. |
| pre-ignition (runs on after ignition switched OFF) | May damage catalytic converters.See your Honda dealer. |
Taking Care of the Unexpected 187
If You Have a Flat Tire
A flat tire is always unwelcome, especially if you are far from help. If you think you are losing air, or you hit a pothole or hard object, pull safely to the side of the road so you can inspect the tires and assess the situation. (Be sure to park on a firm, level surface and use the side stand for support.) You should examine the tire treads and sidewalls for foreign objects or damage. If you find a tire that has been punctured or damaged, you have two options.
Option 1: Have Your Motorcycle Transported If a tire has a major puncture or a cut in the tread or sidewall, or the bead has come loose from the rim, there is probably not much you can do except have your motorcycle transported to a Honda dealer or other qualified service facility. (USA only: For information about 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, see page 241.) Even with a simple puncture, this may be the safest and least troublesome solution. For transporting instructions, see page 179.
Option 2: Make a Temporary Roadside Repair If a tire has only a minor nail puncture and is not completely flat, you may be able to make an emergency repair that could allow you to continue riding to where you can get the tire replaced or permanently repaired.
188 Taking Care of the Unexpected
If You Have a Flat Tire
⚠ WARNING
Riding your motorcycle with a temporary tire repair can be risky. If the temporary repair fails, you can crash and be seriously injured or killed.
If you must ride with a temporary tire repair, ride slowly and carefully and do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h) until the tire is permanently repaired or replaced.
Due to the uncertainty of any temporary repair, you should ride slowly (not over 30 mph, 50 km/h) and carefully (preferably without a passenger or cargo) until the tire is replaced or permanently repaired. Stop frequently and check the air pressure. If the tire is losing pressure, it may be unsafe to continue riding. As the tire gets low, it will affect the handling of your motorcycle (especially with a passenger and cargo) and it may overheat and blow out.
Types of Temporary Repairs
The following types of temporary repairs generally require a source of air to inflate the tire. Possible sources include CO₂ cartridges or cans of compressed air designed to inflate a tire.
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If You Have a Flat Tire
- Inflate the tire: Tubeless tires have some self-sealing ability if they are punctured and the result is usually just a slow leak. If this is the case, you can try inflating the tire to see if it will hold air pressure. If you can see a nail or other object embedded in the tire tread, do not remove it at this time.
- Plug the hole: The idea here is to do something to temporarily stop the leak. If you have a tubeless tire repair kit, you can pull out the nail and try inserting an external plug in the puncture. Follow the instructions that came with the repair kit and be sure to inflate the tire to the correct pressure.
Should You Repair or Replace a Tire?
We strongly recommend that you replace, not permanently repair, any tire that is punctured or damaged, even if the tire has only a minor puncture. For a full discussion of repairs and replacement, see page 150.
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If You Have a Flat Tire
Emergency Front Wheel Removal/Installation
Refer to Safety Precautions on page 74.
We recommend wheel removal be done only by your Honda dealer or another qualified mechanic. Do not attempt to remove the wheel on your own. Wheel removal requires mechanical skill and professional tools.
Removal
- Park your motorcycle on its center stand on a firm, level surface.
- Cover both sides of the front wheel with protective tape (1) or an equivalent.
- Raise the front wheel off the ground by lowering the center stand (page 64) and placing a support block under the exhaust pipes exposed under the lower fairing.
LEFT SIDE
(1) protective tape
(cont'd)
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If You Have a Flat Tire
LEFT SIDE
(2) A socket bolt (3) B socket bolt (4) left caliper assembly
- Remove the A (2) and B (3) socket bolts and remove the left caliper assembly (4) from the fork leg.
RIGHT SIDE
(5) fixing bolts (6) right caliper assembly
192 Taking Care of the Unexpected
If You Have a Flat Tire
- Remove the fixing bolts (5) and remove the right caliper assembly (6).
- To avoid damage to the brake hose during removal, support the caliper assembly so that it doesn’t hang from the hose. Do not twist the brake hose.
- Avoid getting grease, oil, or dirt on the disc or pad surfaces. Any contamination can cause poor brake performance or rapid pad wear after reassembly.
- Remove the axle bolt (7), and then loosen the right and left axle pinch bolts (8).
RIGHT FRONT
(7) axle bolt (8) axle pinch bolt
(cont’d)
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If You Have a Flat Tire
- Remove the front axle shaft (9), wheel, and side collar.
- Avoid depressing the brake lever when the wheel is off the motorcycle. This will force the caliper pistons out of the cylinders. The result will be loss of brake fluid. If this occurs, the brake system will require service. See your Honda dealer for this service.
LEFT FRONT
(8) axle pinch bolt (9) front axle shaft
I nstallation
- Install the side collars and position the wheel between the fork legs. Insert the front axle shaft from the left side, through the left fork leg and wheel hub.
- Align the index line (10) of the front axle shaft with the recessed surface (11) of the fork leg.
(10) index line (11) surface
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If You Have a Flat Tire
- Tighten the axle pinch bolt on the left fork leg to the specified torque: 16 lbf·ft (22 N·m , 2.2 kgf·m)
- Tighten the axle bolt to the specified torque: 43 lbf·ft (59 N·m , 6.0 kgf·m)
- Install the right and left brake caliper onto the fork leg. To avoid damaging the brake pads, carefully fits the brake disc (12) between the pads.
- Install the right caliper fixing bolts and tighten to the specified torque: 23 lbf·ft (31 N·m , 3.2 kgf·m)
- Install the A and B left caliper socket bolts, and tighten to the specified torque: 23 lbf·ft (31 N·m , 3.2 kgf·m)
- Operate the front brake and pump the fork several times. Check for free wheel rotation after the brake is released. Recheck the wheel if the brake drags or the wheel does not rotate freely.
- If the clearances between each surface of the brake disc and the brake bracket (13) (not the brake pads) are symmetrical, follow next step. If the clearances are not symmetrical, loosen the left axle pinch bolt and pull the left fork outward or push inward to adjust the clearance. Then follow the next step.
- Tighten the axle pinch bolt on the right fork leg to the specified torque: 16 lbf·ft (22 N·m , 2.2 kgf·m)
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If You Have a Flat Tire
(12) brake disc (13) brake bracket (14) clearance
- Visually check that the clearances between each surface of the brake disc and the brake bracket (not the brake pads) are symmetrical.
- After installing the wheel, apply the brake lever AND brake pedal several times, then recheck both discs for caliper holder to disc clearance. Do not operate the motorcycle without adequate clearance.
- Check for free wheel rotation after the brake lever and brake pedal are released. Recheck the wheel if the brake drags or if the wheel does not rotate freely.
- After installing the wheel, operate the brake lever AND brake pedal several times until you feel pressure. You must restore pressure from BOTH the lever AND the pedal because this motorcycle is equipped with a Linked Braking System.
- Verify proper brake operation before riding.
- Remove the protective tapes from the front wheel.
196 Taking Care of the Unexpected
If a torque wrench was not used for installation, see your Honda dealer as soon as possible to verify proper assembly. Improper assembly may lead to loss of braking capability.
Emergency Rear Wheel Removal/Installation
Refer to Safety Precautions on page 74 .
We recommend wheel removal be done only by your Honda dealer or another qualified mechanic. Do not attempt to remove the wheel on your own. Wheel removal requires mechanical skill and professional tools.
Removal
-
Park your motorcycle on its center stand on a firm, level surface.
-
Remove the rear wheel nuts (1).
RIGHT REAR
(1) rear wheel nuts (2) rear wheel
- Remove the rear wheel (2) slowly.
If You Have a Flat Tire
Installation
- Position the rear wheel and install the rear wheel nuts.
- Avoid getting grease, oil, or dirt on the disc or pad surfaces. Any contamination can cause poor brake performance or rapid pad wear after reassembly.
- Tighten the rear wheel nuts to the specified torque: 80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)
- After installing the wheel, apply the brake several times and then check if the wheel rotates freely. Recheck the wheel if the brake drags or if the wheel does not rotate freely.
- Operate the brake pedal and check the brake operation.
- Inspect the brake system (page 146).
If a torque wrench was not used for installation, see your Honda dealer as soon as possible to verify proper assembly. Improper assembly may lead to loss of braking capability.
198 Taking Care of the Unexpected