Last year I ordered a 2024 CRF250R and had to wait a few months until it got to the dealership to arrive. This is my first brand new bike so I cant get over this even though I doubt there is any serious damage done to it.
Long story short I went to the dealership to pay for it and one of the employees started it up for me. It started up instantly with the fast knob pulled out. The smell was something Ive never smelt before, maybe the smell of new muffler packing. Anyways I figured the bike was ready to go and didn't think much of fluids.
The next day I got it delivered to me(didn't have a truck at the time) and put it away. The next day I went to start it. I let it idle for a few minutes then took it for a 2 min ride up and down my street then I put it away. The next day I just looked around at the bike and for some reason I started squeezing on the coolant hose. In my head I'm like there's no way there no coolant in there so I ignored it. I let the bike sit for a few days then I said damn I have to check because something didn't feel right. Low and behold the radiator is completely empty on a BRAND NEW HONDA CRF250R!! I was so confused but then just ended up putting coolant in it, bled it a few times then said whatever it's probably fine.... I spent $9600 on this thing and you would think Honda AND the dealership would put coolant in there new bikes. I really don't think someone would drain the coolant prior to delivery as some type of joke.
What do you guys think about this?
The bike starts up fine and has good power. The only thing is it does not start up without the fast knob and I have to press the starter for 2-3 seconds then let go then hit it again and it starts up almost instantly. The entire bike only has 20 min on it so maybe it needs to be broken in or bad gas?
Let me know what you guys think. I'm worried that there could potentially be damage but not sure what to do. The bike is spotless and I don't want to touch a thing on it until it at least gets dirty.
I honestly don't want to fuck with them after that. I actually turned the idle down 3 clicks but I might turn it back up because the HRC bikes sound like they idle pretty fast when they pull in to the pits after a race. Im not sure how they set the idle from the factory and it's my first FI bike.
It's the dealer's responsibility to put in the fluids, I believe most all bikes are shipped dry to the dealership. I would definitely let them know about the screwup, any damage is their responsibility IMO. Hard to say if there is any damage to cilinder or piston, doesnt sound like you ran it too long but damn that sucks
For sale: 24 honda…low hrs…new coolant…
The Shop
I'm sure there is no damage. Only 5mins total of idle and riding without coolant. Less than 50% throttle. that's one of the reasons why I didn't feel like I needed to go back plus I didn't have a truck at the time.
Nah I won't sell it. I'm just glad that I caught it on time. I wish I checked sooner though.
FI bikes idle higher than you think. From what I see online, double check your manual, yours is 2000 rpm.
The bikes come from the factory with fluids.
It was always that way when I built bikes for a Kawasaki dealer in the ' 90's. Maybe it's different now. You might have new laws for shipping with dangerous fluids and restriction, etc. With MX bikes and off road the assembly was only chassis related items like handlebars, front fender, cables, and controls.
My 93 CR125 gearbox was bone-dry. Coincidentally, the only bike I’ve ever taken straight from the dealer to the track. Fortunately, I gave the bike a once-over.
One more reason every bike I buy gets torn down when I get home, greased, torqued, etc. over the years I’ve found loose bars, a loose front axle, underfilled fluid(s), etc.
My favorite of all-time, however, were my dad and my 07 CRF450s. Walked in, paid, signed paperwork, and went to load them only to see the rear tires were smoked. Not worn a little, not slightly scuffed-at least 1/4” rounded off every center leading edge, with the outer skin peeling. Sales guy (who we had dealt with for years) turns white and grabs tech. Tech (a 300lb, mouth breather) condescendingly tries to explain that the bikes “have to be run through all the gears” and attempted to justify what was obviously a full-throttle practice start down the paved road by the shop. Idiot.
If they didn’t put coolant in they def didn’t pull the swing arm and linkage and grease anything.. bad dealership.
I'm more surprised that someone purchased a new race bike without a way to transport it What's your plan here? $9600 bike to ride laps in the back yard?
As I said "at the time". I have a truck now. I use to rent u-haul van with my brother. The dealership offered to deliver it for free.
Im 30 years old I use to ride a lot when I was a teen on my yz250f and I had a bunch of 125 two strokes but I never hit the track because I couldn't afford nice gear and a truck...
I bought this bike as a "track only" bike. No trails. No wheelies. I have all fundamentals down just need to put it to use on the racetrack and hopefully compete.
I agree I definitely had a bad experience with that dealership but there is no need to grease the swing arm and linkage bearings for the first few hours as it already comes greased from the factory...Honda would never put those bearings in bone dry. Doesn't hurt to do though for your own sake...
Plus I won't be doing suspension/linkage work. All that will be done at Factory Connection and I will do engine service myself.
Dude...don't worry about losing friends on this. I would talk to the dealer where you bought the bike and let them know what happened. Get it on record so if it blows up early....you can get it fixed by the shop. Don't let the dealer take advantage of your good attitude and nice ways.
I bought this bike a little over a year ago haven't ridden it because I had just got a new job and was also overweight. I did not want to risk getting hurt(wasnt training and not physically fit) and having to take PTO right after just getting hired... Anways, If there was a warranty it's definitely expired at this point especially for this particular machine. If there was a way the dealer could scan the ECU to check "total honest hours" that can't be modified or deleted then maybe I might have a chance but reality is I have experience building motors and servicing my previous bikes and I'm much more confident in my own work VS a dealership mechanic... even if the money for parts is coming out of my own wallet.
I had a bad experience as a teenager where a guy that built my motor for my 03 yz250f and forgot to tighten the big bolt in the cylinder head that separates the oil from the coolant(no idea what it's for). It spew coolant inside the motor and it had to have been overheating for 5min+ before it locked up. the bolt dropped through the cam chain passage way and jammed between the chain and cam sprocket on the crankshaft where I found it. To make matters worse he also forgot to install the 2nd valve keeper into one of the intake valves. When first I noticed upon inspection that there was only one keeper I hesitated to think because I was 16 years old with very little mechanical knowledge. 3 hours later(after repair/flushing fluids) dropped the valve and destroyed my high comp JE forged piston and ported and polished race head. Right when it blew up it hit me and I thought shit!! And knew exactly why opened the top end end saw that exactly valve had dropped... Told the guy exactly what happened and what I found and no he did not cover me with a "warranty"....Shit like that is why I do my own work.
Also, From what Ive heard the new CRF race spec engines as well and Yamaha and maybe a few others have an auto ignition shut down when the bike overheats. Mine did not shut off because there was no coolant in it.. I saw a video on dirtbiketv1 insta channel and he was working on newer CRF that overheated from idling for 1hr and 45min. His bike did not shut off assuming there was coolant in it... So WTF is the point of the coolant temp sensor? The MIL light only goes off when a sensor isn't registering a defined signal to the ECU(faulty sensor) but the manual doesn't say anything about it going off if it's overheating.
The coolant temp sensor is probably used to change the mapping while the bike is heating up. I don't think any MX bikes have auto shutdown due to high coolant temp. In the case of no coolant I don't know if the sensor would even read that high. The CRF doesn't have a tip over sensor either.
Pit Row
I agree that it's probably not for shutting off the bike or else they would have mentioned that feature... And no if there is no coolant then the coolant sensor will not detect a correct reading. My bike seemed to run the same when there was no coolant in it though. I would have expected back firing if it was overheating.
There isn't a o2 sensor on the factory bike so the exhaust header and it's seal(back pressure) is what they tuned off of.. but I never heard of tuning using coolant temp. It does sound like it would work though.
I'll keep you guys updated as I put hrs on the bike to see if it blows up before 40-50hrs(competition note book that came with the bike and repair manual does not mention when to replace crankshaft assembly). will do top end inspection and piston and rings at 15-20 hrs as also required.
Does anyone know when to overhaul the bottom end of this bike? I'm guessing 40-50 hrs.....And can you believe the manual says to replace oil after 15 hrs 😂
I guess they would never not put coolant in either, lol.
My '96 KX250 left the factory with no head gasket.
Yeh indeed, I do believe some of the mx bikes rich up the fuel a little when it starts to run hot, and also go into a safe map if sensor signal is lost, but that's about it. It makes sense, you don't want a bike to shut off right on the lip of a double because a temp sensor goes bad.
It should have came with coolant from the factory. The dealer should have checked it in their Pre-Delivery check though.
Unless you’re holding it off the limiter in the A class I’d go double on those top end intervals.
I'm surprised none mentioned resetting ECU/TPS.... Does anyone know how? I'm gonna put in a fresh tank of shell nitro+ 91 in it this weekend and try it out.
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