New PCX Owner - Possible Regret

[PCXWAX]

Hello Forum!

New to the forum and the PCX. I would like to appeal to the experts on this forum for some needed suggestions.

I recently bought a 2016 PCX, and I am having second thoughts on it. It was purchased from the second owner who did not ride it much. He was stubborn about the price, even after I pointed out that the original tires needed to be replaced, and that there was a crack in the fairing. He disagreed with my assessment, and only knocked the price down by $100. I bought it anyway, because my Wife just loved it and the color, and it was otherwise very nice. However, after the purchase, I find out both tires do not hold air, the fuel gauge is stuck on full (sending unit), and the front end is making a squealing/pinging noise, and there is no coolant in the overflow tank. I find it hard to believe the previous owner was ignorant of these facts. I realize the ineptitude of my due diligence.

I already replaced the coolant ($20) and bought a set of Bridgestone tires for $100 (install price is $160). I also purchased a set of additional keys ($20), to be cut ($10). I also purchased a new matching fairing for $40 that I will install. I still need to address the fuel sending unit to make the gauge functional, and the sound coming from the front end. I paid $2600 for the scooter, it has 1500 miles on it, and runs good otherwise. So far, (not accounting for insurance, registration, taxes, helmets), I am into the bike for $2950 (with issues still unresolved). Do I keep sinking more money into a 9-year-old scooter, or just sell it, cut my losses and buy new? I am not very mechanically inclined, and there are few options around here besides inflated dealer pricing for mechanical work.

The original plan was to buy new, and this scoot came along locally, and i thought I would be saving money. At least I thought that.

Any of you folks been in this position? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

[mymitzi]

Know the feeling.....You'd like the fuel gauge working but that could wait. Thinking your PCX has the 2 gallon tank and in the mean time,just
reset the trip meter when you fill up and get a handle on how far you can safely go before running out of fuel. My gauge works and most often I
fill according to miles anyway. The noise in the front wheel shouldn't be so bad. Maybe a dry wheel bearing or a brake problem, but you indicate
it runs well otherwise?? Think you could get a better deal on the tire install if you brought the wheels to the shop , or maybe check another shop.
If the PCX has been garaged, I'd hold up on replacing those tires....unless they are weather checked from exposure to the sun. Know they are
8 years old but that's a personal decision?? If the scooter runs as well as you indicate........think you have a decent deal anyway. Wish you the best.

[PCXWAX]

Thanks for the input. I bought a few tools and I will remove the front and rear wheels myself and bring those to the dealer to have the new tires swapped. The existing tires are just not holding air and are due for replacement. I will say the online videos I am finding are helpful.

As far as the front end noise is concerned, I cannot tell if possibly the brake pads need replacement or what could be causing the squealing noise. Bike has low miles to justify new pads.

It seems the best way to offset the cycle purchase is to economize repairs, albeit, these were unexpected. I have read a lot of material in these forums, and many members do just that.

[airhead83]

I'm guessing the bike sat for a good while with the same fuel in the tank.
Since the fuel sending unit is in the bottom of the tank, it's possible either the electrical or mechanical parts of the unit got contaminated with stale fuel. Try running a fuel injector cleaner/gas additive through a few fill-ups and hope for the best.
At worst, you're out a few dollars and you've done no harm.

[PCXWAX]

Is the fuel sending unit and fuel pump attached/one unit? Do I need to remove or disassemble the fuel tank to access the sending unit?

I do have on hand a bottle of Techron fuel system cleaner, what do you suppose is a good amount to add to a two gallon tank?

[airhead83]

I wouldn't do any disassembly yet. Techron should do the job if an additive going to. Just follow the directions on the bottle and guesstimate heavily.
Here's a link to a schematic for a 2016 PCX just so you have an idea what the tank and components look like.
Specifically, part 1 is the 'fuel pump unit', and part 18 is the 'fuel unit'.
https://www.partzilla.com/catalog/honda ... /fuel-tank

[Conelite]

Even if the bike is 8 years old, it barely has any miles. Seems to be very minimal of a restoration effort to have an almost brand new bike. Once you get those couple things squared away, again, you have pretty much a brand new bike.

1500miles is barely broken in. Learn to disassemble the bike with some basic tools and have fun. If you wanted a turn key nothing wrong bike, NEW should have been your choice. Dont be discouraged. Good opportunity to upgrade to the larger tire size. Stock tire size sucks.

Entire fuel sending unit: $100
Fuel float: $20

Easy peesy.

[PCXWAX]

Techron bottle states one ounce per one gallon. I’ll add a few ounces and see where it gets me.

I’m leaning towards a “hard brake” to remedy the squeal up front; if that doesn’t work I’ll grease the back of the brake pads and the pin. Maybe that will fix it.

I took the tires off the scoot and dropped them off to get new rubber. I only bought the stock size, but got a good deal on a matching set of Battlax tires, hopefully they are good.

I appreciate all of the comments. I hope we can get five years of service out of this one, and the next PCX we’ll be a bit more diligent during inspections/negotiations.

Either way, I still shutter at a potential $5500 OTD new PCX. Maybe one day…

[roadslicer55]

Normal maintenance on purchasing a bike/scoot that sat around for years is new tires, fluids, maybe a new battery and cleaning the fuel system. A new scoot OTD is going to be around 5.4k (atleast that's what I payed). All that matters is that you are happy with how it rides, the suspension on these leaves more to be desired. You probably saved around 2.4k. They are vibey, new or old. If it gets up to 30-40 MPH quick, brakes good and doesn't feel like you are driving a lawnmower then I think you did good. You can always upgrade the suspension (best to isolate whether your front squeal issue is brake or suspension related).

I'd say if you are her wants to ride it everyday, you did good.

[PCXWAX]

I figure the savings are $2K + on this PCX.

So far I have replaced the coolant, changed the oil (previous owner put too much in), put Techron in the fuel tank (de-bugged fuel gauge) and installed new tires.

To me, it seems the squeal has been isolated to the rotor/pad area, but the bike stops well, and the sound seems intermittent.

I still have to figure out the plastics on this bike, and that will be another post....

For now, I am truly impressed with the way this machine runs and rides; it is like a car in some ways.

[Conelite]

You can remove the pads pretty easily and take a wire brush to them. Sometimes they just have dust build up and cause them to squeal. Worse case throw a new set of pads.

[tomtomclub2021]

Even if the bike is 8 years old, it barely has any miles. Seems to be very minimal of a restoration effort to have an almost brand new bike.

It is, IF you paid a fair price for it thinking of what follows, and provided you are mechanically sound to perform the following (or the asking price reflected the maintenance list needed)
- Battery is shot if it was not kept on trickle charger
- Oil change (max 2 years even with 0 km, check your manual)
- Final drive oil change
- Brake fluid bleeding and replacement
- Fuel tank, fuel lines and injector inspection and possible cleaning
- Coolant change
- Tires are now hard: say bye bye to wet handling and braking distance

It's high time to dispell that myth that a bike can stand still for years and "be as new" - it's not -it will need maintenance. I did not buy a piaggio MP3 500 a friend was offering recently that stood still since the lockdown for exactly the same reasons listed above- said friend would not beleive it needed that amount of maintenance and just thought a new battery would do...

[Mel46]

Keep in mind that most Honda owners take pride in owning their scooters. This individual was probably not one of them. After you fix whatever you consider a problem, you might take it to a shop to have it serviced. You have no idea when it really was serviced if you can't trust what the previous owner said. I know that I have a low mileage 2013 PCX 150 that I love, but even if I sold it I would make sure it was 100% road worthy before it left my house. That is pride of ownership.