The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Hi guys,

My first time to use this forum, so I apologize for any breach of etiquette

I'll cut to the chase: for about a year now I've been having some really annoying problems with my PCX bike. The bike is about 4 years old and has just over 30K on the clock. I've taken good care of it and had it serviced regularly as per the service log that came with it. Unfortunately however, I live in Thailand, and both service quality and mechanic proficiency levels are often found wanting (at least in my experience).

The problems:

1. A really annoying high-pitched squeak has developed in the bike, and nobody seems to be able to fix it or care enough to fix it. It usually only squeaks when starting the bike and taking off at low speeds. The 'engineers' at my local Honda garage state that it's a problem with all PCX bikes and nothing can be done to fix it i.e. that it's a model flaw. I call BS on that. Any ideas?

2. Also, about a year ago the bike started cutting out randomly during journeys. It usually occurred between the 0-40 speed range, and never in the higher ranges. Initially the bike would start chugging or lurching, with the bike losing power on each lurch. This usually developed into popping or struggling sound, and deteriorated until the bike cut out and rolled to a stop. Starting the bike again would often lead to a scenario where the bike would be running but power was intermittent. It would chug and lurch but not move more than a few inches, and eventually cut out again.

I've taken the bike to the Honda garage on 3 occasions over the past year, and each time they said they would fix it, and that they had fixed it when I collected it. Yet, the problem was still there the very next day. Finally, after the 3rd attempt, they admitted that they did not know what the problem was and had another bike they were working on with a similar problem (no sign of any apology or refund were forthcoming however...)

So, I'm still driving around on a faulty motorcycle, down a couple of quid due to Thai incompetence and lack of straight-talking ability. Good news is, I think I may have stumbled upon a possible reason for the outage. I've noticed that when the bike stalls, and multiple attempts at restarting it fail, if I engage the side-stand, rest the bike and then disengage the stand once more to continue driving it always starts without issue and I can drive onwards as normal. At first, I thought there was an issue with the fuel in the tank (maybe it was dirty or congested with some foreign objects), as I thought the tilting of the bike when side-stand is engaged was dislodging something that could freely move about. My discovery that this wasn't so occurred when I experimented with engaging and disengaging the side-stand without tilting/resting/moving the bike from the upright position. The bike started as normal so I figure it wasn't something fuel-tank related, and that it seems to be an issue with the sensor in the side-stand itself. Perhaps a fault or something may be triggering it?

Have any of you guys heard about or had a similar experience? If so, any tips on how I may rectify the problem? And if it requires a replacement part do you know what exact part, is it costly, and can I trust a Thai mechanic to do a good job and not rip me off? I'm almost certain that it's related to the side-stand, do you think I'm on track with that assessment?

Thanks in advance for your help folks, I really appreciate it. This issue has been plaguing me for months...

RRer

Normally what you describe is a fuel related issue and still may be but you seem to have the problem isolated to the side stand switch.So why dont you bypass it and see what happens.Just install a jumper wire.

+1 for the side stand switch,after that I would suggest draining the fuel tank,you might have water in it.

No idea how difficult it's likely to be, when you do it,put the old fuel in a container that you can see easily if water is present,globules at the bottom when it has settled.

I may be completely off on the first item but when the clutch bearing goes you will get that high pitched squeal after a while. It usually starts with a growl but moves on to a squeal as the bearing gets worse.

The second item does sound like a fuel issue... and check that side Stand switch.

Welcome to the forums
As said above:
1, most probably a clutch bearing issue - check by rolling the rear wheel by hand while the bike is on the centre stand. You'll hear and feel it if it's faulty. Then use search function on the site how to address that.
2, Can be a side stand switch, but I can also imagine a dirty or fouled fuel tank breather too. Good news that both are relatively easy to check and repair.