The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Not that I really plan on riding much in these extreme temps, but after taking a look at this chart from the manual, i was wondering, is it safe to start the bike in temps under about 15F? It looks like this is where the chart ends for the recommended oils.

You'll be fine....dont overthink it.....

You'll be fine....dont overthink it.....

X2

Don't start it unless you're going to ride it.
If the temperature is 15F you're not going to ride it unless you're off your trolley.
In which case it won't matter what oil you use, there will be so many other things to worry about.

Agree with gn2, I ride in the 20's...but I don't torment the motor in the teens without reason otherwise.
Layer up and ride --- or leave it be.
Fish

I was taught that in the winter you should have thinner oil.
...but then I was also taught not to ride when temps are in the teens.
Just imagine riding along, all bundled up, and your face shield fogs up and then freezes.

..or you come around a corner and a water hydrant has broken or is open enough to let water run to the gutter. The gutter is stopped up, so now you have ice...on the corner...right where you're turning.

Or you get a flat in 15°F....

Nope, don't want to ride in those temps. Nope, nope, nope.

The weather isn't always as we'd like it. . .so we adjust and adapt.

Under ideal conditions it is better to ride the machine if you can as others have stated but in circumstances where you want to keep the motor alive, help prevent gaskets from drying out, fuel system from suffering, and promote the battery life I think starting up the machine and letting it run for a while until it's warm is OK. Just make sure if you subscribe to that you change your oil in the Spring and oil and filter every Autumn.

In lengthy periods of really cold weather what I've done over the years is occasionally start up my machines, let them idle for a bit, take a short ride. . .no more than 5 miles. . .and then shut them down. I can handle pretty cold temps for up to 5 miles as long as the road conditions are "ice free". If the temps are above freezing I can go 10 miles without too much fuss. I don't have a snowmobile suit but what I have is warm enough for that short of a ride.

FWIW my Suzuki Bandit is going on 21 years old and my KLR is going on 31 years old. They run fine (although I still need to replace the stator in my KLR). . .but I do make sure I change that oil regularly twice a year and filter at least once.

I spotted this article about warming up motorcycles during the Winter. It's Harley related but worth a look.

https://blog.hotmetalharley.com/should- ... r-storage/

Since I try to ride my scooter every day year 'round I usually adhere to the manufacturer's recommended service schedule for oil changes etc. . ..

However with my motorcycles they do sit for periods of time, mostly in the colder months, and that is why I have been changing their oil twice a year seasonally.

Idling during winter is bad juju, it'll make you impotent.
Just don't.

Idling during winter is bad juju, it'll make you impotent.
Just don't.

Well in that case then maybe it is better to just ride it. . .. What the heck. Time to start a Polar Bear Riding Club.

Old Grinner wrote:

You'll be fine....dont overthink it.....

X2

X3

romnation wrote:Not that I really plan on riding much in these extreme temps, but after taking a look at this chart from the manual, i was wondering, is it safe to start the bike in temps under about 15F? It looks like this is where the chart ends for the recommended oils.

In a word, yes. In order to meet SAE qualifications for a 10W-xx oil, it has to have acceptable cold cranking down to -13°F. (see attached chart)
I've used 15W-40 in my old 70cc Honda Super Cub here in CO down to about 15°F and 15W-50 in my car down to about 0°F. Neither one were especially happy about it, but they both started.