Winterizing Forza NSS300

Having trouble? Need more info on something mechanical? Ask here!

Moderator: Modsquad

stryder123
Forum Benefactor
Forum Benefactor
Posts: 106
Joined: Wed Aug 29, 2012 2:41 pm
Year: 2014 forza
Color: Red
Location: Indiana, usa

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by stryder123 »

Battery tenders are computerized to watch the battery voltage. They are safe to leave on all winter because they only put current into the battery if it gets low. A trickle charger puts a small but constant current into the battery and will over charge it if left on all winter. I started to use a battery tender five years ago and have not replaced a battery since.
SECoda
Honda Forza 300 &
Honda Forza 300 &
Posts: 1312
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 2:49 pm
Location: USA

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by SECoda »

We easily blew away our last low record temperature set in 1959 of 23 F when it got to 14 F this morning. It got up to 37 F by 3pm - whew. This is unusual. o_O Snow tomorrow. :o
Monty1952
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 156
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 5:00 pm
Location: Toronto, Canada

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by Monty1952 »

w951sqj1 wrote: I put it up on the center stand to take some of the weight off the tires. Is there anything else I should do?
Rotate the grounded front wheel occasionally to avoid a flat spot and inflate tires fully or a couple pounds more even.
2014 Forza - Silver 2,300km
2013 BMW C600 Sport 0km!
waybar
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 78
Joined: Sat May 10, 2014 7:20 pm
Location: Freeport, IL

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by waybar »

I've left my scoots hooked up to a battery tender all winter for the last 5 years also with no problems.
User avatar
Stormswift
New Member
New Member
Posts: 14
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 7:18 pm
Year: 2014
Color: Red

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by Stormswift »

I am a new Forza 300 2014 owner. The bike was new, dealer leftover. I am used to winterizing my 1st scooter PGO/Buddy 150 cc with Seafoam. The 1st bike was 2009 and had a carb. Forza does not. Seafoam was great for keeping fuel fresh and keeping carbs clean but I am not sure this is what Forza needs. Mechanic suggested Sta-bil. I've never used it and people with smaller scooter at times had problems in the spring starting their bikes. So I am not sure what to do. Has anyone used Seafoam winterizing their Forza? I have no problem. Buying Sta-bil but I am curious...
w951sqj1
New Member
New Member
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2014 4:49 pm
Year: 2014
Color: red

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by w951sqj1 »

I have had my Forza through 2 winters in wisconsin. First year I took the battery out to trickle charge and added Sta-bil to the fuel. Worked great and had no problem starting with Sta-bil in the gas. Second year I did not add anything to the gas (moved and could not find the Sta-bil bottle) and did not take the battery out. I didn't' take the battery out because it was a nightmare getting back in. Never again. I did take it out several times during the winter months ( when dry & no ice) to warm it up and keep battery charged. Once again no problems and will probably do the year 2 again but may buy some more Sta-bil for the gas. Hope that helps
User avatar
easyrider
Frequent Poster
Frequent Poster
Posts: 1597
Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:23 pm
Year: 2013
Color: blk
Location: Long Island , NY, Tampa, Ft laud

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by easyrider »

These Honda's are made well, so not much of anything really needs to be done, but if you are anal about it, you might want to treat the vinyl and rubber components with some silicone or protectant. Make sure the silicone is suitable for plastic. Make sure the tires are up off the ground and on the center stand, and fully inflated. Check or change the antifreeze, change the oil and then run the engine. Batteries are the culprit usually. I would remove it and store at room temperature and keep it on a trickle charger. You can remove the spark plug and spray in some oil fog or Marvel Mystery oil and rotate it a couple times. I would run it once or twice a month and get the engine nice and hot if you do not treat the engine as started above. Finally put it away nice and clean and free of any corrosive road chemicals that might be lingering. Cover it with a breathable fabric and see you next spring.
TheMaverick
Frequent Poster
Frequent Poster
Posts: 733
Joined: Fri Apr 17, 2015 12:07 am

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by TheMaverick »

The only thing I do in winter is switch the grip heaters to start and go riding. I will confess to putting a fleece jacket under my usual puffer jacket though (I'm getting soft in my old age).
User avatar
GeorgeSK
Forum Benefactor
Forum Benefactor
Posts: 986
Joined: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:36 pm
Year: 13PCX,15Forza
Color: Both Red
Location: Danvers MA USA

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by GeorgeSK »

I have battery tender leads on the battery. the scoot is stored in a "Shed-in-a-Box" shelter in the backyard. I measure gasoline stabilizer in then I fill the tank in the fall (with 10% EtOH gas - can't get pure in my state). I trot out the charger on the first and fifteenth of the month and top up the battery. If we are REALLY lucky, I might get a ride or two in over the winter. Come spring, both scoots have simply started and I have gone on my merry way.

I would not put too much angst into winter storage.

BTW - if you do decide to put protectant (Armor-All or whatever you might use on your car vinyl) on your plastics, don't put it on your seat. It will take years for it to wear off to where you don't slide around on acceleration and, more noticeably, deceleration. If you carry a pillion, you will hear about it for the rest of your life.
On my scoot, getting there is WAY more than half the fun!

Please paste this address into a new tab and add yourself to the map: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1NlP7xk7KMdJReQnm-iDhldFBdpQ&ll=4.995760578398276%2C0&z=2
but please, don't delete anybody, no matter how badly they deserve deleting :)
aguim
Regular User
Regular User
Posts: 274
Joined: Sat Nov 05, 2016 2:03 pm
Year: Forza 300
Color: red/2014
Location: northern ontario

Re: Winterizing Forza NSS300

Post by aguim »

[quote="Stormswift"]I am a new Forza 300 2014 owner. The bike was new, dealer leftover. I am used to winterizing my 1st scooter PGO/Buddy 150 cc with Seafoam. The 1st bike was 2009 and had a carb. Forza does not. Seafoam was great for keeping fuel fresh and keeping carbs clean but I am not sure this is what Forza needs. Mechanic suggested Sta-bil. I've never used it and people with smaller scooter at times had problems in the spring starting their bikes. So I am not sure what to do. Has anyone used Seafoam winterizing their Forza? I have no problem. Buying Sta-bil but I am curious...[/quot

I used it last year, works just fine, plus I filled the tank with non-ethanol. I also shoot some storage
oil through the intake with the air filter off and let it 'smoke' a little while (just a few seconds, then
kill the engine). After that I just make sure the engine is on Compression stroke by slowly rotating
the variator till appropriate resistance is felt.

The worst part is battery removal/installation. Used to take about half an hour, and a lot of profanities,
too. Something had to be done, so I dremeled-out the bleeping cover till it fit without a fight, then
decided to use only one of its three mounting bolts, the front one (the other two's heads can
be seen where I drilled 1/2" holes in the cover -- they still serve as battery box mountings! Now takes
about 5 mins to remove/install the battery (with short rubbers placed under each pole nut).

I chose to remove the battery since the Forza is stored in the COLD. I mean COLD. Otherwise a
tender would be preferable, as done by many.
Post Reply