The Honda PCX / Forza / ADV150 / SH Forums

Recently sold my 2010 Elite 110 and bought a lightly used 2013 PCX150 with 3500 miles on it for $1700. So far I am enjoying this thing so much more than my Elite, which was still a great bike. Interestingly, I am getting just over 100mpg based on 3 fill ups compared to the Elite that got about 85mpg, and this has much better acceleration and about 20mph faster top end.
Things I have done or added in the 3 weeks that I have owned it:

• Valves adjusted, they were out of spec, both rather tight.
  Oil changed 10-40 HP4M engine, 10-30 HP4M final drive.
  Coolant swapped with Honda OEM blue... oddly green is what drained, I am not sure if that was the factory fill, since Honda has been using the blue stuff for a while. My Elite had blue. Maybe it was changed before for some reason.
  Still need to do the brake fluid, but may upgrade the pads, maybe even a stainless line. Brakes seem rather mediocre for such a light bike. They work fine, I just expected a little better.

Add ons:

• Givi medium windscreen... though I may opt for the larger one. This one looks great, but not impressed with it in actual functionality.
  
  Michelin City Grip tires, stock size. Great improvement in ride quality. Stock tires were in Ok shape, but getting close to 5 years old from assembly date, I figured I would just change them. I added Ride On tire balancer and sealant, half of the 8oz bottle in each tire.
  
  Cheeky Seats custom seat cover, dehumped the seat and put this on. I may still mod the seat pan to get rid of the plastic mounting areas that stick up as I can still feel them somewhat. I really like the Cheeky Seats cover and they made me one based on what I wanted... though I do think that the stitching needs to be sealed on the underside as the padding that is sewn in it did get a little wet in a heavy downpour.
  
  NCY variator, drive face and 13g rollers (seems to be the popular choice on the boards).
  
  Installed the newer version of the PCX belt (2015+ I think). The cogged belt. There didn't seem to be a definitive agreement whether it would work on the 2013. We'll find out! Spec is I believe 1mm wider than the 2013 new spec belt, otherwise it is the same length. It is quite a bit more flexible than the stock one, so that may help in mpg and overall responsiveness. The old stock one is thicker, less flexible and without the cogs, seems to hold a shape after being held in position for a few.
  
  Malossi winged clutch bell.
  
  Malossi full exhaust. I looked around on the boards and the web a bit and I am surprised this isn't the go too muffler choice. $329 free shipping and super easy install and great fitments. Comes with header, mounting hardware and bracket. All stainless steel with a carbon fiber end. All you need is a new $1 exhaust gastket (I don't recommend reusing the old one). It sounds fantastic and looks better than most of what I have seen. I haven't tried it with the stock insert (db reducer). I took that out before installing it and it sounds like a single cylinder sport bike. Not obnoxious overly and isn't too loud at cruising levels to become annoying.
  
  I also added the Honda factory rack, it was $35 on Amazon. I plan on adding a Shad top case... still debating on SH33, SH37, SH39 or SH40. I plan on drill mounting the adaptor plate to the rack, since this rack was cheaper and looks nicer and sturdier than the Shad mount for almost $70.

Anyway, I just installed the driveline additions and muffler this past weekend, so I've only put about 100 miles on it with the on and off rain. Overall it feels much peppier. Haven't tried a top speed run, but I do know I was able to get to 60 faster and easier than before the upgrades. And the sound. By far the favorite upgrade. I will try with the stock insert in at some point, just to get an in person idea of both options.

I previously added this post in the gallery section, but didn't realize the images displayed so large... can't seem to find where to delete that post...

Admin will delete your other post. WELCOME!

Nice to have members who get in there and get it done. My valve clearance was tight too but I left it hoping to wear it in but your bike has miles by now so good work. Rubber looks great! Your choice of muffler is looking good too AND it seems to have the same header to ground clearance as the stock one. (the problem with some of these aftermarket exhausts) If you did all that without a service manual then you have skills. The cogged belt on a 2013 needs to be reviewed over time but I'm sure you will not have any problem. The 15's came out with cogged belts of exactly the same dimensions. Seat looks GREAT! Keep up the good work. Pictures are just right on my monitor

homie wrote:Admin will delete your other post. WELCOME!

Nice to have members who get in there and get it done. My valve clearance was tight too but I left it hoping to wear it in but your bike has miles by now so good work. Rubber looks great! Your choice of muffler is looking good too AND it seems to have the same header to ground clearance as the stock one. (the problem with some of these aftermarket exhausts) If you did all that without a service manual then you have skills. The cogged belt on a 2013 needs to be reviewed over time but I'm sure you will not have any problem. The 15's came out with cogged belts of exactly the same dimensions. Seat looks GREAT! Keep up the good work. Pictures are just right on my monitor

Hey thanks! And thanks for the PM... as a new user I cannot reply to PMs yet.

The budget I had set aside for a bike allowed me to get this one and make immediate upgrades rather than getting a newer model and I am happy I went that route. It's always fun to do a few customizations. Luckily I was able to find torque specs for the things I worked on and a few walk throughs on this forum and on YouTube. Plus I have had several motorcycles and the Elite 110 that I did the maintenance on over the years. Other than taking off so much plastic, it wasn't too bad.

On your valves you should note - at least on previous motorcycles I have had or experience I have heard - I have never had valves go looser over time. They have always gone tighter as I am assuming they seat slightly further into the valve seats. I'm no mechanic, so don't take my word on it, but definitely might wanna ask around. Running a hair looser is safer for your valves than riding them a little tighter.

Welcome and nice ride! I'm sure you will enjoy it immensely. Yes the fuel economy is staggering. I have averaged US 102MPG since I purchased mine almost 3,500km ago. Really great bike for what it is.

Cheers!

markgj wrote:Hey thanks! And thanks for the PM... as a new user I cannot reply to PMs yet.

On your valves you should note - at least on previous motorcycles I have had or experience I have heard - I have never had valves go looser over time. They have always gone tighter as I am assuming they seat slightly further into the valve seats. I'm no mechanic, so don't take my word on it, but definitely might wanna ask around. Running a hair looser is safer for your valves than riding them a little tighter.

Yep, you have to make a few posts, but you can read PM's and click on hyperlinks I hope Ouch! this is news about the valves, I'm not worthy of making the whisper'er list and count on you people telling me these things. I was 100 thousandth's tight on both intake and exhaust at the first check around 600 miles, my next service will be telling at 10k I guess. That 2013 and a NCY vario kit will be hitting close to 80 mph I suspect... sweet!

Homie: he makes a good point. Loose valves =lots of power and MPG. Tight valves can =a burnt valve (depending on severity of course but a few hundred thousants will not cause issues).

Adjust those valves!

ScottDR wrote:Homie: he makes a good point. Loose valves =lots of power and MPG. Tight valves can =a burnt valve (depending on severity of course but a few hundred thousants will not cause issues).

Adjust those valves!

I will sleep a little better now... thanks Scott. Dude did this without a Service Manual, I thinking to put him on the trusted member PCX whisper'er list unless he starts talking about aliens or bore kits

LOL. I agree. He's done a lot already.

ScottDR wrote:Homie: he makes a good point. Loose valves =lots of power and MPG. Tight valves can =a burnt valve (depending on severity of course but a few hundred thousants will not cause issues).

Adjust those valves!

Loose valve (clearance) doesn't lose lots of of horsepower, or horsepower in general within reason. The PCX doesn't have lots of horsepower to start with.

Tight valve clearance is something different. Just less to play with and the effects of heat. No biggie either way.

you you wrote:

ScottDR wrote:Homie: he makes a good point. Loose valves =lots of power and MPG. Tight valves can =a burnt valve (depending on severity of course but a few hundred thousants will not cause issues).

Adjust those valves!

Loose valve (clearance) doesn't lose lots of of horsepower, or horsepower in general within reason. The PCX doesn't have lots of horsepower to start with.

Tight valve clearance is something different. Just less to play with and the effects of heat. No biggie either way.

Agreed. I definitely wanted to be sure I was at a .009 or .010 on the exhaust since spec is .009 +/- .001 and I added the new pipe which probably can effect the back pressure.

On bikes I I've had I've always adjusted to spec and that generally results in faint valve tick at cold idle that vanishes when at running temp (heat expansion and oil viscosity change). But I think you'd have to be really tight on the exhaust for a while to burn up a valve, and on a single cylinder bike you'd probably notice performance issues before it got to that point since there's not other cylinders contributing to the power output. Either way, both clearances are allowed +/- .001, so that's still three values for each that is still considered fine spec-wise (e.g. exhaust can be .008, .009, .010 and be service spec).

Sorry, I miss typed on my phone. I meant loose valves=loss of HP. Not lots, as stated we don't start with tons

In Honda automotive engines valve lash set cold at factory specified clearances makes the most power on the dyno vs any combo of intake loose, exhaust tight and vise versa. Even just to the outer tight or loose end of specified range.

Congrats....flat black the engine pipe with hi temp paint, looks more OEM and accentuates the rest of the malossi. The pipe turns multicolor after use.

That is sharp, Glen!

Jge64 wrote:Congrats....flat black the engine pipe with hi temp paint, looks more OEM and accentuates the rest of the malossi. The pipe turns multicolor after use.

That does look nice

That bike looks great Glen... tribal and all.

Jge64 wrote:Congrats....flat black the engine pipe with hi temp paint, looks more OEM and accentuates the rest of the malossi. The pipe turns multicolor after use.

Looks great! I do love this exhaust so far, and I'm kind of looking forward to the pipe yellow and blueing ... and hopefully even the muffler discoloring a little with heat!

The muffler will not discolor, it's up to you if you like the multicolored pipe, I just think it looks raw and unfinished.