Valve clearances

[censuwine]

I just realised that valve clearances on the PCX must be inspected every few thousand kilometers. The thing is that to get to the valve clearances you have to dismantle the scooter virtually to its individual pieces. Am I the only one to think this is ridiculous? I suspect this is the same with most scooters. Do you guys check the valve clearances as per recommendations or do you just keep using the scooter and hope for the best? I've had my PCX for 12 years and clocked up 60,000 kms on it and I am almost sure the valve clearances were never inspected by the mechanics.

[mymitzi]

Honda is liberal when it comes to oil changes [5k]but over does it on the valve checks. Have had my PCX for about 10 years. More miles than yours.
Still waiting for it to "act up" [hard starting, lack of power etc] Runs as well as ever. I Had intensions early on to do a valve check but a members
tale about a trip he took..... at the end of which he had 30,000 miles on his PCX,was asked , how often he had adjusted/checked the valves, He hadn't.
He said it was running so well, just didn't bother. His story set me to thinking.....maybe I'll try that. Not saying you should follow my or his example.
Just some food for thought.

[censuwine]

Thanks for your input. I'm tempted to do the same but it is just so ridiculous that one has to completely dismantle the bike. Contrastingly, in the case of my BMW R1200R, the valves couldn't be more accessible if they deliberately walked out of the engine. Thanks again! I used to knock European bikes but I've now learned to bite my tongue after my experiences with Honda, Yamaha and, lately, Kawasaki.

[mymitzi]

You're welcome. Have to agree.......not user friendly. Vespa has the right idea with their dog box, easily removed. No "good"
reason other scooter manufacturers can't do the same?? Happy New Year to all.

[Martin J]

I did my own valve clearances at 8000 miles. Checking the valves took about 5 mins, but getting the plastics off took over an hour, then another hour to replace them.
And typically, the clearances were spot on!