FYI: Did the 1st oil change & filter on Saturday. Took a little time, but not hard to do. It shifts a lot better, quieter and smoother. Auto still sucks, but manual is good. If you do not like the shifting on your P520 wait for the 1st oil change.
Funny, I did mine today too. 1st oil change at 100 miles is crazy. My oil looked perfect.
I haven't rode mine enough to notice after the change to know if it is better now or not.
Rob
I haven't rode mine enough to notice after the change to know if it is better now or not.
Rob
Montecresto
Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
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Club Contributor
Yeah, I remember doing my first and cutting that little biscuit sized filter open and inspecting for shavings or anything and it was clean. 3,500 miles later and many oil changes but no filters. Synthetics, good break in and a little experience with the flick of the shift and it’s smooth as butter….😎
D
I went to the dealership and purchased the Honda oil. I kept reading the manual and how particular it was and decided I might as well drink the Koolaid and go get the approved stuff. Way more reasonable than I expected.
Rob
Rob
I've finally put more miles on my P520 after the oil change. I agree that it is way quieter and shifts better now.
rustyneversleeps
Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
Did you guys cut the access hole to get to the filter? I've got my first service coming up and debating on taking it to dealer or doing it myself...
Hi,
I didn’t cut any access holes to change the oil. You can access the drain plug from below pretty easily. To get to the oil filter, I just removed the seat and then the panels that are over the engine on both sides. Not a difficult job at all, I’m glad I didn’t waste my time and effort going to the dealer so they could charge me way too much.
Rob
No, I did not cut an access hole. Crewcabrob is right it’s not a difficult job. I liked all the room to get to the filter with the panel removed.
“Max’s Moto Shop” did a video on YouTube that helped me. “How to change the oil on a Pioneer 520 / 2021 Honda”
“Max’s Moto Shop” did a video on YouTube that helped me. “How to change the oil on a Pioneer 520 / 2021 Honda”
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CID
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It isn't the oil that's the problem at 100 miles, it's all the milling swarf that's left in there from the manufacturing process. I try to do the first oil change at less than 100 miles on any new engine.
Mudder
NTC Ambassador of Walls
Lifetime Member
Yes, cut the access hole and wished I had done it since the first change. Trigger shield covers the hole.
do you have any pics of were to cut this access hole . if it saves me time to remove all 14 pins..id like to know. Then again i suppose it wouldn't be hard to figured out where to make the hole..
I inspected the oil looking for metal shavings, but luckily there were none.
100 miles seemed crazy for me. The automotive world is much more than that. BMW has 1,200 miles for the break-in oil to come out on the M cars. Granted, you can cover a lot more distance quicker in a car, so maybe the big rig guys have it right and do hours instead of miles.
Montecresto
Montecresto el segundo
Lifetime Member
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Club Contributor
I changed that little biscuit sized filter on the first oil change, cut it open in search of same but found none. The process of changing the filter is so antiquated and ridiculous considering external spin on oil filter tech has been around since the 60’s. Never changed it again, but pull the oil every 400 miles or so and repurpose it for chainsaw bar and chain oil. 7 years and 4,000 miles like that.
Mudder
NTC Ambassador of Walls
Lifetime Member
Some photos in this thread.
P500 - Make oil changes easy!
After pulling screws and pushpins repeatedly every time the oil needed to be changed, I decided I'd had enough and did what Honda failed to, and cut an access hole under the seat: Might go back and add a flap later, but for now, all I gotta do is just reach down and remove the filter. If you...
hondasxs.com
My oil change is coming up in 10 miles or so. I opted for Walmart full synthetic motorcycle oil. Got 4 or 5 filters off of Amazon. I have a Trigger Shield to remove with the panels. I don't think I'm going to cut a hole. I have already adjusted the clutch and man what a difference.
alloutdoors
Well-Known Member
In my experience, when you hit the 500-mile mark/oil change the unit really begins to shift much smoother.
