All is not well in Blade land.

[Beamish]

Well I am not too happy to say the least.......over the last 3000 miles I have seen a steady increase in oil consumption and during the last 350 mile ride --I have seen the oil dipstick level drop from 2mm below the full to just reading at the bottom mark . Honda know about this issue and have told dealers that 1000ml per 1000 miles is the acceptable level. This is not my accepted level and today the bike went in for a top up and level record. I have to take it back after 500 miles and they measure it again. If its over the accepted level they sort it, if not its tough . If I am unhappy with the outcome it will be going simple as that. Its a travesty that I am considering this with such a sublime bike. -Nothing else came close IMO on my test rides but I dont want a two stroke blade. I really hope they sort it though.....god knows what I would buy to replace it!

[Beamish]

That's a real shame Jim, it's one hell of a nice bike.

Thanks Mike, thank god I got it before the price hike. I should still be able to break even if it goes to rat s**t. I love it though so I am bloody gutted.

[warby221]

Dreaded synthetic oil syndrome?????

Was it run-in on synthetic oil Jim?

Stuffs that bloody good now it doesn’t let the rings bed in properly
You can see bikes with a few thou miles on them with the honing marks still in the bores all nicely glazed over and there for good

Its crap when they come up with an acceptable usage get-out :mad2 :mad2

[Seeker 77]

Christ Jim, I thought it was on;y cheap and nasty bikes that threw up problems like that. I hope that they get it sorted, i know how it feels to have your pride and (expensive) joy not running right. All the best mate.

Mark

[marravtr]

the 05 plate ive just got rid of was goin through loads of oil (glad ive got the sp now) hope you get it sorted out matey

[Seven Of Nine Firestorm]

Beamish, just drain some oil out before you turn up at the garrage for the check, that way hopefully the work will be done, just an idea.

[sirch345]

I've heard about this oil consumption before Jim, but hadn't realised it was quite so excessive or in your case could be.

It sounds as if Warby could have hit the nail on the head with the glazing of the bores.

I wouldn't be very happy with that either. I hope you get it sorted

Chris.

[Jbrebel]

Oh dear

Hope you get it sorted Jim. Thats pants

[tony.mon]

You could try old oil for the running in period, or just "age" some by adding some swarf and a bit of grinding paste.

Every bike I buy seems to have had that done to it just before I buy it

Anyway, if you kill it you get another one to replace it FOC- that's what a guarantee is all about, isn't it?

And the less it's got in, the lighter it is- and that means faster

(try less brake fluid for the full effect, and drain a bit out of the battery).

This is tip #16 in Tony's Tips, a regular feature whenever someone buys a better bike than mine.

Tip of the day: Fit extra washers under the spark plugs- leaves more space in the combustion chamber, so increases capacity!
Just like fitting a big bore kit

[Beamish]

Yes thanks Tony ! I have looked into this and it seems like a design fault with the rings/ bore liners that Honda dont want to pay for. There are loads of Brit blade owners going through the same Bol*** . Even if you convince honda to pay for the new rings it seems that the bike still uses excessive oil second time around. All the owners come up with various explanations like Warbys theory (Fully Synth) but the truth is that they arrive with mineral then should be changed to fully synth at 600 miles (Honda changed that to semi synth later on in the saga to limit the damage) Some are willing to own a two stroke very powerful and agile Blade but it has killed my confidence in the engine as a whole and I will look to get rid prior to the pictures of the inevitable 'new Blade' hitting MCN's front page and the resale plummeting even further. See other thread for details.

[queensburylad]

Gutted to hear your having bother with the blade Jim mate i know how long it took you to decide the blade was the one for you . I hope honda sort the problem for ya pal. If not i'll take the troublesome bugger off your hands maybe a straight swap for the storm, I know mate im being generous but what are friends for

[Beamish]

Gutted to hear your having bother with the blade Jim mate i know how long it took you to decide the blade was the one for you . I hope honda sort the problem for ya pal. If not i'll take the troublesome bugger off your hands maybe a straight swap for the storm, I know mate im being generous but what are friends for

Aw mate thats nice............. thanks

[Zakalwe]

There have been lots of reports of the new blades using a drop of oil....1L per 1K miles is the figure I keep hearing (maybe someone in Honda are trying to bring back 2-strokes???). It seems to be a bit random......some have said that the engine needs to be ragged fairly hard from new to prevent the bores glazing? Dont use fully synth until after 10K miles is another one I have heard???

Bring it out, ride the bejayzus out of it, see if that makes any difference? if nothing else it will make you feel better?

My 04 blade doesn't use a drop between oilchanges (I change the oil about every 4k miles).....wanna swap?

[Beamish]

Within my limits I ride the crap out of it (I am not Guy Martin ) Its on semi Synth and as you say yours does not use any oil so why the hell should this one! Strange that no-one from outside Europe seems to be getting the oil problem, could it be due to the yanks getting the low power version! I bought the Blade to make it sing and if I have to top the oil up every 300 miles I am not keeping it, simple as that. I would still say the bike is absolute perfection when riddne hard or slow but I cant be stuck with an oil burner that may get worse once the warranty runs out. People say its due to poor run in procedure but if so why is Hondas run in schedule not regimented like Suzuki/Ducati etc.... Seems like good cover for an expensive design error.

[goody]

Heres one theory on engine break in;
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
I don't have to worry about the running in by the time I get them they're running out!