I bought a 2008 Foreman ES with power steering back in July. Have only put about 10 miles and 1.5 hours on it. I am getting ready to take it to Colorado Elk Hunting in October. The manual recommends that you get the first service done pretty early after getting it.

Question is I have put hardly any time on it. Should I get it done or do you think it will be ok?

Thanks

 

I always do my first oil/filter change after about 1 hour of break-in riding, to get any metal shavings out of the engine first thing. Hondas do come pretty clean from the factory (Yamhas come filthy on the other hand!), but still a really good idea. I change it again at 10 and 20 hours staying with petroleum oil, then switch to an ester synthetic like Redline or Maxima Extra.

I also change out the front and rear drive oils at around 5-10 hours for the same reason.

The most important service is the valve adjustment at around 20 hours, just after it is completely broken in....so it is now way to early for that. Go put 20 hours on it before you leave, adjust the valves, and you are good to go.......

 

Also, my typical mountain ride goes from 4,000' in the valley to 11,000'+ in the mountains...all in one days ride! I deal with the altitude change by placing a couple of Thunder TPI Valves in the airbox lid.

I open then as I ascend in altitude, and close them as I descend. This is indeed a rejet, I am just increasing the air intake rather than decreasing the fuel like in a classic rejet. Works great, and airbox lids are cheap, so you can put a new one back on when you get back home....works great!

Thunder Products - Performance carburetor and clutching for snowmobiles, motorcycles and ATVs.

 

 

I would be reluctant to trust a brand new quad on a remote mountain ride, that I had not put through its paces to be sure it didn't have any problems....

 

For now I'd at least change the oil and filter before you leave. Outside of that, I usually recommend having the 1st service done at the dealer (if they have a good service department). This way they know its been serviced correctly if you have a warranty issue, but also have them check and adjust everything. Valves in the engine, all cables (as new cables tend to stretch) and whatever else needs to be done. This way everything is broken in, and adjusted probably for the life of the bike. This is what I had done on my Foreman when it was new in 1998, and i never had to adjust the cables since.

 

Don't forget to do the clutch adjustment.

Also, check the various fasteners. My Rincon came with the lock nuts loose on the tie rod ends... Fortunately I always carry tools, but had to guess at the alignment on the side of the trail on the first trip.

I was gone for a week, so I did the oil change in camp. Did the valve check a little late, but they were all perfect and no adjustment was required.

I still wouldn't go much beyond 20 hours on the valves. Like ReconRanger, doing the oil early is a good idea, though I switch to synthetic a little later.

 

A friend of mine brought his new BMW to the dealer for his first oil change at 10K and they said they wouldn't change it until 20K!

 

BMW car?

I just bought an R1200GS Adventure, which calls for the first oil change, head torq, valve adjust and final drive oil change at 600 miles...