New '11 Silver Wing Owner --What Needs Gone Through?

Hello all! New member and new Silver Wing owner here. The bike is new to me at 18800miles and the "V" light is on. Seems to run ok. I have checked the oil, tire pressure while test riding it. Seems from what I read a belt job is in order. What else needs gone through to ensure it keeps scooting under my ownership? Thanks in advance!

Most likely due a belt change at 16k and the PO ignored it, although that might have been done and something else has triggered the V light - search for lots of info.
Other than that it's just the usual fluids.
These are very tough bikes from Honda's peachy period with no inherent faults.
If you intend to work on it yourself it is worth downloading the service manual.

Definitely worth looking at the belt! If it breaks on the highway the results may not be pretty. Open the belt housing and do an eyeball inspection, if it is fairly clean and the belt is not cracked it might have been replaced. If there is loads of black belt debris inside, clean it out and consider a new belt.

Me personally? I would replace the belt and if it does have a decent one then keep the old one for a spare! Here is a good video to guide you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq4Y2rEJdSw

Welcome aboard the board SWingSteve.  Likely the automatic belt replacement reminder light went on and the previous owner either didn't replace the belt yet or did not reset the reminder manually (which you have to do to turn it off).

If you have service records, check them to see if the belt was changed when it should have been.  If no records, check the belt itself ... likely it was not changed. You can visually inspect it and also measure it according to the FSM specs.  It's likely due to be replaced.

For fluids, I'd start with the engine oil & filter and rear drive gear fluid (same 10-40 oil as the engine), then the brake fluid bleed and replace, and finally the coolant fluid replacement. 

You have the main air filter to check and the smaller one in the drive system (can't remember what it's called right now).  With the mileage ridden, your tires have likely already been replaced. 

These machines are really bulletproof and once you've caught up on your regular maintenance, all that's left to do is ride and enjoy!

sonuvabug wrote:

You have the main air filter to check and the smaller one in the drive system (can't remember what it's called right now). 

It simply called the “element.”

Honda OEM Part 11356-MCT-000

I just installed a new one as there wasn’t one in my cvt transmission cover when I took it off. I assume the original one disintegrated. I ordered this one from eBay but they’re also available on Amazon. .

Awesome! Thanks for the advice fellas. I got a factory reprint of the manual on the way, a disassembly tool and right now looking at sourcing a Honda belt based off others experience keeping with OEM. I kinda like having everything I need at hand before I year stuff apart. Lol. I didn't think of a belt housing breather, I'll hop on Amazon and see what's what. Many thanks again!

Btw, should I consider changing to Dr. Pulley 26g sliders at the same time as the belt? Anything else while I am in there? Found the breather, $8 so not bad!

As veteran of two new SilverWings and near 100,000 miles with them---replace belt with OEM---leave rest of drive line stock=it works. Ride.

There’d be nothing wrong with doing Dr Pulley sliding weights (sliders). 26 gm would be a good start, 24 gm for more impressive performance. There’s nothing wrong with sticking with the OEM variator rollers until you become well adjusted to your new ride. Then you’ll appreciate the Dr Pulley’s even more. And, yes, as Mr Grinsel counsels, the OEM belt is best.

SWingSteve wrote:

Btw, should I consider changing to Dr. Pulley 26g sliders at the same time as the belt? Anything else while I am in there? Found the breather, $8 so not bad!

I just installed the GBoost too.

In addition to the GBoost belt, I installed the 26gm Dr. Pulley sliders. I just rode it 130 miles on the interstate for the first time this afternoon with the new belt and sliders.

Together they made an immense improvement in my (neglected, 7000 mile) 2006 Silverwing. Better acceleration from a stop and amazing passing acceleration, much less vibration on first starting out.

(When I removed the cvt cover, there was black powder caked everywhere from the original belt, the element was gone, and the whole driven clutch assembly was severely rusted. Fortunately the rust was superficial and that and the cover in general cleaned up well.)

Hello Everyone! I decided to go for it, albeit mildly, with the 26g sliders and pieces from Dr. Pulley. Breather is on the way too, just have to source a Honda belt. Best price I can find for OEM, in the states, is $150, does that sound right?

Also, as far as fluids seems like this would be a good time to do the final drive with the cover off, no? After this, I plan on oil change, flushes for coolant and brake fluid, and perhaps Iridium plugs, since I have no service records. Would like to get all the routine maintenance out of the when weekend weather is fair (no garage at my new home ).

So far I have been enjoying riding the Wing to work, so long as it isn't raining...I don't have rain gear yet, nor much experience on wet road surfaces at the moment. It does well even on a short bit of highway at 70mph but when accelerating from or holding a low speed 15-20mph I can hear & feel some NVH that just doesn't seem Honda-like...hoping this maintenance will alleviate that like others report.

SWingSteve wrote:

…when accelerating from or holding a low speed 15-20mph I can hear & feel some NVH that just doesn't seem Honda-like...hoping this maintenance will alleviate that like others report.

Apparently the Silverwing is notorious for this. Mine definitely improved with new belt, sliders and changing the final drive oil. But the NVH is still there in the background.

Honda is funny with its part prices and always have been. When inventory is high prices remain stable but when they are just about to sell the remaining ones it goes up. I suspect not many OE belts left and prices reflect that. A year ago, belts were about $110-115 add a little inflation still doesn't equate to $150. Bboost belt at 3K and working fine for me.
I'm about 400 miles from 32K and that V-light will be on for sure. Reset and forget. 24G sliders and V-light never comes on except at 16K intervals.

As to your final drive oil. It is a VERY easy job to drain and refill I do mine every other oil change. Look for instructions on this forum under pictorials. So you can do it now or do it later when you change engine oil it's not a big deal! Good luck.

Being new to the Silverwing, the terminology is sometime lost. Things like ; rollers and sliders and SIZING them and then theres NVH?
Cansomeone educate

NVH = noise, vibration and harshness. Usually used in association with how comfy your car is on a journey.
Rollers = sliders = things in the CVT transmission. They are flung centrifugally outwards and cause the CVT gear ratio to change to a taller gear. Lighter weight rollers allow the bike to rev up more initially, heavier weights get you to the highest gearing sooner. The dark art of scooter gearing!

Thanks. That makes sense.
I appreciate your response.