Newbie questions on FE 450 maintenance & odo computer

What oil (brand and weight) are you guys running in your bikes? The manual said 10w50 (I believe) - is that what everyone's sticking with?

I've run Rotella T in my CRF's and have never had an issue - in fact, it's proven very good in both the engine and the tanny side of the power plant of the CRF. No signs of wear, great piston/ring life (75 on the mx bike before it was changed out, 110 and still going on the X)

It (oil) lets you know very well when it's tired in the tranny - shifting will go from buttery smooth to notchy in a very small window of time (say a short day at the MX track). When it's drained, it will be a bit darker, but never ugly or black. Same w/the engine side. I actually was lead this direction on Thumper Talk and it was a great way to go.

So on this new Berg, what is the thinking about running Rotella in it?

How often do you guys replace the oil in your rides? I've always tried to do it about every 8 to 10 hours - I'm not hard on my machines - don't bounce them off the rev limiters, don't abuse the clutch - but I am aggressive in use.

The computer that came with the bike - the instructions show all sorts of actions that it's supposed to do - all I can manage to get is the speedo, odo and what I believe to be an hour meter.

If I hold down the "O" button, it will go into a menu that shows the options listed in the manual, but they don't seem to be activated (activatable? - not really a word, but sounds good!). I just wonder if I'm missing some simple step in running through it.

And is the hour meter a cumulative meter? - once again, the instructions were a bit vague and I was sort of scanning them - so there's a good chance I've just missed something simple and basic.

Thanks in advance.

Re: RE: Newbie questions on FE 450 maintenance & odo com

cyclesoul said:

I use the top of the line motul double ester, purely because i can get it for wholesale from my bro! Smells seriously edible, which may not be such a good thing

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LOL - yea, I would avoid eating it or cooking w/it. Oil smell is about the only thing I miss about a two stroke bike. There's nothing like the smell of a great two stroke oil mixed w/race fuel. Ah, the good ol' days - at least in the olfactory aspect. :wink:

As for the computer, mine was initally the same till I played with all the buttons and now it has every function I could eva imagine! Wish I could tell you what I did, but it was purely random! try holdn down all the buttons

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Gotcha - the School of Hard Knocks method. Why did I have a feeling this was going to be my option too? LOL! Time to go push and hold buttons in a random manner, hoping I don't kill it.

Yes it is a cumulative hour meter, very handy for remembering to change the oil n whatnot. I too change mine every 8-10hours.

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Perfect. Thanks.

tazer said:

Mine is the same, if you read the owners manual ( page 14) it says that the trip master computer is an optional accessory! So I'm thinking the standard one is just speed, hours and odo. Did 80kms in the hills today on my new 570 what a machine!
Regards Steve

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One thing that I noticed is that the EU and AUS bikes are set up differently than the US bikes. I wonder if this is part of the issue where you're seeing something different than I - I'm guessing that mine's the standard, so yea, just speed, hrs & odo. I'll go read the manual again this afternoon. I'm headed back out into the woods again today, so I'll screw around w/the unit while having the manual near again. As long as I don't reset the hour meter, I'll be happy w/the rest of the setup. It's the main thing I want to keep track of.

It seems that I saw something about an option (possibly US thing again?) that allows activation/manipulation of the dash via a bar mounted switch. I'll look into that too.

I did get into some sort of setup mode that showed all sorts of options, but I wasn't able to get any of them to activate. I'm obviously missing something simple (or maybe for once I'm just plain dumb. 8) )

Thanks for the insight thus far. I'll keep you guys posted on anything that I may find or manage to make work.

Oh - one more question: The line that runs up the brake line for the dash sensor - does yours make a fairly tight bend off of the brake line, up above the number plate and then head back behind the number plate or is it a nice smooth radius'd transition?

Mine comes off the brake line and then makes a fairly tight 90 degree bend. It feels like there is a piece of tubing under the shrink wrap that seals it up. The tubing (at least to me) should be one constant piece, not have an edge where it allows the wires to make a sudden bend. Looks like a perfect stress riser and the ideal spot for the wires to wear out and break.

If you guys have the same tight bend, then I'll leave mine alone for the time being. If not, then I'll go in and redo it so it has stress relief and a better transition from the brake line. (does this make sense or should I take a pic?)

RE: Re: RE: Newbie questions on FE 450 maintenance & odo

Futzed around w/the unit this afternoon. Man, I can't get it to do squat. I have the manual sitting here next to me - reads like old DOS instructions...

I need to sit down w/the manual and the bike and push, push, push buttons... Didn't get a chance to do that this afternoon - too busy riding!