Honda Spree and Elite 50 Forums

Hi, I am the 3rd owner of a 2001 Elite SA50 that just hit the 2000 mile mark. I have searched but couldn├óÔé¼Ôäót find a thread on mid-life maintenance.

1) What should I do for maintenance, and 2) any performance upgrades perfectly suited to this opportunity?

I know I have to clean the exhaust. I am wondering ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ is it worth it to chemical-clean, or should I buy a new OEM muffler for $90? Or---given that I have no other performance upgrades---maybe a custom muffler at $130?

Also, should I replace the piston rings? I assume that full decarbonizing means removing the head anyway? Are there bearings to replace as well as the rings? Is a kit available?

How about removing & cleaning the carb? Or will Seafoam over a couple tanks do the job?

The tires are original. Are the generic replacements OK, or should I find nicer performance tires?

As long as I am changing the gear oil, should I replace the rollers? I am OK with the current acceleration.

The air filter ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ as long as I am cleaning it, should I upgrade? Is that expensive and worth it?

Shocks ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ do they age? Any benefit to replacing? Can I rebuild?

The brakes seem to work OK. It starts great, but farts a little bit under throttle until it warms up. Everything else is just fine! I wouldn├óÔé¼Ôäót mind a little performance bump, but nothing too involved, and I want to avoid trial-and-error.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

bryanska wrote:Hi, I am the 3rd owner of a 2001 Elite SA50 that just hit the 2000 mile mark. I have searched but couldn├óÔé¼Ôäót find a thread on mid-life maintenance.

1) What should I do for maintenance, and 2) any performance upgrades perfectly suited to this opportunity?

I know I have to clean the exhaust. I am wondering ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ is it worth it to chemical-clean, or should I buy a new OEM muffler for $90? Or---given that I have no other performance upgrades---maybe a custom muffler at $130? Its pretty easy to clean one, throw it in a big campfire and blow the ash out tomorrow is my method.

Also, should I replace the piston rings? I assume that full decarbonizing means removing the head anyway? Are there bearings to replace as well as the rings? Is a kit available?
No need to replace anything if its working fine.
How about removing & cleaning the carb? Or will Seafoam over a couple tanks do the job?
Cleaning the carb isnt a bad idea.
The tires are original. Are the generic replacements OK, or should I find nicer performance tires? If they still have a decent amount of tread and aren't cracked, leave em, I would just go with the stockers or whatever is cheapest.

As long as I am changing the gear oil, should I replace the rollers? I am OK with the current acceleration. Check rollers.

The air filter ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ as long as I am cleaning it, should I upgrade? Is that expensive and worth it?No need to upgrade it, just replace if it isn't springy/rotting.

Shocks ├óÔé¼ÔÇ£ do they age? Any benefit to replacing? Can I rebuild? I wouldn't worry about em.

The brakes seem to work OK. It starts great, but farts a little bit under throttle until it warms up. Everything else is just fine! I wouldn├óÔé¼Ôäót mind a little performance bump, but nothing too involved, and I want to avoid trial-and-error. Check wear marks, have a friend pull the brakes while you look at the levers on the wheels, there is a little arrow that should not pass the arrow on the casting its bolted to.

Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!

You can decarb the head with seafoam, just have somebody hold the bike at WOT while you bog it down with seafoam down the intake(remove filter and airbox), do this for a minute or so and then kill it by pouring in too much. Let it sit for 10 minutes and fire it up, dissolved carbon will come out exhaust. You can decarbon the exhaust port using a copper wire as a pick and a vaccum cleaner, be sure to torn the engine over so the piston covers the port.

Keep it full of GN2 oil and cheap gas, ride it like you stole it.