Honda NM4 Vultus (2014-2018) Maintenance Schedule and Service Intervals
This is the maintenance schedule and associated service intervals for the Honda NM4, which was made between 2014 and 2018. It was also known as the “Vultus” in some markets.
The Honda NM4 is a touring motorcycle with futuristic style and proportions. It’s definitely one of those Honda motorcycles that makes you think “this is what Batman would ride!”. But it’s a gentle bike. It’s what Batman’s cool aunt would ride, maybe.
The NM4 is powered by a 670cc parallel-twin with a 270-degree crank, a cruisy engine tuned for relaxed riding and not hard-core hammering. It’s based on the same engine and frame as the CTX700, but with a new sub-frame. It also has steeper rake, shorter trail, longer wheelbase, an 18-inch front tyre and a 200-section rear, giving it very distinct handling.
But all that aside, the NM4 really stands apart on its looks.
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What you need to maintain the Honda NM4
The Honda NM4 is a fairly standard motorcycle to maintain — a parallel twin engine (under the fairings) and a chain drive. So you need your basic motorcycle maintenance tools to start.
After that, you’ll need the following consumables for your NM4 to keep running msoothly.
| Part | Honda NM4 spec |
|---|---|
| Oil | Honda recommends SAE 10W-30, JASO T 903 standard MA or higher, such as Pro Honda GN4 10W-30 or an equivalent high-quality motorcycle oil like Motul 5100 (which gets rave reviews). Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolt to 30 Nm (22 lb-ft). |
| Oil filter | Honda’s standard part number for the oil filter is 15410-MFJ-D01 (used on many Hondas). You can also use Hiflofiltro HF204RC for the oil filter. Use a torque wrench to tighten it to 26 Nm (19 lb-ft). |
| Clutch oil filter | The Honda NMR has a standard DCT clutch. You have to periodically change the oil filter. Part number is 15412-MGS-D21. |
| Air filter | The OEM air filter part is 17210-MGS-D30. You can also use the K&N alternative air filter, whose part number is HA-7012, which is much easier to get online. |
| Spark plugs | Use NGK spark plug part IFR6G-11K. Use a gapping tool to set the gap to 1.0-1.1 mm. |
| Chain maintenance | To maintain your chain, Motul chain paste is quite well-liked. There’s also the Motul chain care kit which is affordable and good. |
| Brake fluid | You can use any DOT 4 oil, but Honda recommends Honda DOT 4. |
| Brake pads (front) | OEM front brake pads are part number 06455-MGS-D31. Alternative EBC double-hardened front brake pads have part number FA196HH. |
| Brake pads (rear) | OEM rear brake pads are part number 06435-MGS-D31. Alternative EBC double-hardened rear brake pads have part number FA140HH. |
| Coolant | Use Honda Long-life Coolant, which is based on ethylene glycol. |
| Grease | Stock up on lithium soap-based grease and silicon grease to keep pivots and moving parts lubricated and protected. |
Honda NM4 Maintenance Schedule
Below is the maintenance schedule for the Honda NM4.
Notes:
- At higher odometer readings, repeat at the frequency interval established here.
- Pay special attention when replacing the coolant and/or brake fluid (Honda says these “require mechanical skill”)
- Honda recommends you get the wheels, tyres, and steering serviced by a dealer in the interests of safety.
Maintenance Procedures:
- I: Inspect and clean, adjust, lubricate, or replace, if necessary
- R: Replace
- L: Lubricate
- C: Clean
| mi x 1000 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 | 20 | 24 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| km x 1000 | 6.4 | 12.8 | 19.2 | 25.6 | 32 | 38.4 | Every |
| Engine Oil (Pro Honda GN4) | R | R | R | Replace every year | |||
| Engine Oil Filter (HF204RC) | R | ||||||
| Air Cleaner (HA-7012) | R | R | More often if ridden in dust / rain | ||||
| Spark Plug | I | Replace every 32000 mi (51,200 km) | |||||
| Valve Clearance | I | ||||||
| Fuel Line | I | I | I | ||||
| Throttle Operation | I | I | I | ||||
| Clutch Oil Filter (Part 15412-MGS-D21) | R | ||||||
| Radiator Coolant (Pro Honda Coolant) | I | I | I | Replace every 3 years | |||
| Cooling system | I | I | I | ||||
| Crankcase Breather | C | C | C | C | C | C | Service more often if bike ridden in rain or at full throttle |
| Engine Idle Speed | I | I | I | ||||
| Cooling System | I | I | I | ||||
| Evaporative Emission Control System (CA only) | I | ||||||
| Drive Chain | Inspect / lubricate every 500 mi / 800 km | ||||||
| Brake Fluid (Honda DOT 4) | I | I | I | I | I | I | Replace every 2 years |
| Brake Pads Wear | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Brake System | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Light Switch | I | I | I | ||||
| Brake Lock Operation | I | I | I | I | I | I | |
| Headlight Aim | I | I | I | ||||
| Side Stand | I | I | I | ||||
| Suspension | I | I | I | ||||
| Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners | I | I | I | ||||
| Wheels/Tires | I | I | I | ||||
| Steering Head Bearings | I | I | I |
Tyre size and tyre pressure for the Honda NM4
The Honda NM4 has the following tyres and tyre sizes standard, plus the following recommended tyre pressures.
| Tyre | Size | Brand(s) | Tyre pressure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front | 120/70ZR18M/C (59W) | DUNLOP D423F K | 33 psi (225 kPa, 2.25 kgf/cm2 |
| Rear | 200/50ZR17M/C (75W) | DUNLOP D423 K | 36 psi (250 kPa, 2.50 kgf/cm2) |
About the Honda NM4
The Honda NM4 is another enigma from Honda’s dream journal — a sporty cruiser with an automatic transmission. Not for you? Well, Honda decided it was for someone.
After the failure of the Honda DN-01 in the US market, with dealers giving it the nickname “Do Not Order One”, Honda decided to release another futuristic cruise missile powered by a middling, accessible engine, and with an automatic drivetrain.
But the NM4 is a little different. The DN-01 looked weird, but the NM4 looks cool. It’s subjective, but the number of people who will ask you questions about it (without turning up their noses, and looking more intrigued than anything else) is evidence enough.
And riding the NM4 isn’t half bad. The fact that the centre of gravity is so low (just like on the CTX700) means that riding the long, heavy cruiser actually feels a lot like a scooter — but a sporty one. It’s easy to push around. For a long, low, and heavy bike, the NM4 handles like a dream. (I should say that while it’s sporty, the rider triangle definitely means you’re less rocket and more windsock.)
The liquid-cooled, parallel-twin actually runs with a 73 mm bore and 80 mm stroke that leaves it a smidgen under-square. Compression is reasonable at 10.7:1, and a SOHC times the eight-valve head.
Honda’s six-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DCT, which is standard on the NM4) means automatic or semi-manual shifting via handlebar-mounted paddles, like a Formula 1 car, if you will.
The Honda NM4 is as radical as radical gets in street bike styling and absolutely an extremely bold design overlaying proven engineering. This was Honda’s goal — they wanted a design that would stand out and that would set Honda apart as a design leader.
The bones set the tone with a long and low build that leaves us with a 64.7-inch wheelbase and 25.6-inch seat height. The steering head layout gives us 33 degrees of rake and 4.3 inches of trail for a ride that trends more toward the stable.
Suspension components are something of a yawn with standard, fixed-parameter forks up front and a Pro-Link mono-shock in the back with 3.9 inches of travel all around. This is definitely sufficient for street work, it ain’t a dual-sport after all, but the lack of tune-ability in the suspension cuts into the NM4’s versatility and comfort on long trips.
You can get the Honda NM4 in any color you want as long as you want Matte Black Metallic.
Manual for the Honda NM4
The above maintenance schedule comes directly from the user’s manual for the 2018 Honda NM4.
You can download it from here.
