View Full Version : I said I wouldn't and I have...
...not serviced it according to the bible of Suzuki.
Regular oil changes every 3k miles - check
Scottoiler fitted after only 500 miles - check
Chain checks as per the Haynes bible - check
New front and rear tyres after a little bit of rearwinter slidiness - check
Levels and fluids are checked regularly
ACF50 - as required
Regular washings - as much as is (domestically) permitted :)
So here I am. Riding it and liking every mile of it - about 200 miles a week, but am I neglecting it? Will it rust me out? Probably.
I probably will never sell it - having read the stories of "your" first bikes(!) - but I may get another one, what the "other" is - who knows when, who knows what.
Whats most important, nowadays (given the above), and 12000 miles from the dealership fromwhenceitcame, in your opinion?
(Please do not recite the bible of Haynes to me - I have that - I'm looking for the "well, they dont tell you this...." sort if information")
As always,
Thanks ;)
So, 12K miles & servicing consists of 4 oil changes? :???: nowt else?
Alpinestarhero
11-07-09, 07:12 AM
Oil changes are very important, I change mine every 6 months / or between 4-5000 miles (i.e. after another 4000 miles I realise I need an oil change soon and will start finding the time to do it!). Spark plugs you would have wanted to change at least once by now. Scottoilers are great but still rmember to inspect the chain and do clean it, because crap will still stick to it.
How old is the bike? Has the engine coolant been changed? What about brake fluid (I've gone through loads of brake fluid on my bike :lol:)? Inspected the brake pads for wear?
Anyway, you keep it clean in all departments, so thats not a bad thing :D
Matt
You're doing the stuff that makes it go. Don't let rattles go unchecked.
Make sure you check the stuff that makes it stop - sometimes you need to stop more than you need to go!
yorkie_chris
11-07-09, 10:05 AM
Clean and grease the suspension bearings BEFORE they are rusted solid.
Clean and grease the brakes BEFORE they sieze.
Oil filter? Coolant change?
Sorry - omitted the various oil filter changes that have also been done with oil changes.
Its a 57 bike, so is coming up to its second winter. No coolant changes have been done yet.
Brake fluid levels are fine and the brake discs seem in good condition. I don't ride it hard. The brakes do exactly what I want at the moment and I never ask them to do too much.
The chain is in good condition, but I don't degrease and regrease it perhaps as often as I should.
The front disc however is starting to sound a bit scratchy, now and again.
What happens if you never change the coolant? 8-[
yorkie_chris
11-07-09, 11:24 AM
The coolant has corrosion inhibitors in it which get used up over time. Otherwise parts can corrode.
Biker Biggles
11-07-09, 08:06 PM
Sounds to me like you are doing just fine.Id add that the valve clearences need checking every 16000 miles and you should take a good look at the brake pads to ensure they have meat on them.Bit of oil in the cables to keep them sweet wont go amiss.Personally Id not get too worked up about the coolant for a good couple more years,but the brake fluid change is worth it.
Alpinestarhero
11-07-09, 08:17 PM
Clean and grease the suspension bearings BEFORE they are rusted solid.
Clean and grease the brakes BEFORE they sieze.
Oil filter? Coolant change?
+10,000
Its a right pain in the rear end, trying to get seized retaining pins out of a rear caliper when its cold and you and your dad are hungry.
Svsmokey
11-07-09, 08:44 PM
Ditto on the cables , a stck throttle can ruin ur day
Tiger 55
12-07-09, 11:30 AM
I'm looking for the "well, they dont tell you this...." sort if information"
Clean and grease the brakes BEFORE they sieze.
That's the best advice I ever saw or heard about.
3 years too late for me mind.
Today, I act on good advice. Thanks
Oil
Filter
Brakes
Coolant
And a wash. Maybe for me too.
Valve clearances have a few thousand miles to go yet....
maviczap
12-07-09, 12:08 PM
Today, I act on good advice. Thanks
Oil
Filter
Brakes
Coolant
And a wash. Maybe for me too.
Valve clearances have a few thousand miles to go yet....
Do the suspension linkages too, like YC said, otherwise they'll be buggered.
Cos Mr Suzuki is very tight when it comes to dishing grease out. :p
yorkie_chris
12-07-09, 12:13 PM
According to Spanner Man, the big 4 jap bike manufacturers carefully budget for 1 tin of grease a year, and they share it.
maviczap
12-07-09, 12:18 PM
According to Spanner Man, the big 4 jap bike manufacturers carefully budget for 1 tin of grease a year, and they share it.
Sorry YC you're wrong for once. Due to the global credit crunch they buy a tin of grease every other year now.
Plus when they get the ok to start hunting whales again, the Jappanese whaling fleet are tasked with supplying whale oil for the home industries, which will be turned into grease, saving them millions of Yen on shipping it in. :rolleyes:
While you're doing your suspension linkages, do your wheel bearings too.
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