DIY servicing ?

[red5]

After being quoted a lot of money to do a 15000 mile service on my X reg SV650s, I am considering doing the work myself.
I'm not a bike mechanic but have been servicing my own cars for a while with the basics, so not a complete noob at this sort of thing.

Does anyone know what they would actually do at this service interval?...like a list of things they replace / check.

Also - on a normal service does anyone know what they would check / replace.

I understand valve clearances are checked at 15K which bumps the price up, is this right? :?:

[Iansv]

get yourself a haynes manual, all will become clear

[wyrdness]

If you want to do it just like a proper dealer service, simply untighten a few bolts and leave them loose, break one of your mirrors and/or indicators, scratch your paintwork with a key and empty your coolant or oil (don't forget to not refill it).

Yes, I've had dealers do all of the above on services (though fortunately not at the same time). I'm beginning to think that servicing it yourself is the best option.

[red5]

This is why I'm considering it, I got quoted £300 for a 15K service and he said it's because they have to replace some parts like the air filter etc - assuming they would do valve clearance checks so the labor charges will be greater.

I totalled up new pads all round, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, oil and that comes to less than £100.
My other coolant levels and brake fluid levels are all topped up as I recently got the bike and it has a full years MOT.
I do need some new pads soon so including those.

I don't like the idea of paying £100+ in labor for someone to do what I can do on the bike, I even have done my valve clearances before on a car so I may attempt it on the bike - with a Haynes at my side of course :wink: .

[red5]

Can anyone recommend a good quality oil for it, are there any "this is the best oil you can get for your bike" ones people know of.

Cheers

[embee]

Hi Buff

get the relevant docs here first

http://www.sv650.org/sv_manuals.htm

Yes, if you feel happy doing your cars yourself, then do the bike too.
Your bike is X-reg, so the difference in value between full dealer service history and competent DIY will be negligible.

From what "others who know" say who have checked valve clearances, you're 99% safe in assuming they'll be fine at 15k miles. I certainly don't intend to go delving into mine at 15k.

FWIW, as for oil there's been plenty of discussions here on this, but if you use a well known brand semi-synthetic 10W-40 "bike" oil suitable for wet clutches you can't really go wrong. The relevant bit on the oil can, along with the viscosity (10W-40) and the wear/protection standard (SG, SH, etc), is the "wet-clutch test" standard JASO-MA.
I use Castrol GPS, but any big brand should be fine.

I'd recommend using an original Suzuki oil filter too. Others have used alternatives with no problems, so it's your choice.

Not strictly a 15k service item, but if you haven't already done it, do a fork oil change too. It makes a world of difference. Search the forum for "fork oil" and you'll get the info.

[Red ones]

Haynes manual and DIY.

I didn't - wish I had!

[northwind]

Checking the valve clearances is a piece of cake anyhow...

[SV2win]

Might all be a piece of pi$$ with a Haynes manual but when you come to sell the bike, if you do, you may find that not being able to put FSSH or just a garage's service history, lowers the value of the bike and makes it harder to shift.

Just a thought. :)

[chris SVK3]

Sv2win it does depend on how much you use your bike. i do 12000 miles year, average service cost at dealer £180.

12000miles = 3 services
3 services = £540

keep the bike for 2 years £1020 saved

no need to say I service my own bikes and most dealers don't care when i have part ex in the past

[SV2win]

granted, didnt think of that. :?

[Carsick]

That's my motivation for doing my own services as well.
I'm probably going to end up doing about 25k miles this year, in that time I'd have spent something like £1000 in services.
There's just no way that the bike could possible depreciate that much extra just because it's missing it's dealer service history.

Oh, and the bike won't be worth much with the 50 odd thousand miles on it when I come to think about another bike.

[Red ones]

Had mine valued. They knocked £250 for not having a FSH. It has missed 3 stamps - Result: Quids in!