Maintenance?

[catchsomesv650]

when i bought my 01 sv650s it had about 30xx miles on it. after i bought it, i had a friend (who works at a mechanic) do a whole look over to make sure everything was in working order.

long story short, i was wondering when (or at what miles) should i take the bike into a garage for it to be maintained?

i searched up and down and coudn't find any maintenance schedules.

[Tim in Belgium]

Buy a Haynes manual, it tells you what needs doing when (and how to do it), you can then decide what you are prepared to do yourself and what you want to farm out.

[toonyank]

Hi there welcome aboard. Where are you located just out of curiosity?

I found a link you can use.

http://svrider.com/tips/images/mntncPDF/SUZUKI.PDF

Oh yeah like Tim in Belgium said the Haynes manual is very handy and gives you an idea of how qualified you need to be for a given job.

[catchsomesv650]

california, USA :smt068

[toonyank]

Me too, Laguna Beach before that Huntington Beach and now the northeast of England with all the sunshine....... Oh sorry I meant rain :( it;s ok though really :)

[catchsomesv650]

no kidding.

from LA but now living in san diego

not that much rain here...

[toonyank]

Cool, yeah been here for 10 years now my wife is from here so we (she) decided it was time to move here.

Got my SV in April, had an old YPVS but sold on the bay before that in Ca had a '93 gixer 750 so just had to get back on 2 wheels. SV's nice and nimble but I think I want a TL1000 mint :smt047

[Biker Biggles]

The valve clearances need checking every 15000 miles.If they turn out to need adjusting that is quite tricky,but all the other routine servicing is easy given a few basic tools.Learn to do it yourself and save loads of money,and know it was done properly.Oil and filter changes every 4000 ish miles are vital,as is knowing how to check your oil level every week or so.

[Alpinestarhero]

The valve clearances need checking every 15000 miles.If they turn out to need adjusting that is quite tricky,but all the other routine servicing is easy given a few basic tools.Learn to do it yourself and save loads of money,and know it was done properly.Oil and filter changes every 4000 ish miles are vital,as is knowing how to check your oil level every week or so.

Just to add, maintinance of the chain should be quite often - I often clean my chain once a week when I'm using it day in, day out

Matt

[catchsomesv650]

Just to add, maintinance of the chain should be quite often - I often clean my chain once a week when I'm using it day in, day out

Matt

how do you check your chain and how do you clean it?

[Stig]

Just to add, maintinance of the chain should be quite often - I often clean my chain once a week when I'm using it day in, day out

Matt

Or get a scottoiler and hardly ever clean the chain. :wink:

[toonyank]

Or get a scottoiler and hardly ever clean the chain. :wink:

Oh yes totally agree with that one. Still a good idea to clean it now and again to get the nasties off

[Lozzo]

Just to add, maintinance of the chain should be quite often - I often clean my chain once a week when I'm using it day in, day out

Matt

Fit a Scottoiler then, never have to clean my chains and they last forever without me having to give them a second thought. Set it up correctly and they're no messier than chain lube - in fact the Scottoil wipes off the wheel easier than sticky goo does.

[Stig]

I clean mine once in a while but that's because I have gold links. I had to pay extra for them so want people to see them. :lol:

[catchsomesv650]

i googled scottoiler...automatic chain lube system


..what does that mean? I also have a 520 chain if that makes a difference

and how to i check if i need to clean it and if i don't opt for the scottoiler how do i clean it?

[toonyank]

It is a system which uses a reservoir with oil fed with a tube cleverly routed from under the passenger seat and feeds directly to the sprocket just above the chain. It is a UK company I believe and is very popular here. I wish they had them years ago in the states. Could have saved a lot of hassle.

Someone may be here shortly with some photos of a fitted system

[Tim in Belgium]

If it is looking dirty clean it :) Don't worry about a bit of oil/grease black stuff but as soon as you are picking dirt/solids up it is time for a clean.

Some use chain cleaner, some use paraffin (kerosene), some use WD-40 (me). Use an old toothbrush and rags to get most of the crud off.

Make sure you lube your chain after cleaning, again what to use will vary person to person, I use a spray on oil type chain lube, some use wax type lubes, others old engine oil, whilst some use lube systems such as Scott Oilers.

As always there are a variety of answers but follow one of the normal lines of thoguht and you shouldn't go too far wrong.

[toonyank]

Found this from the Scottoiler website

http://www.scottoiler.com/pdf/Suzuki_SV%20650%2099-02%20Carburettor_English3-7-2007.pdf

Really is a fit and forget system for the most part. The system has an adjustable feed and only uses a tiny amount when adjusted properly. Doesn't load it with oil just enough to keep the o-rings from drying out which in a sealed chain is the most important thing

[toonyank]

As always there are a variety of answers but follow one of the normal lines of thoguht and you shouldn't go too far wrong.

Exactly, it doesn't matter how it's done so long as it is

[ejohnh]

Very best thing to clean chain is Chain/brake cleaner, and toothbrush.. Shield your rear tyre and you are away!! Then use lube of recommended type. If you use a scott oiler you should lube the clean chain by some intermediate method - ie don't let the frugal add lube of the scott oiler try to prime up a dry chain..

[toonyank]

ie don't let the frugal add lube of the scott oiler try to prime up a dry chain..

Good point :thumbsup: