SV650 servicing schedules

[Defender]

I called 3 Suzuki dealerships today asking when my 1st proper service is due and was advised my K6, purchased new in May of this year, would need a service at 3,500mls or 4000 mls and the cost would be between £80 and £200.

Each dealer told me I could not have the service done on a Saturday, meaning I would therefore have to take a day off work! If I wanted a collect and deliver service my bike might be away 2-3 days!

Jordans in Leeds (non dealer) will service my bike on a Saturday while I wait for £120 inc. They told me that as they are VAT registered my warranty would not be invalidated if they serviced it although any warranty work would need undertaking at a dealer.

Due to the service scheduling uncertainty I called Suzuki Customer Services and asked them. They eventually told me it was 12mths or 4000mls. I asked if I could get it serviced at any bike garage as long as it was VAT registered and was told that bikes are excluded from block exemption (unlike cars) and in order to ensure my warranty was valid I would need it servicing at a dealer.

So my bike is due a service at 4,000mls / 12mths.

Anyway, I get home tonight and there's a letter waiting for me from Appleyards, who supplied my bike, stating my bike is due a service - 5mths after buying it. They have no idea of the mileage.


Anyone recommend a decent Suzuki dealer who will service my bike on a Saturday while I wait without ripping me off please?

[RAPTOR]

I called 3 Suzuki dealerships today asking when my 1st proper service is due and was advised my K6, purchased new in May of this year, would need a service at 3,500mls or 4000 mls and the cost would be between £80 and £200.

Each dealer told me I could not have the service done on a Saturday, meaning I would therefore have to take a day off work! If I wanted a collect and deliver service my bike might be away 2-3 days!

Jordans in Leeds (non dealer) will service my bike on a Saturday while I wait for £120 inc. They told me that as they are VAT registered my warranty would not be invalidated if they serviced it although any warranty work would need undertaking at a dealer.

Due to the service scheduling uncertainty I called Suzuki Customer Services and asked them. They eventually told me it was 12mths or 4000mls. I asked if I could get it serviced at any bike garage as long as it was VAT registered and was told that bikes are excluded from block exemption (unlike cars) and in order to ensure my warranty was valid I would need it servicing at a dealer.

So my bike is due a service at 4,000mls / 12mths.

Anyway, I get home tonight and there's a letter waiting for me from Appleyards, who supplied my bike, stating my bike is due a service - 5mths after buying it. They have no idea of the mileage.


Anyone recommend a decent Suzuki dealer who will service my bike on a Saturday while I wait without ripping me off please?


Hi there Polarman
I would reccommend Clay Cross Powersports near Chesterfield(now known as stratstone)i know not exactly close to you but for piece of mind etc.I have owned a few bikes over the last 10 years,4 of them new from this dealer and have had them serviced on a saturday before.Bought my SV from them by the way and was told 12 mnths 4000 mls after first service.They have a glass fronted service area as well and if you wish can stand and watch as your bike is being serviced.Worth a call if you wish 01246250128.
CHEERS HTH

[Defender]

That's excellent Raptor - thanks very much.

I have no problem taking a ride down to Chesterfield.

Cheers

[Grinch]

I'm under the impression that even you could service your bike and as long as you follow the schedule and update you log book it should not invalidate your warranty. After all whats to say that your dealership did what the book said and cut a few corners, remember what motorcycle city where like...

[Spanner Man]

Due to the service scheduling uncertainty I called Suzuki Customer Services and asked them. They eventually told me it was 12mths or 4000mls. I asked if I could get it serviced at any bike garage as long as it was VAT registered and was told that bikes are excluded from block exemption (unlike cars) and in order to ensure my warranty was valid I would need it servicing at a dealer.



Morning all.

I've not heard that before, I suspect they're trying to scare you into having your bike serviced at an official dealer. I doubt that it would stand up in court.

I'm pretty local to Clay Cross, & I have to say that you're the first person I've heard of who has been happy with the servicing from them Raptor.
Frankly, I've seen some dreadful workmanship from them in the two & a half years I've been up here, & plenty of 'fully serviced' secondhand bikes that haven't been!

I give a bike a pretty thorough going over even at that year & mileage, for it's never too early to start doing preventative maintenance, particularly when a machine is going to be used over the winter. I charge £100 inc VAT + parts, which will probably be only oil & filter in your case, & it can be done on a Saturday....You wont just be watching though, you'll be getting dirty too & learning something to boot.:D

Cheers.

[G]

I was under the impression that as long as the bike is serviced with suzuki parts then the warranty is valid.

[Spanner Man]

I was under the impression that as long as the bike is serviced with suzuki parts then the warranty is valid.

I think you'll find that is the case, & if it's done at an official i.e. VAT registered business, they can't get out of any warranty claim, unless they can prove negligence on the part of the aforementioned business.

Cheers.

[SV650Racer]

Morning all.

I've not heard that before, I suspect they're trying to scare you into having your bike serviced at an official dealer. I doubt that it would stand up in court.

Cheers.


That isnt the case and yes they can refuse warranty if the bike hasnt be serviced to schedule by a person trained to work on that model using OE parts. If the engine blows up or is a service related item that fails then yes they can. Obviously if its corrosion related etc then its covered as that isnt service related.

Home servicing will invalidate your warranty if they choose to look at that.

Draw your own conclusions but remember not every suzuki dealer is trying to rip you off anymore than a non franchised dealer could. Also remember if you use a non franchised garage to check their liability insurance is upto date. I know of somewhere local that didnt have any cover and were broken into. Customers bikes stolen..no pay out. The owners had to claim off their own policy and are having problems even with that.

Do a search round. I went on a training course with the Claycross guys and IMHO they were very good.

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.

Not that you're biased eh SVracer:D

If the Ford Motor Co can lose the point in question, I'm pretty sure that Suzuki wouldn't have much of a chance in court, despite any disclaimers in their literature.
These days courts are pretty fed up with big businesses & their sometimes high handed attitude, & would take into account the reputation & any qualifications of a non franchised dealer, which was one of the issues in the Ford case.

I speak as I find, & maintain my opinions on Clay Cross, & many of my customers who have had bad experiences with them could verify.

It's all very well to perform well on a training course, but under the pressures on workshops to get 'em in & out' in the larger dealers often even good mechanics **** up. & let's face it most of them aint that good in the first place.

I agree with you on the insurance point, if you undertake work on someones bike, you should be prepared to cough up via insurance or otherwise, in the event of something going awry. Not to have adequate insurance, or deny liability is inexcusable, end of!

Cheers.

[SV650Racer]

Morning all.

Not that you're biased eh SVracer:D

Cheers.


No i tend to speak from experience.:cool:

[Defender]

I ordered a seat cowl from Power Sports in Bradford today. They said they'd have it in tomorrow - Friday. I'd asked Appleyards in Leeds but they said it would be next Wednesday.

Whilst I was on to Power Sports I asked them about servicing. They would do it on a Saturday while I waited and it would cost £96.00 inc vat. If I wanted the oil filter changing - optional - it would be another £11 or so.

I don't think I will use Appleyards again. When I enquired about a discount on the cowl they asked if I'd paid for a privilege card when I got my bike from them. They were £80 and no card no discount. What a way to retain business, asking punters who spend £1000s to also buy a card that allows a discount off their over priced accessories etc.

[Defender]

The cowl did not arrive today - now Monday.

Anyway on Wednesday I emailed Suzuki to ask about servicing. Here's their reply:

Thank you for your recent email. Please be advised that you should be guided by the maintenance chart which is set out on page 6-4 of your Owners Manual. Although Suzuki recommends that all servicing is carried out by an Authorised Suzuki Dealership using genuine Suzuki parts, I can confirm that you can take your vehicle for servicing to any independent garage. Please note that if you do choose to have your vehicle serviced independently, do bear in mind that should a failure occur due to the standards of servicing, lack of product knowledge, or the use of sub-standard parts, the warranty on parts used and associated components may be refused. Finally I can confirm that the independent garage are quite correct in that any warranty work will need to be carried out by one of our own Authorised Suzuki Dealerships.I hope the above is of help to you, however if you have any further queries, then please feel free to utilise our freephone number 0500 011959 or alternatively visit our website and complete another 'contact us' form. Thank you for contacting Suzuki Customer Services.

I think they are talking cars not bikes - How intelligent are these people!

[SV650Racer]

I think they are talking cars not bikes - How intelligent are these people!



Why would you think that?. Ive already stated what their policy would be. That just about covers it.