What would you do in a service?

When you get the bike serviced or service the bike your selves what kind of things are you looking at getting done? anything special you look at, just a idea of what i need to check other than the oil and oil filter airfilter ect, i want to give the bike a really good going over so what does everyone do?

replies much appreciated

depends on what the mileage is and when it was last serviced.

The oil has been changed regulary but hasn't had a proper service for 4-5000 miles, I'm just after a rough idea of what people do, it's got 15000 on clocks and is a 2001

[yorkie_chris]

To give you an idea this is what I'm currently doing/have done to my XJ900

Inspect wheel bearings, clean and add fresh grease or replace
Same to head bearings
Swingarm bearings
Speedo drive
Renew fork oil, check forks for bend
(plus derust swingarm and hammerite, not necessary on SV though)
Spark plugs, add dielectric grease.
Squirt cables with PTFE based lube
Strip calipers, clean, rubber grease and anti seize where appropriate
Check valve clearancesand assault, that will happen whatever you do, so those can't really be used as a vaild argument against legalisation.
Engine oil, filter, air filter
Balance carbs, set idle mixture

Go through the electrics redoing all the bodges properly, clean and add protection to all connectors.

On an SV you have to take the exhaust off to get the swingarm out and you should also clean and regrease the rear linkage bearings.


That lot is mostly preventative maintenance and will save you a lot of massive ball aches in future. When you've done that lot then your brakes won't seize. That's pretty much what I'd do to a new to me bike, or even a brand new un.

Pointy is just the same but reset the TPS too.

[Biker Biggles]

Needs the valve clearances checking in addition to all the normal stuff. Change air filter and plugs if required.Check brake pads.Probably worth thinking about new brake fluid,coolant and fork oil if its not been done recently.

Cheers got alot to do then. Got the filter and airfilter and sparkplugs. Anyone got anything else they would do on top of what has been mentioned already

[yorkie_chris]

Grease the controls, brake lever and gear pivot etc

I thought getting a stamp in the book was the main thing

It will get stamped I'll be doing it at a friends garage with him and I'll get him to check all the bits over and then he can stamp the book

[rictus01]

you'll find all the requirements in section 2 of the manual.

Cheers Mark.