My 11k service...

... was late, but hey! The bike was actually on the high side of 12k miles when it rolled into Spanner Man's shop.

A few people have asked, why, since I live in North Wales, did I go to Kirkby-In-Ashfield? Well, lets see...

The service that was done on the bike (in front of me, with me giing an extra pair of hands when needed) comprised of (that I can remember, apologies Spanner Man for anything I've missed):

Oil (semi-synth) change & new (official) filter.
Air filter check, didn't need a new one as it'd had one on the 7500 service only a couple of months before.
Calipers stripped, cleaned & bled.
Fork oil dumped & replaced.
TPS adjustment.
Throttle body sync & idle timing.
Coolant topped up.
New chain & sprockets fitted (added £20 to labour charges), I brought them with me.
Clutch adjustment.
Linkage stripped & greased.
Various bits & pieces lubed up (like gear lever etc).
Tyre pressure check.
Coffee pretty much coming out of the tap (those that saw me in Soho saw that I don't really drink much of it anyway).
A fair amount of p*ss taking out of the Ducati garage next door.

There's also probably a lot that I'm missing out, but for now, that's what I remember.

I wasn't in any rush, and probably at least 1/3rd of the time was just sitting around talking. A welcome break from all the riding I'd been doing (N. Wales - London - Spanner Man then home again).

Locally, for just the stuff on the service schedule, I'd been quoted £190 for just labour, parts would be extra, and I wouldn't of watched the service, nor would it of been as detailed. Spanner Mans' charge? £175 for everything, and he even threw in free directions back home.

Would I go back again? Definitely if there's a reason for me to be anywhere near the M1. Even if I go back to Leeds to see old friends, it'd be worth the detour on the way home!

Is the bike any different? (We talked about how much notice bikers take of their own machines in the shop). Well. She falls into corners faster & easier (possibly just tyre pressures, but fork oil probably helps there too). Brakes are sharper. Throttle more responsive (TPS & up 2 teeth on the back). Clutch is tighter. She's also running at slightly higher revs. Before, 5k rpm in 6th would be 70mph. Now 70mph is 5,500rpm in 6th. But that's because of the sprocket I'd imagine. I said in the shop after the the throttle bodies & idle time were set that she's sounding a hell of a lot better.

Just for Spanner Man really (but still). I rolled gently out of the gates (not the best surface), turned right, then left on to the main part of Unity Road. Coming up to the junction gave the throttle a little squeeze to work out hot the TPS & rear sprocket affected things. Great. Got to the T junction at the end of the road, turned left & opened the throttle again. Cold tyres, back end stepped out OK, so there's a bit of frost around & I have cold tyres, best not do that again for a few miles!

The A623 (I think it was that anyway, back up to the A6, heading towards Stockport) seems like it would be a damn good road. Some pretty demanding curves & some nice long straights. There were a few hairy moments, like being blinded by a tw@'s full beam coming up to the bends just before Forest Peak. The left hander there is about 100degrees, I realised this about 5m from the turn, at about 45mph I'd rolled off the throttle, but couldn't even see roadsigns right next to me, because of the tw@. But the brakes weren't at all phased by this (thanks again Spanner Man! ) & slowed me in no time.

Visibility from the M60 down to home was pathetic. Fog meant I could see around 10m in front of me at 40mph (refused to ride faster in that weather)! It was constantly in the back of my mind that I'm doing 40mph on a motorway, and some numpty in their car will be (and they were doing) a good 80+ (ijits). Also I couldn't use my mirrors because there was so much condensation on them that they were pretty useless (and could only see about 10m behind me anyway). So most of the way home I was working on those chicken strips Weaving around bust staying in my lane. At least that way I'll get someone's attention pretty quickly. I was getting condensation on the INSIDE of the lid, meaning I had to lift the visor & then I was getting completely soaked because of riding through drizzle mixed into the fog at 40mph Not a pleasant ride, but made better by the fairly hot girl that works at Chester services

So now, I'm off out to lube that new chain up again, after riding through hell on the way home

Thanks again Spanner Man! Top service & thoroughly recommended!

Nice one I'm sure spanner man did a geat job, i've heard good things about him. Just a bit of a trek

Where were you were quoted £190 without the cost of parts? i think they may have been cowboys. My 11,000 mile service at my suzuki dealer cost me £160 all in.

Originally Posted by e.d.

Where were you were quoted £190 without the cost of parts? i think they may have been cowboys. My 11,000 mile service at my suzuki dealer cost me £160 all in.

That quote was from a pretty reputable bike shop in the area, and not the suzuki dealership that I've used for servicing in the past.

I can't fault the shop at all for other things, customer service is outstanding, and generally, prices are damn good, but it was Woods in Abergele. Perhaps they quoted high because they don't generally deal with Suzuki's, I'm not sure.

Originally Posted by Baph

.......apologies Spanner Man for anything I've missed):....

(,......Spanner Man then home again)......

......Spanner Mans' charge? £175 for everything, and he even threw in free directions back home.......

............Just for Spanner Man really.......

..... (thanks again Spanner Man! ).......

Thanks again Spanner Man!

Jeez, get a room!

I could of called him by the same name that everyone else in the shop seemed to... I seem to remember it beginning Soft... and ending something like Ponce... Would that of been better?

Originally Posted by Baph

That quote was from a pretty reputable bike shop in the area, and not the suzuki dealership that I've used for servicing in the past.

I can't fault the shop at all for other things, customer service is outstanding, and generally, prices are damn good, but it was Woods in Abergele. Perhaps they quoted high because they don't generally deal with Suzuki's, I'm not sure.

Did you not think to ring round a few more in your area to save on the journey.

Originally Posted by e.d.

Did you not think to ring round a few more in your area to save on the journey.

Yup, that was the cheapest quote I had, as I've said a number of times on the forum. I was also planning to be in London anyway, so for the small amount of a detour, it wasn't a big issue.

Fair enough, i shouldn't really comment i take my ducati on a 150 mile round trip when it needs a service cos thats who i trust with it.

Get off him ya bitch - he's ours

Lucky he's only 20 mins away from me. Did great job, both on my bike and my lads.

...and he didn't get eaten by those guard dogs of Spanner Man...you are obviously feeding them too much Stewart