Is it worth having a full Service History?

Was talking today when we were at the ace, the general point was that you don't you a need a service with a bike like the SV, how much does it really effect the resale value of the bike?

Mine being a new bike, I was thinking it was important to have, wouldn't you also need that to keep the warranty vaild? But you know I would rather look after my own bike, then I know whats been done to it, when and right and on time!

I was just wondering what the general thoughs were about this? I keeping the bike from 3 years at least last August anyway. I would probally keep for 4 years, its just such a joy to ride and cheap!

I personally wouldnt look twice at a bike without FSH so i guess pretty important. Its no different from a car, no service history = owner hasnt looked after it, walk away.

[Lissa]

Originally Posted by Durbs

no service history = owner hasnt looked after it, walk away.

Sorry, but I would disagree with that. There are many people on here who look after their own bikes, and do a far better job than some anonymous grease monkey at a dealers.

A full service history can just lure you into a false sense of security.

[Biker Biggles]

Tricky one this.For the first two years it keeps the warranty up,although techmically this servicing can be done by a non franchised dealer.Try enforcing that with Mr Suzuki without going to court.
A FSH makes a bike much easier to sell used,but you wont get a great deal more money for it,certainly nowhere near the dosh laid out on servicing.It also depends how many miles you do.First 600 mile service should be (almost)free,and then it may well be worth having the annual 4000 mile one done by the dealer if you only do average mileage,as that would keep your warranty up for the second year.After that doing it yourself and keeping reciepts for oil and filters is probably the most cost effective by quite a margin.

Originally Posted by Lissa

Sorry, but I would disagree with that. There are many people on here who look after their own bikes, and do a far better job than some anonymous grease monkey at a dealers.

A full service history can just lure you into a false sense of security.

We'll have to agree to disagree then, keen amateur dabbling can be worse than no service history at all. No FSH = Walk away, 'Serviced it meself mate' = Sprint

Appreciate that there are some excellent mechanically minded types on this forum but when you are buying a bike off Joe Bloggs, i certainly aint going to take his word for his prowess when parting with my hard earned. I'm of the school where if i dont see a full lot of dealer stamps, i'm not interested. A load of the maintenence on the SV can (and should) be done at home, but the main services need to be done by a dealer.

i have had the 600 miler done, but i look after it myself, just think how much a simple service costs at a service station..?120 maybe, i can do it for ?50 MAX just for a stamp on a card.. nah doesnt add up, if you keep your bike clean and keep up to date with the service the bike will speak for itself.. would you buy a battered looking bike in a dealer just because it has a FSH, and turn down a bike like kwaks with no FSH.. i know i wouldnt

[fizzwheel]

if the bikes still in its warranty period then I'd wanna see a book full of service stamps.

If not I wouldnt be so bothered. But I'd wanna size up the owner to see what sort of a person they were. A garage full of tools, oil, paddock stands and lube and a clean bike + receipts for parts etc etc would tell me that theres a good chance the bikes been looked after.

A dirty minging bike, an no stuff in the garage with no service history I wouldnt be so keen, and I use all that to beat the asking price right down.

if you do a load of miles it doesnt really matter and the miles will wipe off the resale value more than having or not having a full service history will.

+ 1 to fizz

[Biker Biggles]

Durbs you may be right in theory,but I suggest you will pay through the nose for your trouble.
To me a used SV should have evidence of regular oil/filter changes (easily done at home)and evidence of valve clearence checks if the mileage requires.Other stuff is nice to have but would be part of my check over on any bike I bought so I dont want to be paying over the odds for it.
Some more exotic machinary needs more evidence of servicing,but SVs?

[Rich]

I'd like to see all major Servicing done by a competent person or garage but as for the rest any monkey can do an oil change if they try.