Oil Change

in that case, I'm a posh git too LOL

My filter change cost me ...
HiFlo Filter 5.99
Silkolene Comp4 (4L) oil 28.99
Halfords filter wrench 3.99
Halfords oil drain/container 6.99
+ 45 minutes out of my life (although next time a lot less cos I'll have a decent bloody filter wrench!)

Jo you have 3 options (IMHO):

1. If you are going to get a garage to do the service then they will do the oil change for you (just be sure to check it afterwards as smudge says).
2. If you feel confident enough, do the service yourself 7.5K service can't be too taxing (can it?)
3. Get someone from the mighty org to help you out

Option 1 will cost ya.
Option 2 will cost ya eventually because your bike then won't have a dealer-stamped service history - however you will LEARN A LOT.
Option 3 same as option 2 really innit? except you'll have some "to hand" should something go wrong, or you can't remember where that last nut goes

Pete

Chaning oil more frequently and using good quality oil certainly isn't going to do a bike any harm. But I can't see it doing a much better job than using reasonable quality oil and following the service schedule over a 'typical' bike's lifetime. If you intend to keep the bike for a long time and or do a lot of miles on it (or indeed thrash the pants of it) then it might matter more.

I looked at the price of a funnel in Tesco yesterday. £1.47 they wanted for a 6" one. One sharp intake of breath later I walked on by. I'll stick to pouring carefully for the time being.

[yorkie_chris]

The service history wouldn't be important to me buying a bike so long as there was some evidence, like reciepts for the oil etc.
Pretty sure my bike will be in better nick getting some bits and bobs worked on every week than one that is done "professionally" once in a blue moon.

[JediGoat]

Originally Posted by Pedro68

Jo you have 3 options (IMHO):

1. If you are going to get a garage to do the service then they will do the oil change for you (just be sure to check it afterwards as smudge says).
2. If you feel confident enough, do the service yourself 7.5K service can't be too taxing (can it?)
3. Get someone from the mighty org to help you out

Option 1 will cost ya.
Option 2 will cost ya eventually because your bike then won't have a dealer-stamped service history - however you will LEARN A LOT.
Option 3 same as option 2 really innit? except you'll have some "to hand" should something go wrong, or you can't remember where that last nut goes

Pete

Well, I've decided against option 1. I really need to learn more about how to look after my bike. I had been looking at doing a bike maintenance course, but they always seem to be on a Wednesday evening, and I'm always working then.

So, a combination of options 2 and 3 for me

Jo

get yourself an haynes manual there real easy to understand almost idiot proof just make sure when you start taking your bike to bits to place everything in order and marked up, haynes manual not only give you writen instructions but exploded diagrams, go on make yourself proud buy a haynes manual today get a second half price from your local Suzuki dealer lol

Originally Posted by 2mths

I looked at the price of a funnel in Tesco yesterday. £1.47 they wanted for a 6" one. One sharp intake of breath later I walked on by. I'll stick to pouring carefully for the time being.

rolled up front cover of the yellow pages works every time ;o)

btw: Filter £6
oil (4 litres): £18.99 from initinity

my time....are you kidding? I'm up playing with my bike & oil - better than being in charge of a barbeque!!!!

what oil?

[yorkie_chris]

Oh SH!T... that question again!

Search function, its been covered and from the sound of some of the threads people have almost died for their choice of oil lol

On a local note, can get you motul 10/40 which I use and seems alright, for £25/ 4 liters IIRC

guys - good advice here - buy the proper filter tool from a Suzuki dealer, it costs approx 6 quid, fits the OEM filter perfectly and more importantly, lets you tighten it properly without damaging it (you wont be able to do it by hand to the correct number of turns).

It will also come off the next time with no problems or skint knuckles.

Also, this may sound obvious but replace the compression washer on the sump plug each time, have seen some dodgy fitting copper washers in my time that have actually broken leaving the sump plug loose (albeit on cages), but the same could happen on your bike.

[Spanner Man]

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Oh SH!T... that question again!

Search function, its been covered and from the sound of some of the threads people have almost died for their choice of oil lol

I second that!

Cheers.