4000mile service

I agree about the high prices of dealers etc to service motorcycles. Granted, some people don't have the time to do it themselves, or the confidence to do it. But if you're just changing the oil and oil filter, then why pay someone £50+ labour on top of parts for something you can do in half hour when you get home from work? Simple really:

1) get bowl/bucket/something, place under bike.

2) undo sump bolt, let oil drain out.

3) undo oil filter, let oil drain out.

4) go have some dinner while oil drains

5) replace oil filter, sump bolt (new crush washer if nesseccary)

6) undo oil filler cap, put in new oil, replace oil filler cap. Start bike up, then re check oil level and top up as nessecary

7) go do whatever else you do in the evening

Or something like that. As for service history, I try my best to keep a record of parts purchases, and try to keep a record written of what was done at what miles. But since I don't plan on getting rid of the SV (worth more to me as a cheap fun form of transport than the money its actually worth) then I don't really care too much. Oil and oil filter changes every 5000 miles, plugs every 10,000, valves every 15,000 and an air filter when the current one looks a bit manky (it does)

Matt

[Sid Squid]

Yeah that's right they're not dealers they're 'stealers' they just want to rip you off and screw up your bike. Take a look in the workshop all you'll see is slightly trained monkeys. They don't deserve a damn penny of your money. They should do it for nothing like you would if you worked in a bike shop.

At least there's a couple sensible posts in this thread where what you might get an idea of what you get for your money. The oil change may be the only thing of substance that the service entails, but as stated in G's post there is much more that should be done and is worthwhile, particularly if you're not too handy with the spanners yourself, as you may not even know it needs doing.

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Sid Squid

Yeah that's right they're not dealers they're 'stealers' they just want to rip you off and screw up your bike. Take a look in the workshop all you'll see is slightly trained monkeys. They don't deserve a damn penny of your money. They should do it for nothing like you would if you worked in a bike shop.

Maybe not for nothing, but what is your hourly rate compared to a stealers?

Dunno whether it's just me, but if I gave my money to someone else to work on my bike, then I'd be paying for a mechanic, not subsidising a flashy showroom

[Biker Biggles]

Yeah.Im not trying to diss the expertise of the dealers,just saying that if you can do it yourself you save a lot of money,and out of warranty stamps in the book arent worth as much as some people think,especially if you can show that the essential work has been done.The "check adjust/tighten" stuff I would look at on a used bike I bought anyway.

Originally Posted by xXBADGERXx

I also save the receipts of all the items I have bought for that bike to show how it is cared for as well

Anyone can buy a product, keep the receipt, and then sell it on again. I have receipts for all sorts of things that were never fitted to my bike, a dishonest seller can use these and claim the parts were for this specific bike.

I am not a fan of dealer servicing, too overpriced on labour and some parts come out a little more expensive too, and the rubber stamp is only of use in a warranty claim. If you are new to mechanics then I would recommend a professional mechanic to do it for you, choose a guy that will let you watch and you should learn something.

which is why i DIY.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Dunno whether it's just me, but if I gave my money to someone else to work on my bike, then I'd be paying for a mechanic, not subsidising a flashy showroom

Yorkie, it's really obvious that you have great knowledge of the technicalities of motorcycles, but I'm afraid you don't know quite as much about running a business. It's considerably more capital intensive to set up and maintain a good workshop than it is to set up a showroom....which is why there are loads of places selling second-hand cars and motorcycles that DON'T have good workshops! As for the hourly rate, I wonder what your response would be if the Dealer quoted you,
either: £50 per hour for a service done by a legally-employed mechanic in a dry, covered workshop using proper tools, all waste ethically disposed and everything covered by insurance etc.
or: £10 per hour for a 'cash-in-hand' person doing the service with a set of universal stillsons, in the street, in the rain, uninsured and with all oil poured down the nearest drain?

Everyone has a choice where they get their bikes serviced but, if you don't have the skills, then £50/hr for a good mechanic is NOT in the least unreasonable. You probably pay more for a haircut!

Originally Posted by Dangerous Dave

Anyone can buy a product, keep the receipt, and then sell it on again. I have receipts for all sorts of things that were never fitted to my bike, a dishonest seller can use these and claim the parts were for this specific bike.

I am not a fan of dealer servicing, too overpriced on labour and some parts come out a little more expensive too, and the rubber stamp is only of use in a warranty claim. If you are new to mechanics then I would recommend a professional mechanic to do it for you, choose a guy that will let you watch and you should learn something.

Likewise, a garage can invoice you for parts that wern't fitted. My dad highly suspects that, although maria was invoiced and charged for spark plugs 5000 miles ago on her car, they where never actually fitted. Considering the wear and the discolouration, I agree with my dad. We also suspect the air filter wasn't changed, although london has pretty dirty, polluted air..

Originally Posted by alpinestarhero

Likewise, a garage can invoice you for parts that wern't fitted.

I mark the parts and request all disposed parts, I get the cars serviced at a service centre for convenience more than anything. I don't trust most of the people that I know so I wouldn't trust an unknown mechanic.

Originally Posted by Ol Boc

Yorkie, it's really obvious that you have great knowledge of the technicalities of motorcycles, but I'm afraid you don't know quite as much about running a business. It's considerably more capital intensive to set up and maintain a good workshop than it is to set up a showroom....which is why there are loads of places selling second-hand cars and motorcycles that DON'T have good workshops! As for the hourly rate, I wonder what your response would be if the Dealer quoted you,
either: £50 per hour for a service done by a legally-employed mechanic in a dry, covered workshop using proper tools, all waste ethically disposed and everything covered by insurance etc.
or: £10 per hour for a 'cash-in-hand' person doing the service with a set of universal stillsons, in the street, in the rain, uninsured and with all oil poured down the nearest drain?

Everyone has a choice where they get their bikes serviced but, if you don't have the skills, then £50/hr for a good mechanic is NOT in the least unreasonable. You probably pay more for a haircut!

i disagree, my mechanics in my local Suzuki dealer cant be trusted, while i was waiting for my old 650 to have its 600mile service i watch from outside in amazement as the mechanics were taking it in turns on a scooter basically wrecking! wheelies, skidding attempted stoppies! yes and this from a main dealer.


" or: £10 per hour for a 'cash-in-hand' person doing the service with a set of universal stillsons, in the street, in the rain, uninsured and with all oil poured down the nearest drain? "

eh?

my oil goes to my local dump to be recycled and i don't own any stilsons? i work in a dry garage.