Current SV650SK5

My first service was completely free including them putting on a tank protector for me. Not a penny changed hands.

[M.C.]

when i had my CBR the first service was paid for by Honda but £27 aint the end of the world

I assume they do that first service whilst you wait? Its a real pain for me getting to any of the local dealers that aren't dodgy and once you are there its miles to the nearest shops if you want to do some time killing.

There is a bloke that does mobile servicing in my area and I think I will use him a lot as he has a good rep, other times though I would have to look for places that do collect and return servicing due to the inconvenience of not having anyone to give me lifts home etc.

That first service just seems like a right pain just for an oil change, especially as I would probably change the oil and filter as soon as they had finished because I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them! As soon as the warranty is up and I no longer need stamps that bike won't be going within a mile of a dealer.

[northwind]

Mmm, interesting news- I wonder what they've got planned for it next. They must have their eyes on that new Kwak I suppose, so I imagine that could spur some interesting developments. Like paint that works, perhaps

Originally Posted by Toypop

I assume they do that first service whilst you wait? Its a real pain for me getting to any of the local dealers that aren't dodgy and once you are there its miles to the nearest shops if you want to do some time killing.

There is a bloke that does mobile servicing in my area and I think I will use him a lot as he has a good rep, other times though I would have to look for places that do collect and return servicing due to the inconvenience of not having anyone to give me lifts home etc.

That first service just seems like a right pain just for an oil change, especially as I would probably change the oil and filter as soon as they had finished because I wouldn't trust them as far as I could throw them! As soon as the warranty is up and I no longer need stamps that bike won't be going within a mile of a dealer.

Don't do the first service yourself - it's the most important one to have stamped in the log book. I am with you though, when the warranty is over I'm either doing it myself or taking it down the local garage.

Originally Posted by Toypop

The only other dealer near me is in Chippenham so I will give them a ring tomorrow morning.

Isn't it a pain to keep the wheels looking nice on a K4 as any dirt shows up and its hard to clean the spokes near the centre of the wheel? £3700 is a good saving if I can find it and I would in that case consider buying the lower fairings.

Has anyone else achieved a cheaper deal than £4200 on a K5? I am a member of a car forum and people there are always keen to brag about how much they have saved over list!

Did you do that 600 mile service yourself or take it back to the dealer? Inclined to do it myself, how much did they charge? I know most of the dealers in Bristol wouldn't touch the bike, they would sit around for ten mins, have a fag and a cup of coffee and say "there you go sir we changed the oil and filter, that will be £200". Think I'd want to know for sure it had been done but no doubt not getting the stamp would invalidate the warranty.

I paid £3995 at Fowlers for my SV650SK3 in October 2003. No extras
but free home delivery (the latter was important to me as it was my
first bike and I didn't want to struggle through Bristol traffic on
my first ride).

July is not the cheapest month for buying a bike so I guess £4200 is
a reasonable price. But might make sense, as someone mentioned,
to look around for a K4 even if it turns out to be preregistered.

As to the first service it is important to do it at an authorised dealer
to keep the warranty. Fowlers charge only parts on the first service
(around £25).

Thanks for that info mate, thats brilliant because I will need delivery and will insist on it being free now I know you got it. I reckon even at this time of year I could still get a good deal. I think May or June would be the worse time to buy as people are buying bikes for the summer. The summer has half gone now and people are probably more concerned with having money for their holidays rather than stumping up good money for 5 weeks worth of action. I will definitely push for at least a hundred notes off at the other dealer given your price.

What did you do for your first service at Fowlers? Did you ride there and have it done whilst you waited? Or did they give you the option of pick up and return? There is no way I am riding down then walking halfway across town with my gear and spending half an hour at a bus stop only to repeat the process in reverse later that day!

Originally Posted by Toypop

Thanks for that info mate, thats brilliant because I will need delivery and will insist on it being free now I know you got it. I reckon even at this time of year I could still get a good deal. I think May or June would be the worse time to buy as people are buying bikes for the summer. The summer has half gone now and people are probably more concerned with having money for their holidays rather than stumping up good money for 5 weeks worth of action. I will definitely push for at least a hundred notes off at the other dealer given your price.

What did you do for your first service at Fowlers? Did you ride there and have it done whilst you waited? Or did they give you the option of pick up and return? There is no way I am riding down then walking halfway across town with my gear and spending half an hour at a bus stop only to repeat the process in reverse later that day!

When I service my bike at Fowlers I ride there in the morning, leave
the bike and take a train from Temple Meads to Bath (I work in
Bath). I pick my bike in the afternoon.

Fowlers provide lockers, so if you take normal clothes in a
backpack you can change in the loo and leave your stuff in a locker.
The lockers are big enough to take a proper suit and lid. I don't
think there is an option of home pick up.

Actually, the irritating bit is having to ride into and out of
Bristol at peak times. It is a nightmare, at least for a country lad
like myself.

Originally Posted by Toypop

What did you do for your first service at Fowlers? Did you ride there and have it done whilst you waited? Or did they give you the option of pick up and return? There is no way I am riding down then walking halfway across town with my gear and spending half an hour at a bus stop only to repeat the process in reverse later that day!

You want the moon on a stick you do

If you are happy to arrive at about 7,45 Fowlers used to have a few slots for people who would wait. However I was waiting over 2 hours so might as well have left the bike. I think they do loan scoots.

I'm not sure Fowler's are that bad either on price or workmanship TBH. They've always seemed competitive on price to me and I don't remember any other complaints on here at least, not that I frequent other bike forums much.

Around here they are known as "Fowl Ups".

I have been ridiculed by some bikers on a local forum for even asking Fowlers for a quote.

I just think bike dealers lag some way behind the best car dealers (e.g. Toyota). They charge similar prices for a service as the best car dealers yet from my experience a bike is easier to work on, you need less expensive equipment and Toyota at least collect and return as part of the price and seem to do a proper job and take care of your vehicle.

I think the problem is that the bike market nowadays is biased more towards the power rangers that come out of hybernation for 4 months a year with their middle management salaries and just pay whatever the dealer asks. I am used to haggling for money off of cars, got £3k off the list price of my car that way yet others were paying the full amount and I feel so sorry for them. If someone wants four grand in cash out of me they have to work for it. I will play the dealers off against each other tomorrow, if they don't play ball then fine I will walk.