12k Service decisions..

[Fowlersrs]

Right guys,

I knew when I bought the bike from the previous owner with 14.5k on the clock that there wasnt an awful lot of history, most of the history consisted of tyre changes and battery changes lol..

however after speaking with triumph about updated maps for the speed four they popped the question about the 12k service.
Now I have no record of it being done, however the bike has been very well looked after, the guy I bought it from only put 600 miles on it and the guy before him he said was a "triumph nut" who did his own maintenance..

however im kinda thinking its quite an important service and maybe I should get it done for peace of mind..
to give you an idea, its thing like valve clearances & fuel filters that need doing, aswell as greasing headstock bearings and such.

I popped in and saw a mechanic yesterday who I know is a triumph specialist, he worked for a bike dealer for 12 years but now works on his own out of a small workshop, he has a good reputation in the area. he quoted me 320 for the 12k service all in, does this seem like a good price, I thought it did?!

but the question is do I get it done, or just do it all myself and learn a shit load in the process... decisions decisions!!!

[janner_10]

Read what the 12k service involves. Can you do it all yourself?

If not, pay someone to do it!! If you can, get on with it.

Phone round and get quotes to compare prices.
____________________
Yamaha FZS600 (Now gone to heaven) > CBR600F4i (SOLD) > '99 YZF-R1

[neatbik]

How mechanically minded are you?
The 12k service for the Speed Four doesn't entail anything too taxing, the hardest (or most involved, i should say) bit is checking the valve clearances.

But if you have a workshop manual, a bit of determination and some feeler guages you wont go too far wrong.
If they need adjusting then it will be a bit more indepth i.e removing camshafts and measuring/ordering the correct size shims...

Its worth mentioning though that i have checked Speed Four clearances on 3 separate bikes (all 3 at the 12k mark) and none needed adjusting..

Greasing headstock bearings, you will need a way to support the front of the bike off the floor. An engine hoist is a good way to do this, or if you have a garage and some ratchet straps you can use the wooden beams in the roof.

Swingarm bearings also come into it if i remember rightly - again you will need to lift the rear of the bike off the ground completely. A paddock stand wont do the job.

The rest of it pretty much checking/adjusting/cleaning.

£320 all in isn't too bad a figure, as long as he does ALL of the work. There is a fair amount of labour there.

[Fowlersrs]

[Rogerborg]

[Fowlersrs]

[P.addy]

My Daytona was put in for its 12k service.

The guy quoted around £350, triumph racing prep place..

He felt so bad as all he did was oil/fuel filter as the rest was spot on, he charged me a standard service, so oil, filter, plugs and fuel filter with an hours labour. Came to about £90.

It annoyed me as I could have done that

[neatbik]

Thats the best way to do it. You know the job is done properly, and it will save you money in the long run.

If you attempt it and get stuck then all is not lost. You can ask for help in the workshop section.

And yes, the TT600 manual will do you fine, its what i used. Same bike, to all intents and purposes.

[fozzym]