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How should I service my bike now it's out of warranty? |
Let the main dealer service it. Explain the expense to the wife at a later date |
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7% |
[ 2 ] |
Get an independent bike shop to service it. Slightly cheaper but worth it? |
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7% |
[ 2 ] |
Service it myself in the main, but anything impossible take to the bike shop |
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85% |
[ 23 ] |
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Total Votes : 27 |
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
Joined: 13 Nov 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 16:25 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: Post-warranty servicing |
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So, my VFR800X Crossrunner left it's warranty period earlier this year. During warranty I got it serviced by the dealer so there would be no quibbles should any warranty issues arise, but now it's out of warranty I'm wondering the path to take. It's a far more complex bike than previous bikes I've serviced at home - lots of electronics and the V4 is awkward for some tasks.
I guess my options are;
1) Continue with main dealer servicing; likely to get a courtesy bike (as I have in previous years), likely they'll do things properly and will have the service schedule to hand so anything "unusual" or specific to the model is unlikely to be missed. Cons; expensive! Last service, which was only a minor one, was around £200 I think.
2) Use an independent bike mechanic. I would expect workmanship to be good still, but anything particularly model-specific might possibly be missed (possibly more likely as V4s aren't mega common, although the only thing I can really think of are valve clearances and they're years away at my current annual mileage). No idea on price but I imagine labour is cheaper, so maybe 65% of the cost of a main dealer?
3) Service it myself, use the service schedule as a guide. Clearly the cheapest option, things like oil change are easy to do (I say that, but I've no idea where the filter lurks but I'm sure it's manageable). Trickier things like awkward pivot lubes which might require specialist tools and/or knowledge might be harder.
What do we think? I'm not an experienced grease monkey, but I can do basic stuff. I don't have a load of time spare, but it's at least 2 hours to get a bike serviced (half an hour each way to drop off and pick up) so straightforward service items could potentially be knocked on the head within that timescale anyway. ____________________ TG. |
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 16:39 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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What do you feel like doing?
I'd have a look through he service manual, look at the bike physically to see if I really thought it's something I wanted to tackle. Maybe even have a go at some of those basics - an oil and filter change to begin with perhaps. If I found even that too much of a pain, I'd be inclined to look for another bike that's easier to work on, or just continue with dealer servicing (assuming a reputable local dealer).
Or 4) treat as disposable and buy a new bike ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Nobby the Bastard |
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Nobby the Bastard Harley Gaydar
Joined: 16 Aug 2013 Karma :
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A100man |
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A100man World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 16:52 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing |
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ThunderGuts wrote: | So, my VFR800X Crossrunner left it's warranty period earlier this year. During warranty I got it serviced by the dealer so there would be no quibbles should any warranty issues arise, but now it's out of warranty I'm wondering the path to take. It's a far more complex bike than previous bikes I've serviced at home - lots of electronics and the V4 is awkward for some tasks.
I guess my options are;
1) Continue with main dealer servicing; likely to get a courtesy bike (as I have in previous years), likely they'll do things properly and will have the service schedule to hand so anything "unusual" or specific to the model is unlikely to be missed. Cons; expensive! Last service, which was only a minor one, was around £200 I think.
2) Use an independent bike mechanic. I would expect workmanship to be good still, but anything particularly model-specific might possibly be missed (possibly more likely as V4s aren't mega common, although the only thing I can really think of are valve clearances and they're years away at my current annual mileage). No idea on price but I imagine labour is cheaper, so maybe 65% of the cost of a main dealer?
3) Service it myself, use the service schedule as a guide. Clearly the cheapest option, things like oil change are easy to do (I say that, but I've no idea where the filter lurks but I'm sure it's manageable). Trickier things like awkward pivot lubes which might require specialist tools and/or knowledge might be harder.
What do we think? I'm not an experienced grease monkey, but I can do basic stuff. I don't have a load of time spare, but it's at least 2 hours to get a bike serviced (half an hour each way to drop off and pick up) so straightforward service items could potentially be knocked on the head within that timescale anyway. |
Seems theres an entire web-site for your model..
https://www.honda-crossrunner.com/index.php?topic=577.0
770 quid for the 16k service inc valve check.. ..in 2013 .. ____________________ Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750
Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600 |
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xX-Alex-Xx |
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xX-Alex-Xx World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
Joined: 06 Dec 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 17:17 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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Nobby the Bastard wrote: | Find a good mechanic. |
Yeah, or this.
I found one through recommendations when I was living down Oxfordshire way. Really enthusiastic chap too, always had time for a chat (which helped me to assess his mechanical knowledge as well as just being pleasant), always had some interesting bikes he was working on too to have a nose around. I quite miss visits to his workshop. ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Ste |
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Ste Not Work Safe
Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 17:23 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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4) Buy a new bike.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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doggone |
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doggone World Chat Champion
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 17:46 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha wrote: | chickenstrip wrote: | Or 4) treat as disposable and buy a new bike |
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What?! What did I say this time?!
____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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Freddyfruitba... |
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Freddyfruitba... World Chat Champion
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Easy-X |
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Easy-X Super Spammer
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
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MCN |
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MCN Super Spammer
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chickenstrip |
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chickenstrip Super Spammer
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Posted: 20:23 - 16 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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Another alternative: go and get a job at a dealers. Although they won't want your bike to be blocking up a bench if you're not paying labour charges, so not perfect. But I always managed to get enough done and save plenty of money ____________________ Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE! |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha |
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha World Chat Champion
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xX-Alex-Xx |
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xX-Alex-Xx World Chat Champion
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stinkwheel |
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stinkwheel Bovine Proctologist
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
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ThunderGuts |
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ThunderGuts World Chat Champion
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Posted: 09:32 - 17 Nov 2021 Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing |
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Yep I'm a member of that forum already (it's a very quiet place though!). The 16k interval doesn't apply to me fortunately, for mine is 24k (or might even me 32k) as it's a later model, but either way it's a long way off as I only do about 2-3k miles a year on it and it's on 8k miles. ____________________ TG. |
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A100man |
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A100man World Chat Champion
Joined: 19 Aug 2013 Karma :
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Posted: 11:06 - 17 Nov 2021 Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing |
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ThunderGuts wrote: |
Yep I'm a member of that forum already (it's a very quiet place though!). The 16k interval doesn't apply to me fortunately, for mine is 24k (or might even me 32k) as it's a later model, but either way it's a long way off as I only do about 2-3k miles a year on it and it's on 8k miles. |
At that rate you've got another 6-8 years riding before teh dreaded valve check then. If it were me I'd just be keeping on top of fluid changes (oil, brake coolant) brake pads and greasing the s/a bits and bobs. Fork oil maybe. Plugs at some point. ____________________ Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750
Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600 |
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Robby |
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Robby Dirty Old Man
Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 11:42 - 17 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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I get my new bike serviced by the main dealer, even though it's now out of warranty. The only work it needs doing is one service, once a year, for about £250. That is cheap, compared to the amount of work most of my bikes have needed over the years. My standard approach is to buy a bike for about a grand and then spend another grand on it, then sell.
My old bike I do everything myself, but that's after doing a restoration myself so I know every quirk of it and don't want someone else touching it.
I suspect, although can't prove, that the saving of servicing my new bike myself will not outweigh the decrease in value if I don't have a stamped up service book. There is also the (remote) possibility of getting some kind of goodwill discount if something major fails while the bike is still quite new.
I also think my GAP insurance requires it to be serviced by some kind of business, and the GAP will pay out 2 grand more than I paid for the bike.
All that said, I also agree with Stinkwheel to a point. With dealer servicing I'm not paying for stellar work, I'm paying to maintain the value of an asset. My old bike is the one I really care about, which is why no-one else takes a spanner near it. |
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blurredman |
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blurredman World Chat Champion
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steve the grease |
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steve the grease Crazy Courier
Joined: 26 Jan 2018 Karma :
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Posted: 19:43 - 19 Nov 2021 Post subject: |
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Independant bike repairers reputation is based on their competency and spread round by word of mouth. Maindealers can hide behind the manufacturers name and be absolutely fucking useless and still get lots of work.
It's counterintuitive.
After nearly 40 years working in ' the motor trade' the worst bodges, incompetent repairs and downright dishonesty is perpetrated not by scruffy garages 'under the railway arches' ( from whom you might expect it) but by Main dealers, with shiny premises.
An example. I sold a second hand 2CV manifold to our friendly local dealer. I found out later that they had sprayed it silver and sold it to the customer for £250.
Do your own oil and filters- ( the lifeblood of the engine) , anything you can't or don't fancy like valve clearances, let an independant do it. ____________________ All the above is my personal opinion, you can see my lips move, but I'm talking out of my arse.
I've been riding, and fixing , bikes for 50 years, in that time the more I learn, the less I am absolutely sure of..... |
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 2 years, 159 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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