Dealer or home service? (for a newbie!)

[mattyfattyboo...]

The old question, which do you do?

I've recently got a CB1000R, the book has the first couple of services done but the last one was missed (it has only done 10k).

I'm split, my mate has to take his to the supplying dealer to keep his 'unlimited' warranty going, I was tempted, since I'll end up going to keep him company anyway, to get mine done at the same time.

On the flip side I could get the bits and do it myself. I'm far from a mechanic but if I take my time with the help on my mate I can do the basics. I dont depend on the bike so if I took a day or two to do the bits it'd not be an issue, plus I have a nice warm garage to do it in.

So, who does what and why?

[G]

Do it yourself.

Spend the savings on a trackday.

[Raffles]

[wr6133]

Do it yourself.

[waffles]

Im far from a mechanic but I can still service my bike, its dead easy and not something intimidating! Get a workshop manual for your bike (most can be found online) or a Haynes book of lies and have a read through.

A dealer service can be upwards of £200 depending on what you have done whereas you can get plugs, filters and oil for a lot lot less than that. Put the cash you save towards a trackday as G suggested
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Theory test - 19/8/09, CBT - 11/10/09, MOD 1 - 16/8/10, MOD 2 - 27/10/10
Past rides Yamaha XT125X, Triumph TT600, Honda XR250
Current rides Suzuki GSXR 600, Honda MSX125

[-Matt-]

I do most basic stuff now - didn't have a clue a couple of years ago. Few PDF manuals on the mobile were very useful for checking while working on the bike. Besides that youtube/forums for advice here and there and most stuffs relatively simple.

The money i've spent on a basic tool kit/paddock stands and other stuff has already been far less than I would of had to spend on paying someone to do all the work i've managed so far.

I still haven't had a go at changing tyres/checking valves yet though, but most of the more basic regular service stuffs definately worth a go at, it gets a lot easier after the first attempt too.

Unless you destroy the bike somehow.

[Az]

I'm retarded when it comes to mechanics & I can service my own bike. Do it yourself, it's easy.

[suburban myth]

A key part of the service (should be) inspecting particular parts for unusual wear and such like. You're not (by your own admission) a mechanic so surely the guy trained by the dealership and probably the manufacturer in question has a better chance at spotting a defective shock or such like?

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

[chickenstrip]

[monkeybiker]

Most people should be capable of doing a basic service like filter and oil change and spark plug change.

Valve checks and adjustments are a bit tricky and if your not confident doing that would be worth getting a garage to do as you could wreck your engine if you mess it up.

[Taught2BCauti...]

Do it yourself - and keep an accurate record of what work you did and when, plus details of parts used and all receipts.

If you decide to get the dealer to do it, at least learn how to do regular servicing, basic weekly checks and adjustments, so you don't get shafted.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[mattyfattyboo...]

[G]

Valve checks shouldn't be a problem and are easy to do.

If the motor takes shims, it's more hassle to replace any if they are out - but you can still do all the checks and get someone else to do the shims, which should save year a good bit of money.

If it's tappets, it's easy to adjust, of course.

[sidewinder]

I've done most jobs needed myself.but will get my mechanic to do my valve clearances.
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"Nitrous is like a cheap hooker, you want to hit it but are scared of the consequences

[nelmo]

Take your bike to a dealer if:

1. Its new and still under warranty.
2. You can afford it.

Otherwise, most basic stuff can easily be done yourself, although I still take my bike for chain and sprocket changes - I did it once myself and it took ages.

I had a V-Strom from new - it got serviced for the first 2 years to keep the warranty going and then I did it myself for the next 5 years (apart from chain and sprockets after the first one ) and I sold it with 95k miles on the clock. The dealer I traded it to said the lack of service history for an older bike made no difference to the price - they only cared about mileage.

I estimate I saved at least £2k in service charges in the time I had the bike.
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Bike history: Suzuki GSXF600, BMW F650, Honda Varadero, Suzuki V-Strom, Kawasaki Versys
Current: Honda NC700X

[Copycat73]

what pi$$ed me off most about dealer servicing was the lack of any surety that the had done the job properly and then to charge £80 hour.. insult to injury IMO.
it does seem daunting when first you take up the "spanners" but the money I have saved over the years it was well worth doin.

your call.
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Whatever I post I have no citation and no intention of providing one..
caveat emptor

[mogstar]

My other concern with dealers is that although yes they are trained, how do you know they haven't given it to the apprentice to check over?

This.

I had mine serviced at a dealer to keep the warranty and I looked at the 'our staff' pics and the person who did it was a trainee technician.

I expect that all services are done by the trainees and the bigger jobs by the fully trained staff. I doubt the trainees get supervised either.

I also had some warranty work done some time before and it was the same bloke. I now service my bike and the first time I removed the sump nut it was definitely over tightened as it took a breaker bar to get it off.

[DJS]

DIY.

[bikertomm]

I do it myself, I'm not the most spanner handy either.

It's not hard to learn, I really enjoy oil changes actually, something satisfying with them.

There's something about servicing your own bike though. (Most of the time) You know it's been done right, you know it's had good quality oil, and you know you haven't tightened the oil filter on so fucking hard that the next person to get it off requires ironman's hands.... thanks previous owner.


One top tip I would say to anyone looking to learn, is look up 'Moonfleet41' on youtube. Simply the best tutorials called 'Delboys garage' on all things bike related, including oil changes, chain maintenance etc.

This is an oil change on a Bandit he did: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M90qTC95_ek

Has a couple on different bikes too. Top bloke
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07' Honda Hornet now full powaah! My guide on performing an oil change!

[Musketeer]

Bikes - I do all by myself. Saves a lot of money.
Cars - I do most, except things requiring going under the car i.e. exhaust repairs/replacements etc. Again, diy saves fortune.

Learn simple things first. In time you will realize that it's not really that difficult to i.e. adjust valve clearances etc.
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Current Bike: Yamaha XSR900 Previous bikes: Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, Kawasaki ZX-6R Ninja, Aprilia RS125 2-stroke

[mattyfattyboo...]

[Old Git Racing]

Do it yourself. Tips I'd give would be to do it somewhere dry and comfortable, have the right information, manual or web, have a decent basic toolkit. Don't buy cheap pattern shit oil filters, chains/sprockets or brake parts from E-bay.

Start with the basics and the confidence this gives you by doing it well will soon get you doing valve clearances etc.

OGR
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2022 Tiger Sport 660 2019 Street Twin 2003 K3 gixxer 1000 1998 Srad 600 track hack

[Slacker24seve...]

[Rogerborg]