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Post-warranty servicing

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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
7%
 7%  [ 2 ]
Get an independent bike shop to service it. Slightly cheaper but worth it?
7%
 7%  [ 2 ]
Service it myself in the main, but anything impossible take to the bike shop
85%
 85%  [ 23 ]
Total Votes : 27

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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 16:25 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Post-warranty servicing Reply with quote

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.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 16:39 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

What do you feel like doing? Smile

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 Smile
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Nobby the Bastard
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PostPosted: 16:43 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Find a good mechanic.
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A100man
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PostPosted: 16:52 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing Reply with quote

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 Shocked ..
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xX-Alex-Xx
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PostPosted: 17:17 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Depends on the wallet vs skill required vs "CBA level" ratios are


CBA = can't be arsed.
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Last edited by xX-Alex-Xx on 17:17 - 16 Nov 2021; edited 1 time in total
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 17:17 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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Ste
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PostPosted: 17:23 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

4) Buy a new bike.

Razz
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
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PostPosted: 17:37 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:
Or 4) treat as disposable and buy a new bike Smile


Neutral
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doggone
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PostPosted: 17:41 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe alternate DIY basic oil change and check/lube with independent chap. I haven't seen much emphasis put on dealer service record when trading in never mind a private sale, especially if it has below average miles
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 17:46 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

trevor saxe-coburg-gotha wrote:
chickenstrip wrote:
Or 4) treat as disposable and buy a new bike Smile


Neutral


What?! What did I say this time?!

Laughing
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Freddyfruitba...
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PostPosted: 18:27 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've been worrying over this too; although I have to say it's just option 1 vs option 2 (ie, I'm not doing it myself!). With me, a lot of it's about how much it's worth to keep the main dealer stamps in the service booklet; the original owner did that exclusively, as have I so far, and I wonder how much it would effect the resale value by going independent now...
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Easy-X
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PostPosted: 19:08 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did a major service on the XSR and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be but I did a lot of prior planning; really most of the work is just getting yourself organised.

I did have use of a bike lift that made things somewhat easier but a paddock or centre stand would be fine.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
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PostPosted: 19:25 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

chickenstrip wrote:


What?! What did I say this time?!

Laughing


the emoticon was for ste
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 19:50 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

The only way to be sure everything has actually been done is to do it yourself. The other options are hit or miss.
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MCN
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PostPosted: 20:04 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

My last three Beemurz were serviced at dealer.
To maintain the warranty relationship.

Waste of money.
When the 1000rr needed a new sump at 5000 miles I was charged full price. Not warranty.

When the 1300GT paint fell off the engine and everything that was painted metal BMW dug their heels in and refused to help. Said I'd used the wrong shampoo on it.

That was a shower of cunts in east kilbride that are disguised as a BMW motorrad dealer.

So paying dealer service rates can be a vain hope that the cunts will man the fuck up and do their duty when warranty knocks.

I bought the data tools and service my self. No dramas for the last 4 years when I sacked BMW.
They lost service on two machines and any hope of MCN every visiting any of their showrooms again.

Great customer service.

Until you need very specific dealer type tools or major overhauls learn how to service your own bike.
Unless you don't have the space to do that.
Then hope to find a reliable shop.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 20:23 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

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 Smile
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha
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PostPosted: 20:35 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

MCN wrote:
When the 1000rr needed a new sump at 5000 miles I was charged full price. Not warranty.

When the 1300GT paint fell off the engine and everything that was painted metal BMW dug their heels in and refused to help. Said I'd used the wrong shampoo on it.


https://i.imgur.com/xBMbZq1.mp4
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xX-Alex-Xx
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PostPosted: 21:09 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Freddyfruitbat wrote:
I've been worrying over this too; although I have to say it's just option 1 vs option 2 (ie, I'm not doing it myself!). With me, a lot of it's about how much it's worth to keep the main dealer stamps in the service booklet; the original owner did that exclusively, as have I so far, and I wonder how much it would effect the resale value by going independent now...


Just keep the receipts to show you did the work. Dealer stamps mean nothing to me as long as I have proof the bike was maintained.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 22:29 - 16 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

stinkwheel wrote:
The only way to be sure everything has actually been done is to do it yourself. The other options are hit or miss.


In fact, I'd extend that. From my experience, I'd just do a major service on it now because there is no garauntee whatsoever it's all been done thus far.

I only ever bought one new bike and when I started servicing it myself, I found that the tappet covers had never been removed, fork oil had never been changed, it was on its original sparkplug and the coolant was exhausted.

They did change the oil. I HOPE they changed the filter.
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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 09:27 - 17 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for the responses everyone.

So I don't want to chop the bike in - it's pretty much perfect for me (and they don't make them anymore anyway!). So that option is out.

The bike is far more "cluttered" than other bikes I've worked on, which is the main thing putting me off getting too involved with it, but maybe I should just get the major service schedule and work my way through it and see how far I get. I've got all the basic tools, including torque wrenches, so unless there's some bespoke Honda tool somewhere I should be OK.

The bike has a centre stand fitted so it's fairly easy to work on in that respect; I don't have a bike lift though, but I'm used to crawling around on the floor working on the C90 so I'm not that bothered by that.

Lastly, the warranty effectiveness probably depends on the dealer (and maybe the marque too); mine had an issue with the instrument panel misting - it was replaced without any quibble (and it was a very costly part and an awkward exercise to fit). It might have been a less easy experience without the FSH with the same dealer.
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ThunderGuts
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PostPosted: 09:32 - 17 Nov 2021    Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing Reply with quote

A100man wrote:


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 Shocked ..


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.
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A100man
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PostPosted: 11:06 - 17 Nov 2021    Post subject: Re: Post-warranty servicing Reply with quote

ThunderGuts wrote:
A100man wrote:


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 Shocked ..


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.
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Robby
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PostPosted: 11:42 - 17 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

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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PostPosted: 13:15 - 17 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

Never had a bike with warrenty. Never been to a garage.
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steve the grease
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PostPosted: 19:43 - 19 Nov 2021    Post subject: Reply with quote

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.
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