I have been quite surprised recently when looking at a few bikes as considering replacing my current ride. I have looked at a zx10 registered march 2012 so 2.5 year old with 4600 miles on the clock and the only service carried out is the 600 oil change after running in. Also looked at a 2011 Rsv4 so 3.5 year old with 900 miles on the clock and again only service is the oil change after running in. In both cases the owners have said no need as not done the mileage but as far as I'm aware its normally 4000 miles or 12 months which ever comes first and some things are time related rather than mileage anyway eg. Brake fluid. Am I being over picky wanting a fully service history ? I'm happy if its been diy serviced by then owner if receipts are there to proof such, it doesn't have to be a full dealer service history. Just seems strange to me that people are buying brand new bikes and then not wishing to maintain them. It wouldn't effect me due to the bikes age but surely the owners who decide to miss the servicing are also deciding to make their warranty void. What do other people think ? Am I the odd one out is this the norm ? Should I eexpect the majority of nearly new bikes for sale to be similar ?
Steve, mine has only 2 stamps in the book...but gets serviced twice a year. As long as the owner does it, then happy days.
From my understanding I would still change the oil over year even if it was used only a little each year Oil changes,filter,miles, months, time, change interval just one website saying it's important. For me if it was serviced yearly even buy the owner and no dealer stamp thats fine. as long as it's changed. But having a bike that may have had no oil change inn 2-3 years would worry me but saying that I know of people who have found old bikes/cars that have been BARN FINDS which run perfectly good after no oil change in 10 plus years. In the end you have to be happy with what the owner says about a bike. if it's been kept in a dry warm area like the house then thats going to be better than having it stored in a cold garage for years Others may say different
from what Steve posted it looks like both have only had a service, oil change and filter at the 600 miles and no since Mine has never been back to Honda for a service since I got it as I trust JHS who do mine more than someone I don't know.
Mine gets its mileage (12k, 16k etc) services at a garage, whilst the mundane stuff like oil at that I do myself each year as I don't often do enough mileage to get them done at the service point. When buying a bike as long as I can see evidence like receipts for oil/filters then I am happy.
Yes that's right Remal no service apart form the 600 mile oil and filter change which is normally after a few weeks of running in. I would have no problem with an Indy servicing the bike or DIY service if receipts to prove such were available but no servicing in 2-3 years worries me and just wondered is it the norm to service on mileage rather than mileage and time which ever comes first ? Personally I have always done home servicing and gone with the latter time and mileage which ever comes first based servicing.
Same here I don't trust anyone else with my bikes. Had the first 600 mile service done by the stealers and it hasn't been back since. I'd rather buy a bike from someone who you can clearly see has taken care of their bikes. A good sign is when you get to their garage and you can see all the oils and stuff hanging around, with a guy who has knowledge of how it all works. Paperwork is just that. Paperwork
I bought a Honda 18" Petrol Mower 6 years ago and it's never seen a spanner or had an Oil change! Bad of me I know, but every year I wheel it out and she kicks up for the first cut of the year within 3-4 Pulls, after that it's first Pull for the rest of the season! I keep meaning too but............................
I always do my own new bike ttok for service to main dealers for its first 600 as it was free . Then replaced oil and filter myself have been using OEM filter and i had been using castrol power racing 1 10/30 .. but my local garage give me a bit of sponsorship and supplied mt oil last year but it was silkolene so tried it in the zx6r this was just the comp range and gear changes were a lot better it was sometimes hard to find neutreal but after putting in the silkolene it was perfect. So the blade is having its first taste of the race stuff this weekend .
Wish I could service it myself mate, totally agree with what you are saying, most of the time I get mine home from the dealers I have to clean it as it's in such a shit state.
Think I will Wedgie, I used to rip my CG 125 apart years ago no problem, it's just these sodding fairing are more delicate than prawn crackers
Definitely do it yourself, even if you screw it up completely (You won't) its probably still less damage than the 16 year old apprentice at the main dealers can inflict.
My bike has no service stamps, but has been apart more times than I can think, fork oil is changed every six months, headset cleaned and greased yearly, rear subframe and suspension stripped out every year and re-greased. It looks terrible to look at because it's always dirty!! but mechanically it's perfect and better than a Honda dealer can ever do, because it's my life on the line at 180mph and I trust no one but myself for looking after my machine.
