I've got mine booked in today for a yearly service, the usual things getting changed. Do you guys service them yourselves or do you take them to a garage? If servicing yourself, does that not affect resale value?
I do my own, but my bike is an 09 that I bought crashed damaged and re-built. If I had a newer Blade then I would be taking to a dealer to service. If I was looking to buy a newer Blade then I would want a service book all stamped up myself. it's personal preference to be honest.
I do my own and wouldn’t say it affects the resale value. As long as you use quality or genuine parts and keep all receipts to show work taken out it should be ok. The biggest thing for me is a main dealer is totally untrustworthy and the chances of the yts lad doing the minor work is to high for my liking but On the odd occasion I get stuck I have a good local guy to help
Similar to @blake7 for me. Do my own oils and brakes on my early bikes, and make a note in the Service Handbook. My 2018 though, goes to the dealer for everything. It probably doesn't affect or enhance sale 'value' in monetary terms, but in my view it certainly raises the 'saleability' of a bike because a bike with stamped service books is documented proof of its history. When faced with service books or no service books, just as we have read recently with @Sp0oner 's search, the service book bike will always win.
Mine is under warranty and although not strictly required I get the dealer to do it to simplify any warranty claims, but I normally do an extra oil/filter change myself in the spring. Anecdotally I believe that building a relationship with the dealer helps with prices when it comes to buying/px time. If you do it yourself keep receipts etc. so you can show them to the future buyer if you decide to sell.
I do my own, only for the fact that if it goes wrong I've only got myself to blame. Plus when I go for the brakes I like to know they are there and everything is torqued up properly. Some very good bike mechanics and dealers out there but also some not so good and it just takes someone to have a bad day.
Goes to the dealer lucky I have a good one and have known for many years also got a service plan for 3yts thrown in on the deal even take it in every 600 or so miles and they do my chain...I know a simple task but much easier to pop in and get someone else to do it ...
I thought I did too. I did have one 'complimentary' chain adjust, but that was pre-first service. The service plan was not even mentioned to me at purchase time. Had I have known, I probably would have opted for it - even if I had to pay. Mine's in first week of July for the 12 month service. Hope I don't have to pay through the nose, but I'll brace myself.
Hope I don't have to pay through the nose, but I'll brace myself.[/QUOTE] Brace is a pc word for bend over where dealers are concerned isn’t it?
Come on Raph. You know I'm an old guy lost in the 70 - 80s. Most of the current lingo I pick up from @Lozzy , but it's generally confined to female 'bits'. I'll spend more time in the 'Urban Dictionary' before I post. Of course there are two male members in particular I could seek guidance about this peculiar 'brace' you speak of, but I'd prefer not learning new tricks that might not be to my full enjoyment. In the meantime, substitute 'brace' with 'prepare'.
I generally do my own services unless it’s a new vehicle then I may get the first couple done for warranty purposes. As for service history for me it’s not really worth the paper it’s printed on.
I do mine myself, unless it’s something like the suspension where you need loads of special tools. I generally prefer to invest in tools and do it myself rather than pay for a service but for the Ohlins on mine you needs loads of stuff especially for the rear shock. Not everyone likes tinkering either and would prefer to pay for it to be done professionally, that’s where finding a good independent/specialist or a main dealer you trust makes sense. I’ve never had a new or new ish bike, but would prob pay for a service if i has a newer bike and it was in warranty. I tend to keep my bikes for ages so not worried about resale, but if I was swapping ever year or two the stamp in the book might make sense.
Do mine myself, keep all the receipts and just stick the mileage on there. Never had issues with resale to be honest. Done the same with all my cars aswell. My dad is a mechanic though so got him near by if anything goes wrong
Fair point. I know from a buyer's perspective that I am more influenced by a bike's condition than by its history file. I believe that it's fair enough to conclude that if I bike has been well cared for externally, we would expect the same of the internals. Only exception here, of course, is the meticulously presented bike offered by some dealers. Even then, a lay on the floor to inspect underneath reveals all!!
Must admit up until my blade most my bikes were under 3k so most weren't overly bothered about service history long as they looked pretty and were straight. The lad that bought my r6 didn't even test ride it
I have never test ridden a bike before buying. Confidence or stupidity? Never backfired on me though. Never seen the point. If we know what we want and are confident in the seller and the machine, job's done. I mean, no one goes to Curry's and says, 'Can I have that 55 inch TV overnight to test if it suits me?' We'd be laughed out of the joint!
Must admit never even rode a blade before buying mine, knew what I wanted and got one with warranty, so wasn't worried about any issues
