Author Topic: Doing your own service  (Read 3054 times)

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Offline vstromspoon

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Doing your own service
« on: June 19, 2017, 12:36:15 »
I've just changed my oil and filter on my crosser for the first time. And it made me wonder why I pay a garage to do my vstrom as it was that easy.

Do you think doing your own service makes the bikes value less?
Also do you think it puts people off buying a bike if it hasn't got full garage service history?

Cheers
Old bikes

1997 gsxr 600 srad
1999 cbr 600f
1999 Yamaha r1
2006 gsxr 750
2014 gsxr 1000

Offline greywolf

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2017, 13:07:29 »
Make your own service history. Keep a log of the service you perform with dates and mileage for each service. Also keep receipts for materials used like oil and filters. That will go a long way toward credibility. I'd rather buy a higher mileage bike with an owner based service history than a lower mileage bike with no service history or a dealer service history showing long periods of no interaction with the bike.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline bigpie

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2017, 13:29:22 »
I'd rather buy a well documented self serviced bike than one that's just been and had a stamp at dealers. I don't trust the dealer will have done anything more than change the oil and filter.

I keep a ring binder with a list of what I've done, receipts for parts/consumables, date and mileage reading, and take photographs etc.

Offline Rich:-)

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2017, 13:57:09 »
+1

I keep a spreadsheet with date/miles, what's been done, what parts were changed. I also have the receipts for materials and I write on them the date and mileage that it was carried out, so it all correlates.

My strom came with full service history, which is to say a full set of stamps in the book, that's all.
Not main dealer stamps though. No other information... it could mean just minimal servicing (oil & filter), or fully serviced to factory spec. Luckily the only thing that is critical, I think (depending on the mileage), is the oil change frequency.

I would say to anyone building a formal service history (main dealer or not).. keep all the receipts & reports that detail work carried out & parts changed!
However I would encourage people to do there own servicing if they can, main dealers charge too much, independent bike shops can be a good alternative. However if you're competent with motorcycle then do it all yourself.

Another way to think of it is this.. how much money do you stand to save by self servicing vs how much value do you think you'll lose. I think you'll soon have saved much more than you might lose in resale value.



Offline frez

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2017, 14:31:25 »
Nothing wrong with self servicing when it's out of warranty. As I've got older I've stopped doing most things on the bike and getting my local independent to do it instead, time has more value, and I can't be doing with lying/kneeling on a cold concrete floor in winter.

If you are doing it yourself don't neglect servicing the brake calipers, and don't go doing something daft like starting it up before you have put the oil back in.
Now on a Super Tenere having put 64k miles on a 2011 DL650

Offline greywolf

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2017, 15:20:20 »
I would have given up doing my own work years ago if I hadn't bought a table lift for working on the bike in the garage. It made a huge difference in comfort. There's nothing like being able to sit down while doing much of the work and having access at eye level.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s

Offline bobbymc

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2017, 20:49:51 »
Being unable to start a new post, may I hijack this one.........I've just done my first oil change on my DL650, is that a magnet insert in the base of the sump plug ?.......Bob
I have a 2009 DL650.

Offline greywolf

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Re: Doing your own service
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2017, 22:06:52 »
The stock drain plug does have a magnet. You should be able to start a post by choosing the forum you want to post in, then choosing new topic.
Pat- 2007 DL650A was ridden to all 48 contiguous states. 2012 DL650A outlasted me.
Nicknames I use to lessen typing, Vee = 2002-2012 (K2-L2) DL1000s. Veek=2014+ (L4+) DL1000s. Wee = 2004-2011 (K4-L1) DL650s. Glee = 2012+ (L2+) DL650s