Shop service ($$) versus DIY - your advice?

[Machiavelli]

Hey all,

I am now the very proud owner of my first motorbike, a 2007 Suzuki GN250.

I wanted a new one 'just coz', and I'm very happy that it has its 1 year factory warranty, I've already utilised that in my first week of riding!

I have zero knowledge about bike upkeep and maintenance. The Suzuki shop guy said that Ginnys are very reliable bikes and that maybe the only thing I'd need to do it make sure its chain stays greased.
I asked him about how to change oil etc (i have no idea) and he said I wouldn't need to do that - to just bring it in to the shop after the first 1000km and then every 5000km after that. He said it would cost about $150 do to a full service.

Is this good advice, or is he trying to rip off a newbie such as myself?

How much bike maintenance should I be doing myself, versus how much should I just leave for a shop servicing?

[James Deuce]

Check the engine oil level religiously. There's only 1.4 litres of oil in a GN's engine and gearbox and they do use a little bit.

Follow the service schedule religiously, or your factory warranty will be invalidated.

I've only had a couple of new bikes and both times I let the shop do the servicing for the duration of the warranty.

Don't put grease on your chain. Use chain lube.

The owners manual will tell you quite plainly all the things you need to look after.

[ManDownUnder]

Rip off.

Get yourself a GN Manual which will spell out all the stuff to be done at each interval (5,00kms etc) and either do it yourself or have someone show you how. Most isn't hard and the ocassional pro job on the high tech stuff can be done as required.

Here's a chance to learn, meet some people and get your hands dirty.

[HTFU]

Warranty will cover some of the GN problems, most of these are not motor related. I did 25000km on mine with no engine problems, got the shop to do the 1000km and then did my own oil/filter from then on, replaced the chain myself etc all from internet searches and using the manual.

Great thing about the basic air cooled GN is most people could learn how to keep it maintained. I had the valves adjusted by the shop at 10000km about the only thing the shop needs to do. I had to replace the rear sprocket at 20000km and had the valves done again by the shop. I put a new chain on at 10000km and 20000km. Need to adjust it often and keep it well lubed, so something worth learning. Because the GN has a centre stand it makes this stuff easier to do.

Buy some castrol GPS oil from supercheap (you need this anyway to do topups, important to keep the oil on the full line, but be carefull not to overfill it) , some kero and filter oil to service the filter, spark plug socket with the swivel in it, oil filter and just read the manual. I would mark the bolts with a vivid so that when ever I put It back together I had an idea where everything was before I undid it.

Well worth learning this stuff. Rewarding to fix it yourself and save some coin. There will be stuff you need to do between service intervals so makes sense to learn the other things as well.:2thumbsup

[Usarka]

if ya dont have the stamps in the book then the dealer might not honour the warranty.

your call.

[Machiavelli]

Excellent advice, everyone

Obviously the 'get stuck in and dirty' approach seems to be the agreed on way to do it. I keep finding reasons why I'm glad I bought a GN and that fact that it sounds like a good bike to learn to maintain is just another one of them!

Here's hope I have smooth running :scooter:

Now I guess I need to find a GN250 manual... (yes, i spotted the thread on it but i have no idea if i want to install some random zip programme on my PC just for that)

[Motig]

You do realise the "get stuck in and dirty" should only be done when its out of warranty otherwise the dealer can justifiably refuse to honour the warranty:nono:. Reread the previous posts and the majority are trying to tell you that. But after warranty runs out - Go for it, it does save a lot of money.:Punk:

[boomer]

If you value your warranty, get the book stamped by a dealer every service. If not.. fill ya boots; even i can change oil, filter, sprocket and chain..fill with water and abuse unnecessarily

[SVboy]

I think it is really important to let the bikeshop do the 1000km service. They have a schedule of checking and tightening as well as the oil and filter. I think getting the dealers stamp in the book is important for resale too. HOWEVER be warned, the dealers dont do this service for free, oh god no!

[Ragingrob]

You do realise the "get stuck in and dirty" should only be done when its out of warranty otherwise the dealer can justifiably refuse to honour the warranty:nono:. Reread the previous posts and the majority are trying to tell you that. But after warranty runs out - Go for it, it does save a lot of money.:Punk:

Hey I downloaded the manual from a site...it may be the same as you've seen, and it says you need 7-zip to unzip it? Well I downloaded it and it's actually just in pdf format and opened and printed straight away :), now I'm gonna buy a notebook so that I can record everything I need to and have done at what km's...:first:

[Machiavelli]

People keep referring to getting stamps in books.

Should I have some kind of book that came with my bike?
Can I just get any old notebook and get the dealer to stamp it when they service it?

Whats the deal with the book & stamp thing?

[FROSTY]

Dude The NEW Gn 250's have a reputation for giving several issues which can be expensive to fix.
You get a warranty book with the paperwork when you buy a new suzuki.
That book needs to have stamps put in it by a bike shop at the required service intervals. If you dont do this it WILL invalidate your warranty

[HTFU]

Bike should have come with an owners manual that has all the servicing information you will need, go back and get one from the shop.

I agree get the first service and maybe a second one at 5000km done by the shop. If there is any motor related problems that would be covered by warranty they will most likely show up in the first few thousand kms. Each service will cost $150 so not a huge expense (you will be paying $60 for labour).

Thing is, you will need to lube and adjust the chain, top up oil in between servicing anyway. So learn how to do this and then after 5000km do the rest yourself if you want. Any other warranty issues like the speedo stopping, baffle falling out of exhaust will still be covered regardless of who has serviced the bike, so I wouldn't be too fussed about that. The GN is just a good bike to learn some basic mechanical skills on.

I have not heard of many motor related warranty claims most have been electrical etc. Motor may be made of cheaper chinese metal but its still the same engine that came out of Japan. Its the finishing touches and build quality that is the problem with China.

[Pancakes]

Yeah do what ya gotta do to keep the warranty valid IMO. Being a single even though it's low power you'll want to get the hang of chain adjustment from day one. After the warranty period get in thar! Oil and filter, air filter, pads, chain etc you should be sweet as with. I like to clean my bike too. Not polish the paint but spend time in the nooks and crannies so you get an idea on where things should be so you notice if anythings come "unstuck" or cracks etc. I have a rag with numbers along the bottom and when I remove parts of bikes or cars or whatever I'll do a rough drawing of the cover and number the bolts, they then get put on the rag by their number. Sounds anal but takes one minute more and is cheap insurance if your new to the game or worried you'll mix bits up. The new GN's have softer covers and bolts than the old ones so don't over tighten, I don't do my covers that tight at all and use the tiniest bit of loc-tite on the bolts so I know they won't wiggle out.

Good luck and have fun!

[vifferman]

I have a rag with numbers along the bottom
You do?!?
What a coincidence - I've been looking for one of those for 11 years now!
Where didja buy it? :spudwhat:

[Pancakes]

From the old off-cut of denim and vivid from the drawer at my place shop. Can get you one for $50 if you put the money in my account ASAP!

[FROSTY]

Any other warranty issues like the speedo stopping, baffle falling out of exhaust will still be covered regardless of who has serviced the bike, so I wouldn't be too fussed about that.
SORRY DUDE--you are wrong --
He may have comeback under the consurmers act --IE goods must be fit for the purpose intended BUT if he failed to carry out his services according to the suzuki book they can just say F off as far as a WARANTY claim is concerned. --Not a risk i'd reccomend for a newbee.

NOT that Im saying dont learn how to do oil and filter changes etc just not the official services

[FROSTY]

From the old off-cut of denim and vivid from the drawer at my place shop. Can get you one for $50 if you put the money in my account ASAP!
Mate--a SAFER option is what i've got --an oily old bit of 4x2 with a couple of lines of holes drilled in it. --Numbered 1-20
The bolt sub assembily gets slid into the hole so no spacing washers etc get lost and if someone walks past not much chance of a mix up by them kicking things

[Pancakes]

Good idea Mr Frost,

Viff', you can have "piece of wood" for $80. As used buy promonent NZ riders. (Frost-O) I'll cut you in! We're gonna be rich!

[Machiavelli]

...I don't do my covers that tight at all and use the tiniest bit of loc-tite on the bolts so I know they won't wiggle out.

Loc-tite on the bolts? Lol

Oh man, can i see THAT going wrong on somebody! :laugh:

[Pancakes]

Oh yeah, use the one that is made to come apart agian. I don't know what colour that is in normat loc-tite cos I use one from Jaycar, 20mL bottle and have used maybe a quarter of that in 4 years.

[HTFU]

SORRY DUDE--you are wrong --
He may have comeback under the consurmers act

I am going from my experience of doing everything myself and Suzuki still replaced my speedo and then my baffle and my headlight glass. Asked my mechanic after I had 1000km service if it was an issue not getting them to do the regular service intervals. His response was no unless he could see I fucked something up. Suzuki do not seem to have the same service recording system as Kawasaki where they send away a coupon from my manual.

If you have a good relationship with your dealer its in their interest to help you out in the case of a genuine warranty issue. I know in my line of work we sometimes take the hit as a retailer to keep our regular and loyal customers happy.

[Machiavelli]

If you have a good relationship with your dealer its in their interest to help you out in the case of a genuine warranty issue. I know in my line of work we sometimes take the hit as a retailer to keep our regular and loyal customers happy.

That's the way I look at it. When i took my Ginny in to them to fix something under warranty they asked me, "So its brand new? Did you buy it from us?" and when i said no they said, "oh that's not a problem!"

Let's face it, they treated me well, I ended up spending $160 while I was waiting for repairs, and I'm going to go back again.

If they screw me on any warranty issue i'll just say "screw you" back and give my patronage to somebody else. I don't forsee that happening (hopefully).

[HTFU]

Let's face it, they treated me well, I ended up spending $160 while I was waiting for repairs, and I'm going to go back again.

If they screw me on any warranty issue i'll just say "screw you" back and give my patronage to somebody else. I don't forsee that happening (hopefully).

Agree 100%, I have the same philosophy with anything I buy. Sounds like a good place to do your biking business.

If you can, ask the mechanic his opinion about doing the basics yourself. Mine encouraged me to give it a go, but to make sure I bought it back to him to do the valves every 10000km. Warranty is no issue with my dealer, and as far as my experience and that of my fix it shop a motor warranty on a GN is rare and really bad luck. Biggest issue is lack of oil.

Communication, which you already look to have sorted with your local, seems to be the key to avoiding nasty surprises when the shit hits the fan.