What Is A "Service"?

[koba]

remember spark plugs are $20 each.

Jeeeeeeze!
Better be iridium (SP?) for that price!
In which case if the bike is a four stroke running well they should last for 100,000km ish. the lifetime of alot of bikes....
The VFR I own has super expensive rare plugs that cost $15ish each tho.
If NGK make it repco seem to be able to order it in, usually much, much cheaper than my local bikeshop that everytime you go there for a plug you get "oh, those ones are real expensive"
I think the last plug I bought cost $3.50 (A100)

[McJim]

I'm about to "Service" my Ducati.

This means buying:
4L of engine oil,
2 Spark Plugs,
1 Oil Filter,

And doing the following for free!
Cleaning existing air filter,
Lubing the chain (weekly anyway)
Tensioning the chain (gets checked weekly and adjusted when required)
Checking the suspension
Checking wheel bearings,
Checking Brake pads
Checking Brake discs,
Draining and changing hydraulic fluids,
Check the swing arm attachment,
Checking the tread,
Checking the tappets.

[steved]

I've always done general bike maintenance myself. If you take it to a mechanic and ask for a service, what exactly does a "service" encompass and how much does it generally cost?

Do they just change the oil?

Here is an example from a West Auckland bike-shop. The three categories cost differing amounts based on the labour time.

[HungusMaximist]

Trust me, $300-500 bucks isn't that bad, considering HOW much labour is involved in servicing a motorbike.

If you're busy man and have a full time job with a salary around the 50 K mark then this shouldn't bother you and plus, if you're not mechanically sound to begin with then don't bother too much.

Of course you can't go wrong learning how to do a bit of general maintenace like oil + filter, tensioning, lubing, and taking off/on fairings.

[Max Preload]

Jeeeeeeze!
Better be iridium (SP?) for that price!

Even the standard CR9E's for my bike the stealers want $20 each. So I imported my own iridiums CR9EIX's from the states for less and got 3 sets for the price of one. And before anyone bleats about margins the stealers need and geography bullshit, that's retail over there.

[Max Preload]

I've always done general bike maintenance myself. If you take it to a mechanic and ask for a service, what exactly does a "service" encompass and how much does it generally cost?

Do they just change the oil?

Learn to do it yourself - it's not rocket science. Yet another reason I'd never buy new... having to get a bike dealer serviced for warranty, even though it's illegal for them to refuse to do warranty work unless the home servicing is a cause, it's just not worth the hassle arguing with the cretins.

[What?]

I'm about to "Service" my Ducati.

This means buying:
4L of engine oil,
2 Spark Plugs,
1 Oil Filter,

And doing the following for free!
Cleaning existing air filter,
Lubing the chain (weekly anyway)
Tensioning the chain (gets checked weekly and adjusted when required)
Checking the suspension
Checking wheel bearings,
Checking Brake pads
Checking Brake discs,
Draining and changing hydraulic fluids,
Check the swing arm attachment,
Checking the tread,
Checking the tappets.

Sounds similar to the 20K services on the Bavarian Money Waster, except you have missed:
* Change fork oil
* Check/top up battery electrolyte level
* Change coolant
* Check/adjust steering head bearings
* Lube clutch & throttle cables

[All]

Learn to do it yourself - it's not rocket science. Yet another reason I'd never buy new... having to get a bike dealer serviced for warranty, even though it's illegal for them to refuse to do warranty work unless the home servicing is a cause, it's just not worth the hassle arguing with the cretins.

Huh? My post said that I have always done it myself.

[Max Preload]

Huh? My post said that I have always done it myself.

Just testing...

[All]

Just testing...

..............