Servicing costs - why so vague?

[bluninja]

I can tell you that losing a bolt at 280kph isn't pleasant. Especially when you're the poor sap being overtaken and it goes through your radiator.

Pay for the damn servicing goldstein!

I can tell you that losing your sump plug and coating your back wheel in oil at 120 kmh isn't fun either. It was no fun for the mechanic when I phoned him 30 minutes after leaving the shop to come collect me and the bike. The plug fell out as he'd overtightened it and cracked the alloy sump (ZX9R C1). Hmmmm....I paid the money for the damn servicing...as with all walks of life there are good people and lazy arsed incompetent people.

[Crasherfromwayback]

especially if he's not sharing

Aye. He doesn't strike me as the sharing kind.

[bogan]

My question in the OP was possibly too vague......perhaps I should have said why is scheduled maintenance not fixed price?

It's not scheduled maintenance, it's a scheduled check-up followed by whatever work needs doing.

[YellowDog]

As it's the first service, I wouldn't expect to have to pay for anything other than standard.



LOL, I'd change my own pads anyway. If the bike had no warranty I'd do all the simple servicing myself. I used to commute 1200kms a week on an SV650, so I serviced it quite frequently

Oh, it's a 1000km service, not 10000km

I thought those were free from the selling dealer and include re-torquing any rattly bolts

[Crasherfromwayback]

I thought those were free from the selling dealer and include re-torquing any rattly bolts

Yamaha used to include them free. I think only BMW does now?

[Bassmatt]

Oh, it's a 1000km service, not 10000km

I thought those were free from the selling dealer and include re-torquing any rattly bolts

Got laughed at when i asked about a free first service.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Got laughed at when i asked about a free first service.

Next time you buy a new bike...hit them up for it when you're haggling over the price...not once the deal is done.

[bluninja]

So some owners expect motorcycle shops & their mechanics to "guess" (or mind read) "exactly" what work is required when servicing an unseen bike?(regardless of k's!)

Come on!

No I expect experienced mechanics to be able to provide a price for work that they know they will carry out. I don't expect them to quote for mystery problems that they may or may not find.

And forgive me for pointing this out, but.....what about the riders obligation to ensure they "know" their ride and that it is kept safe & well maintained?
...its called pre-checks & home maintenance!.

If you have a bike and don't regularly check it over for possible faults, required maintenance, tyre pressure, leaks etc etc...then YOUR the one not doing your job properly! (And you WILL be surprised at service time when the bill reflects your inability to do basic maintenance & checks)

That should be you're, or you are No forgiveness needed; pre ride checks and regular inspection and maintenance are part of riding.

But since my bike is always in top top condition then clearly not aimed at me. If I service the bike myself and then something inside the engine blows later I could find myself having difficulty claiming on the warranty.

To "ride it" is only PART of the program, to know your bike, its mechanical state and what work may be required in the near future is a BIG part of owning a motorcycle, and one that will keep you riding safer and with more cash in the back pocket

As for 1000k first service...its just that...FIRST SERVICE!, its the best possible time to check the whole bike over for any possible Manufacturing faults, defect parts, settling in movement etc etc, or to just bring to the new owners attention that lack of regular servicing has resulted in, or may result in damage if not regulary done.

...in short it comes down to "an inquiry into values" ...don't ya think?

Hmmmm is the first service any more or less important than any subsequent service? Perhaps that would be more "an inquiry into values".

[Mad-V2]

You could always go over the bike yourself first looking for defects/loose bolts etc, workshop manuals are pretty easy to find on the net for torque settings and what not.
Then take it in for the standard stuff (warranty purposes).
Then there's no surprise's, and you learn more about your bike along the way.

Disclaimer: Always use the workshop manual for torque specifications

[bluninja]

You could always go over the bike yourself first looking for defects/loose bolts etc, workshop manuals are pretty easy to find on the net for torque settings and what not.
Then take it in for the standard stuff (warranty purposes).
Then there's no surprise's, and you learn more about your bike along the way.

Disclaimer: Always use the workshop manual for torque specifications

yup...I check the bike over..perhaps that's why I wonder why the first service/check/inspection is not a fixed fee.

[nodrog:Me]

No I expect experienced mechanics to be able to provide a price for work that they know they will carry out.

Oh, so you want them to be fortune tellers and be able to see into the future?

the $150 is the minimum cost of the service, that they have worked out based on what they know they have to check, the margin between $150-$200 is allowing for anything extra they may have to do.

Its not fuckin rocket surgery to work it out.

[Bassmatt]

Next time you buy a new bike...hit them up for it when you're haggling over the price...not once the deal is done.

Why shouldn't the owner pay for time used? New bikes often need going over with a fine toothed comb. Bolts/spokes etc often come loose during break in and need tightning/adjustment. That margin is certainly not built into the profit on a new bike...so the dealer shouldn't be out of pocket checking it all.

So which is it?

[Crasherfromwayback]

So which is it?

Well it goes like this (you're obviously pendantic and none too smart)...

If you ask me for $1000.00 off, I may do that for you. But I certainly won't then have the profit left in the bike to be able to do your first service for free.

If you're a nice guy to deal with...I may think that throwing in the first service for free is worth it purely for the sake of a sale...I may not. I may give you a helmet etc instead. Each deal/bike is different, and comes down to margin/keenness for the dealer to sell said bike.

But don't for a minute think that the distributors give us enough margin to give all manner of shit away...cause it ain't the case.

[bluninja]

Oh, so you want them to be fortune tellers and be able to see into the future?

That would be fantastic....they can tell me next weeks lotto numbers, and tell me when the dollar is going to be at it's best to buy the parts I'm going to need.

[Dodgy_Matt]

snip....fucken sat there with absolutely no intention of providing service as I stood with tyre in one hand and wallet in the other .../snip

There is your problem right there...
99% of mechanic/bike shops that sell tyres will not put a tyre you got from somewhere else on a rim for love nor a large wad of cash.. They don’t make any money from a tyre sale why provide a fitting service?