Servicing costs for a 'big' bike?

[Little Miss Trouble]

What make and/or model of big bike are we talking about?

There's a huge variation in service cost between a Bandit and a 1098r.

doesn't really . normally big cc less major problems, regular home servicering of the bike is the big pay-off, however it may depend to in what model of bike.

The reason I've not mentioned Make/Model is at this stage I am looking at a few from various makers.

The prices mentioned for 600s in general isn't so different to the quote I was given this morning by a workshop for an Italian so its looking like I might be getting some V-twin goodness in the not too distant future

[slimjim]

..guzzi..?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Now my little GPX has gone to her new home I can seriously start looking for a bigger bike.
I have my eye on a few, just wanting to know what sort of servicing costs I should expect on a 600cc+ bike particularly for the BIG services (I will be learning to do basics on whatever the next one is myself so will be saving a bit there.)

Just have your pay direct credited to the bike shop

[Forest]

given the 12000km service intervals for the 1098, you'd expect it to be cheaper than the bandit, right?

I'm not sure that I would.

The major service interval on the GSF1250 Bandit is 25,000 km.

[R6_kid:Me]

Stick with a 600 - the real difference is consumables. I can't believe how quickly tires wear out. I get maybe 1000 kilometers. Maximum. And chains... Hmm.

Sounds like you need to work on controlling your right hand my friend. So far my GSXR1000 has cost be about the same to run as my old R6. It's all about being smooth.

The only difference between brands for servicing tends to be the frequency. You dont need to look at the top end of a japanese 600cc sports/tourer every 10,000km - more like every 20,000-30,000 (some are more frequent than others). The Ducati's have the need for new belts and to have the desmodromics readjusted every 10,000km - hence the 'high cost of maintenance'.

The rate at which you use consumables such as oil/tyres/brakes/chains/sprockets is largely dependant upon the rider.

[discotex]

I'll shortly be up to my 4th service in a year (18000km service next) plus a set of pads and tyres. Fortunately the 1000km service is free labour with Honda.

Will probably go through another service + my current tyres and another set before the summer is over. Depends on how many trackdays I can fit in I guess.

Adds up fast

[Cajun]

Miss L

alot of depends on your bike, and your skill with a spanner, most japas are every 6000kms for a oil/filter change, pretty simple to do yourself if bike is out of warrenty, often its helps by doing small things to bring costs down
when taking bike in for service, remove the side fairings, so easyer for staff to service, also means you are not spending $50+hr for some shop boy to remove your side fairings. also a good time to give motor a clean up.

When in warrenty most of my services never costed me more than 2 hours worth of labour, + oil + filter, which i use to supply myself,

I often brought oil/filter way before service, spreading the cost over a longer time.

[Gremlin]

The rate at which you use consumables such as oil/tyres/brakes/chains/sprockets is largely dependant upon the rider.

Yep, and how much you get done by the shop. Yet I certainly don't count myself as a fast rider (and think I am reasonably smooth when I want to be), and the zx10 consumed stuff like it was going out of fashion. All servicing was done by Mt Eden, I'm shit at mechanic stuff.

Bought at 5500km. Serviced at 11000km (the books 12k), full set of tyres, scottoiler etc, and the bill ran up to a little over $1300.

It was then serviced at 17000km. Another set of tyres, and it had had a 2nd hand rear tyre in between the services as well. It also needed chain and sprockets. The bill was over $1400.

My experience of big sportsbikes was one of hating service time...

It completely depends on what you get and how you ride it.

[Crazy Steve]

Now my little GPX has gone to her new home I can seriously start looking for a bigger bike.
I have my eye on a few, just wanting to know what sort of servicing costs I should expect on a 600cc+ bike particularly for the BIG services (I will be learning to do basics on whatever the next one is myself so will be saving a bit there.)

Gsxr1000k3 valve clearence $500 plus at 24kms.

Gsxr1000k7 small whole in Radiator $400 plus.

1st 1000km service on ER6N $120ish.
2nd 6000km service on ER6N $120-130ish again.

The 1st two were done with new tyres aswell making both around $1000 each

Crazy Steve

[Little Miss Trouble]

The only difference between brands for servicing tends to be the frequency. You dont need to look at the top end of a japanese 600cc sports/tourer every 10,000km - more like every 20,000-30,000 (some are more frequent than others). The Ducati's have the need for new belts and to have the desmodromics readjusted every 10,000km - hence the 'high cost of maintenance'.

Lies!
(unless of course it varies from model to model) On the Ducati I have my eye on I've been told you replace the belts and check shims etc. every 20,000k

[madbikeboy]

Sounds like you need to work on controlling your right hand my friend. So far my GSXR1000 has cost be about the same to run as my old R6. It's all about being smooth.

My right hand has a mind of it's own. Thought of getting it amputated, but it's so entertaining. This morning it flipped the bird twice, not sure why either time. And then it grabbed handfuls of throttle while I was admiring the scenery. Some days the madness spreads to the other hand. Burnouts are the result.

No one listens to me, even my dick seems to be out for itself.

I'd try drugs, but I can't afford it due to the fines and tires.

Any advice?

[vifferman]

That was very good, MBB . (I'd bling you if I could, but apparently das is verboten).
Sorry - I don't have any answers. You could try driving something small, gutless and boring, but no doubt the boredom would cause your various parts to think up new ways to entertain themselves and get you into even more trouble.

[Slyer]

Go for the Kawasaki 650, nice and cheap-to-run parallel twin.

[madbikeboy]

That was very good, MBB . (I'd bling you if I could, but apparently das is verboten).
Sorry - I don't have any answers. You could try driving something small, gutless and boring, but no doubt the boredom would cause your various parts to think up new ways to entertain themselves and get you into even more trouble.

Yeah, I run out of bling each day for you as well.

I tried riding something smaller, but the right hand would spank it even harder. It's affecting my work life as well. My voicebox seems to have a mind of its own - just the other day I was explaining that the statement "that's because you're an idiot looking for a village" came out all by itself...

[Pwalo]

Whatever you buy will be expensive after the 250. If you want a cheap bike for servicing costs buy a GS500. Air cooled, two valve heads, it doesn't come any cheaper.

As everyone else has said, if you do your own minor servicing (oil changes etc), you can keep your costs down. I guess the other option is to buy a new bike every two years.

Anyways bikes are expensive to own if you get them serviced regularly. Mind you it can be even more expensive if you don't get then serviced regularly.