16,000 mile service - advice?

I'm rapidly approaching my 16,000 mile service time on my RR6. Any advice for the best kind of place to get it done, and what I should expect to pay?

I'm partially tempted to take it to my Honda dealer and let them do it, get a Honda stamp in the book etc.

But then part of me thinks the local guy down the road is probably doing 12 year old bikes day in day out and will do a better job than some newly trained tech who rarely gets to see the older stuff.

Any thoughts / experience on this?

 

my thoughts exactly,local honda said its on their books at 9 hrs labour which i could not dispute as never done it,local guy to me reckons around the same and as he is a one man band winter time only for him.

 

I just spoke to my local Honda dealer - their advice was (off the record) that if the bike is running OK, don't worry about the valve clearance check. Full service incl. plugs, air filter etc etc would then be £200-220. That sounds more like the right direction to go in...

 

What a load of bollocks!! I will never go to your dealer.

The bike might seem as if it's going okay, but how do we know that 5 valves are a few thou out?

I have had mine done by a dealer for £400 inc plugs and filters, but have found a reliable independent tech far superior and reliable than dealer. Check your local area - there's bound to be some good workshops.

 

I bought my car new and had the valves done as part of the service £200 extra I put tamper markings on the head etc. not one seal was broken, I complained and got my money back. As far as I am concerned if the bike runs it is good enough

 

I took mine to the Kawasaki dealership as they had a top mechanic - he had done his time on Hondas and racing, top mechanic. He had no trouble with the 2015 Fireblade. The Kawasaki dealership are respected locally and I got their stamp in the book and a comment that the valves had been done.

 

With the greatest respect, Jez, 'good enough' is a fairly low threshold. You are wise and experienced enough to know that 16,000 miles is a long stretch and whilst a few thou' out on shims might not be a big deal, there could be far worse lying beneath the rocker cover - hence the term 'preventative maintenance'.

Here again though, the 'horses for courses' regime kicks in. A £1000 commuter might easily be overlooked for such a service, but as most of us are enthusiasts when it comes to our Blades (and other bikes) I believe we should all be encouraged to at least follow the service plan. Heck, most of us go all out and change oil far too frequently, so why sacrifice valve checks?

I must add also that for a Honda dealer to offer advice (whether 'off the record' or not) is totally irresponsible. If they are prepared to make shortcuts in a verbal sense, what the hell will they be neglecting when our bike's on their workbench?

 

When mine was due its 16k service I spoke to the local garage mech who did my services/mots etc. He gave me a good price and offered the advice that he had never had one need adjusting at 16k, 32k yes but never before. He is an ex Honda mechanic and doesn't hold any airs and graces, just a sensible down to earth bloke who is always busy.

Ok you may be unlucky and need the valves adjusting, but I wouldn't worry for now and just find a decent mechanic who will check them for you at non dealer rip off prices at a time when you can get a decent price. If you aren't 100% trusting of the person doing the work just ask them to photo the day's paper above the valves when they check them.

 

Why not just do it yourself? I've been in the car industry for 30+ years & know, first-hand, that standards are 'mixed'. I also know that Honda build a brilliant machine. All of them. Their engineering is, in my mind, unbeatable. They are solid! Some 'mechanics' (in quotation marks because any mechanic who doesn't do a proper job is not a mechanic) rely on Honda's engineering to bypass actual work. It makes me sick to my stomach when people charge for checks that they have not carried out. When they (Honda) produce a workshop manual that says things like "The earth lead should be bolted at a 45 degree angle..." etc. You know they have been serious with their R & D. If your bike is not treated roughly & has oil in it all of the time, nothing (costly) will go wrong.

 

Of course that is the ideal solution, and one that would yield the best results.

However, many do not have the range of equipment required, or available space or time and some of the necessary diagnostic equipment now required. As you know, we are no longer in the days of emery papering contacts and setting tappets at 2 mm IN and 3 mm OUT. More importantly though, there is the aptitude aspect. Many would lack confidence, and then again those who are confident might be overcome by the fear of stuffing something up.

We therefor entrust our machines to people like yourself who we 'hope' will do the right thing. It is perhaps one of the greatest challenges of bike/car ownership to find such a person!

 

Where in the country are you? Tools are an expensive outlay, and it takes a long time to recoup your money. I've got all the tools you'll need & will lend you them as long as they come back, & in the same condition! Or, if you're not too far out of the way from Southend and feel like you want to take it on, I'd be happy to help you do it. Biking community & wot not.

 

I was chatting to Mrs B&W and said I find it difficult to imagine someone not knowing if the job has been done correctly. She, quite rightly pointed out that I've been brought up to know and/or find out. I'm a dinosaur in that respect so therefore believe there is no excuse for not doing the job properly. As I said before, it makes me want to spew carrots when some tosser tries to bypass necessary checks in order to make more money. There is absolutely no need to do half a job. Car garages are now charging around £100+ per hour. Why the f**k do they need to not follow manufacturer's instructions on maintenance!? Here's a picture of me getting off my hobby horse, upside down!

 

@nigelrb. I've been dying to ask. Do you still have your MV? Please tell me it's as good as I imagine it to be.

 

On my last post when I said if the bike runs it is good enough, what I meant was this is at times what the dealers think, this is not my standard as I had paid to have this job done.

 

Erm, yes! It's a keeper!! *registers as a photo opportunity and goes to MV Folder*

 

For @Black & White , I should add that even though it's dated (2007) it's a brilliant bike. Not a lot of difference to a well set up Blade, but more rigid, direct, and a bit less low down grunt which is compensated by its top end. My main misgiving is that I don't have it out enough, and only I can take the blame for that.

 

@nigelrb. Phew & phwoar! My God, I've just come back from wearing an odd number of socks!!! Mate, that is absolutely beautiful & I have longed for an MV forever. Well done you for gaining one! Top class!

 

Good Lord. I did not think I could manage 6, but I did! Ha! That's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. *Tilts hat* in admiration.

 

They're rarely available in peak condition. As with a lot of these things, it's a 'right place at the right time' situation. I was on eBay one day, not particularly looking for anything (as we do) and on seeing it I had the same reaction as you've just described: 'I have longed for an MV forever.' I was fortunate to have had a secret stash (hidden from divorce lawyers beady eyes) so acted quickly by driving to Glasgow, paying deposit on the spot, and getting it couriered the following week. I am sure many could offer similar stories.