As Nytol has already mentioned you'll get better deals for servicing etc over winter months,my local dealer do half price labour and can collect and deliver your bike too. Am thinking about getting the dreaded ABS fluid change done and some HEL brake lines fitted at same time.
I've sent an email off to Wigan Honda, the website says services start from £85. Don't mind paying that, but £145 is daylight robbery.
Ross the owner manual specifys 10W 30 oil, but a lot of people seem to be saying 10W 40. Anyone got any ideas whats best?
As far as i'm aware, If you don't stick to the specified service schedule for the warranty period they will not uphold the warranty. Without sounding harsh, if you've just spent the best part of £13k on a brand new Blade £145 for its first service to keep it's warranty is an absoloute nescesity, I usually service all my Bikes myself but my blade still has some warranty left and i just had to get the 8000 mile service done, it really grated on me paying £125 for an oil and filter change that i could've done myself for about £40 but if anything were to happen warranty wise that could end up costing god knows how much i just swallowed my pride. Plus when you come to sell it if a bike didn't have its first 3 stamps in the book i would wonder what else the owner scrimped and saved on and would probably walk away from the Sale
I'm with you on following the service schedule and for things like ABS fluid change and valve clearances etc I would use the dealer but I like many others grudge paying for glorified oil changes. Before deciding to service myself I asked Doble where I bought the bike and the reply was that as long as the service schedule was followed and approved parts used the warranty would be honoured. Most bike buyers know what to look for when it comes to checking out a bike and service stamps for oil changes is no guarantee that a bike has not been neglected. Sold my mint 600RR in 1 hour of going online without a service book and 4 other interested buyers. Got full asking price too
After reading what you are saying I'll have to service it, it's a disgrace that the oil has got to be dropped after 600 miles though. What do they put in it in Japan, Crisp 'n Dry? I would be more aware of the service schedule if Smith's would of given me one. Having always had my bikes serviced over the last 20 years every 4000-6000 miles i was unaware about servicing a new bike as i've always had second hand ones.
I think the reason the oil is changed so soon is because of the engine running in. The oil that the bike comes with as new helps this but after 600 miles you need to put proper oil in. That's why you're advised not to thrash the bike until you carry out this oil change.
When all the pistons and bores are brand new they give off metal filings as they grind together, manufactures day this bedding in process should be finished within 600 miles so they drop the oil out at 600 miles to flush out the fillings to avoid damage to the engine internals
A quick update on this. Had the service done, got given a CBF1000 as a loan bike, which was perfectly adequate. The bike had no issues, a "really nice bike" according to the guys there. Very happy, and will certainly be using them in the future.
Have to disagree with SamBird, you won't find any filings in a japanese manufactured engine. The manufacturing processes are so accurate now they don't "grind together". The reason for dropping the oil so soon ie 5 or 600 miles is because when the engines are assembled each individual component will have been coated in various anti corrosion solutions by that component manufacturer and though components are washed and coated in engine oil during assembly you still get a very small amount of cross contamination thus the need to drop the engine oil.
Just had the 16,000 mile service on mine done - £780 including plugs, filter and valves checked. Valves were fine. I took it to the local Kawi dealer as they are always at the local races, hill climbs and sprints - they know bikes ! EDIT: Actual itemised bill was £755.58 not £780 - sorry !
Sorry, actually £755 now the bill is itemised - £572 labour for the whole 16,000 mile service. Proper experienced mechanic - if he reckons it takes that long to do properly, then that's how long it takes. These guys have been racing and working with bikes all their lives. They are the Kawasaki agents, they are not pissing about. If they took that amount of time to do it properly, then that is how long it takes. No issue with paying people who know what they are doing, to do the job properly.
I do not know exactly, however I do know: I dropped the bike off as they were closing Full day with them - I called late and they were finishing putting it back together, but still some of the service to do (coolant was all changed, oil and filter of course). Half day (or less) - the bike was ready for collection at lunch time. The point I am trying to get across is that I am happy for a skilled mechanic to take as long as he thinks fit, to do the job properly. I have complete and absolute faith that the job was done correctly, and not rushed according to some artificial corporate time schedule. If an experienced, skilled and trustworthy mechanic has got the internals of my motor in his hands, he can take as long as he sees fit to put it all back together again properly ! What is a waste of money is paying for work not done, being charged an hourly rate for the bike being on its side stand. Or a rushed/careless job. The Honda garage dropped my VFR bending the brake lever, and slightly scratching it - and they somehow put the fairing back a bit wonky on the Blade, after a service - the bottom lower part somehow was not connected properly. After that there was no way they were going to get their hands on the internals of my motor !! Anyway, sorry for this long post. The bike is running as sweet as a nut, new tyres and brakes last month. New air filter (the old one had lots of dust and flies according to the mechanic ). And the big grief of this 16,000 mile service has been completed in a thorough and professional manner - Happy as ......
If you don't mind paying best part of £100 per hour and you are happy, that's great. They ain't doing anything that difficult with the correct tools. Personally I think you've paid well over the odds. I wonder what others have paid for this service?
