a real service???
 

So, what is really in a service if you take your bike to dealer?
My bike is due for service round 12 000km, and according to the dealers they will charge me ab out 2 hours labour, then add the spares and sundries and all the other crap they can think about, and you walk out with half empty wallet.

So i check out the service manual and mainly it tells me toe check this and check that, tighten this and clean that. All things that seems very simple.
The only thing that i can see to adjust is the idle speed and chain tension. This is things i do on regular basis anyway.

So my q is ....why do they claim to work so "hard" on the bike. One guy even told me that they have full diagnostic test in place for the bikes...:bigfinger[1]:.

So from when is it really serious, really difficult , and do i need specialised equipment to do this real serious services.

cheers

The 6000 miles or in your case 12000km service as you said it's not a major one and it is true that most things you can do yourself, but it is there so that you can keep your warranty validated. If you don't have it serviced by an authorized dealer you would risk voiding your 2 years warranty period and if anything goes wrong then you would have a hard time getting Yamaha to replace unforeseen items that are damaged during warranty.

In additiion to what you have mentioned they should also replace: (make sure they do)

1) engine oil and oil filter
2) the paper air filter unless you have replaced this with a K&N or DNA
3) Spark plug
4) Cush driver rubber blocks

All nuts and bolts should be checked for correct torque. And a general wear and tear inspection and report should be carried out.

On the next service they will adjust your timing chain and your valve clearance, your battery will be tested and all wiring loom is also inspected.

Just checked the Owner's manual. My bike is due its 6000 mile service and I thought I'd have a look as this thread has brought the subject up. The manual does not say replace the air filter, does not say replace the spark plug and does not say replace the OIL filter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is why I have my own preferred mechanic who can do the service and still maintain the warranty. I know that he will do the right thing and replace these important items as well as give the bike a thorough once over. Interestingly there is no mention of cush drive rubbers either, I know that it is only an owners manual and as such not that detailed but if I thought that a dealer would only do the items as specified I would be horrified.
I have never in my life done and oil change and not replaced the filter, similarly I always keep the last spark plug as a spare.
Also as my mechanic is an independant, I know he will not rip me off as he knows that I will be back!:002:

Still maintain warranty?...did you read the fine print about conditions of service and warranty. ...or are we here in SA being ripped off with that too. I got a little booklet wih Yamaha written all over it that gives you a 4 page warranty conditions. Including that bike must be serviced by authorised Yamaha dealer and all Yamaha genuine parts to be used....funny bunch of people here in SA seems to me...

Safer to become a XT660 member and download the complete service manual for the bike, the little owners manual you get with it is incomplete. Alot more detail in service manual.

I lived South Africa for 9 years & the warranty conditions are very different to Australia.

In Australia you can get your vehicle service by any recognized mechanic or service centre, it does not need to go to Yamaha dealer for services. Any warranty work has to be done by a Yamaha dealer.:cry[1]:

It's the same in the UK, despite how the manual is worded, the problem is what they say (same with cars) they cannot force you to use a Yamaha dealer for the service, but it MUST be done in line with the service specifications - which only go to the Yamaha Dealers !! There is also the 'problem' of training, if the mechanic isn't 'properly' trained then this is where warranty claims can go south. That's how they force it, and of course there aren't many people who will risk the fight if it's done wrong and the warranty is blown, legal nightmare.....

To be honest, I do use my Yam dealer, I have three Yamaha's and I'm in the dealers at least onec of twice a month so I have a good relashionship with them. Only the Tenere gets the full treatment, the others get home serviced (mainly cos the TTR gets so much abuse I service it every 2 months!).

I also have a Landrover, and that's a real problem for servicing, Landrover have specific service requirements, so having it done by an independant is a leap of faith with regard to warranty.

If you buy a new bike, then in reality you are stuck with the dealer for the duration of the warranty - thankfully I have a great dealer (J&L Motorcycles)

I do agree with you GULG but my mechanic does use the local Yam approved dealer and get the service instructions from them. I have discussedf this with him and I have also seen many of the bikes that he works on. His workshop is immaculate and he is always clean, uses excellent tools and is competative on price.
I would not use him for the sake of the warranty if I thought it would default. I have used him for several years now and I know I can trust his work and any advisory work that he suggests. Not only that but being self employed myself I prefer to give my business to people like him.:signthankspin:

Oh, don't get me wrong, I admire that you support independants. I was just pointing out the oddities of what we have to put up with in this country. They don't call it rip-off-Britian for nothing !!

How do you manage with recalls, advisories etc ? presumably he has a 'feed' from other dealers.

It's often hard to find a good spanner man, over here we have two good dealers (YAM & Honda) so I'm lucky.

Steve who do you use in your area? My bike is due a service and i could do with a recommendation...cheers...marc

Do you not have a decent independant specialist in your area? I work for an independant LR specialist in Newcastle and warranty wise i can testify that we have never had a problem with vehicles I have seviced from new being knocked back on warranty issues. Providing that Block Exemption conditions are adhered to they cant invalidate your warranty, despite what the lying b*stards in the dealers tell you (they are actually breaking the law when they tell you that you can't go elswhere).

i know this is Land Rovers not bikes, but the block exemption bit is what this thread has covered so far.

With regard to tech info - another block exemption ruling is that all tech info must be made available to all. So the independant bike shops should be able to get all the info too. For example, land rover have www.landrovertechinfo.com where even members of the public can pay and be granted access to the info. the problem for the bike world is that most non-dealership bike shops work on all makes of bike, so it will become costly for them to get all the info as it still has to be paid for.

just so we're clear - i go to an independant with my cars, the dealer with my bike and an independant for the missus' bike - i'm only biased in favour of where i get the best service/value for money!

GULG, i quoted you at the start of this post not to have a go, but because you raised a valid point.