4000 mile service

[Snaphappy]

Oil is Oil and filters are filters, engines differ and I've worked on everything from RollsRoyce to Rotax old oil stinks new oil smells nice
Sometimes on an old engine the oil is really black and smelly ie full of crud the only way to rid an engine of crud is to change regularly
however we are talking about the check over 4000 mile service on the Vara which should be part of customer service and not warranty umbrellas

[yellowpurple]

Yeah, I'm moving away from the subject. This service seems pointless bearing in mind that most owners are able to carry out basic checks & I'm sure most do. Skimping on servicing annoys me since quite often subsequent owners pay the cost (as I know from bitter experience)!

[Dee Duble Yuh]

I remember having a chat about service intervals and oil with the local Honda dealer (then the Suzuki dealer and the Yamaha dealer just to be fair) when I was looking to replace my old R1150GS last year.

The GS has 6000 mile intervals using bog standard oil from the local petrol station. Why then did all three dealers insist that 4000 mile intervals were necessary on their products? Honda chap just smiled, the Suzuki chap changed the subject and the Yamaha chap dribbled on about oil quality these days not being advanced enough to last 6000 miles.

Bearing in mind I put 60k miles on the GS and self serviced every 6k for most of those miles they were talking a load of old pony methinks - though I'm sticking with the Honda service intervals anyway

I don't understand this, sorry. The Honda oil change is recommended for 8000 miles, i.e. more than the BMW. And comparisons with the BMW Boxer engine is irrelevant anyway since it has a dry clutch, unlike the wet clutch on Jap bikes. Those BMWs can use "ordinary" engine oil since the oil doesn't have to cope with clutch shear.

[AncientAndy]

Oil is Oil and filters are filters, engines differ and I've worked on everything from RollsRoyce to Rotax old oil stinks new oil smells nice
Sometimes on an old engine the oil is really black and smelly ie full of crud the only way to rid an engine of crud is to change regularly
however we are talking about the check over 4000 mile service on the Vara which should be part of customer service and not warranty umbrellas

That's exactly what this thread is about. This "checkover" service requirement should be at the owners discretion dependent on usage. I am looking forward to asking my dealer what they are going to do to my bike and whether I can watch what they do.

When I had the grips, box, mainstand and 12v fitted after the PDI, I watched the youngster trainee slip and drop his spanners continually. I was convinced I was going to have some well chewed nuts on the bike, so I offered to help him do the job. At that point, the other guy, the senior tech uttered words to the effect, " We would be better if you left".

So... I left, made my way round to the front of the dealer and spoke to the Manager who had sold me the bike.
I told him I had been thrown out and what he had said. I joked with the manager that it is the only time a little guy like the tech ever gets to be unpleasant to somebody my size.

The manager made his way directly to the service area and stayed there until the job was complete. I really don't rate the service side of my dealer and I resent the thought of allowing an incompetent tech charge me for doing virtuall nothing.

[Darkenbad]

Details:
Dick Jones Cardiff

Thanks for that

PK

[twotter]

I don't understand this, sorry. The Honda oil change is recommended for 8000 miles, i.e. more than the BMW. And comparisons with the BMW Boxer engine is irrelevant anyway since it has a dry clutch, unlike the wet clutch on Jap bikes. Those BMWs can use "ordinary" engine oil since the oil doesn't have to cope with clutch shear.

It should be me apologising as I've mixed up the oil change intervals on my own bike

(Can't find a blushing smilie!)

[Dee Duble Yuh]

No worries. When I first owned a BMW I confidently replied to a query on the owners' cub site that you shouldn't use car oil because it didn't work with a wet clutch. Someone politely explained that type of bike doesn't have a wet clutch.

These are the ones I use (regularly)! : color : , and : toothy6 :

[twotter]

I like those

[StumpyFingers]

I find the oil changes interval depend on use, if a lot of slow stop / start urban riding then 4000 miles between changes, if used on long journeys then 8000 miles between changes.
I usually change the oil at 6000 miles as that equates to one year for me.

[twotter]

Usage may well be the better way of approaching this. I used to commute on a bike all year round, on the GS and then the Varadero, but a promotion at work last year changed that.

I was doing 14-16k a year but now I'll be surprised if I do 4k.