12K Service

[Tony Varadero]

Bike is due the 12K service and I have neither the time nor the capacity to do any work on the bike at all...dilemma ..... would u take it to a Honda dealer or look for somewhere else cheaper..?
W'd be grateful for any advise pls...(I am in NW London)

[GOG 007]

A good private mechanic is worth their weight in gold, I have a contact that does BMW, I can ask him if he will do the Vara, but he is up my way if you don't mind the ride up.

[Boris]

I would take it wherever you have the confidence it will get done properly. Sadly it appears just as many main dealers as independents are incapable of doing a quality job.

It's only an intermediate service (OK you should change the brake fluid aswell) but at least if you do it yourself you know it's done properly.

In fact looking at the Haines manual Honda don't even recommend an oil change but I ignore that and do one every 4K or 6 months regardless.

The official service list is

Every 12K miles

1. Carry out everything on 4K service and
2. Change the air filter
3. Change the brake fluid

And the 4K service

1. Check and adjust idle speed
2. Check the brake pads
3. Check and adjust clutch

Go on do it yourself and don't forget the oil and filter change.

[tramp]

find someone you trust as it dont matter who they work for be it a bike dealer or tractor dealer or the back street shed man. you can always use your own supplied parts then

[Tony Varadero]

A good private mechanic is worth their weight in gold, I have a contact that does BMW, I can ask him if he will do the Vara, but he is up my way if you don't mind the ride up.

how far is it...?

[Austin]

I think the 4K service and especially the 12K is a cynical ploy by Honda to get bikes into dealers more often than really required. IMHO they are best ignored.

are you really going to travel 50 miles up to Bedfordshire to pay someone to:

1. Change the air filter - dead easy (tank off, air box cover off, filter out, filter in (use a K&N and never do this again), and put it all back together.
2. Change the brake fluid - I would leave it and get it done at the next service
3. Check and adjust idle speed - umm can you do this on an FI bike (can't remember) but when you start it to go up to Bedfordhsire you can check the tick over then.
4. Check the brake pads - Varadero pads are the easiest pads on an any bike ever to change. Honestly each disk takes about 5 minutes or less to change. Checking the pads takes about 30 second - bend down and look up at the disk - how pad is there between disk and backing if its less than 2-3mm consider a change. If more they will last to the next service.
5. Check and adjust clutch - again I would do this as you get on the bike to ride up to bedfordshire. Adjustment is via the cable adjuster at the handlebar end.

Save the money and the trip and do it yourself. As for an Oil and filter change I tend to side with Mr Honda's view of when they need changing, save your money and and little bit of planet and change it every 8K as per the manual. Every 4K is just a waste of money and resources - sorry Boris.

[Tony Varadero]

Thanks guys...I have a mental block when it comes to doing anything on a bike....tryed once years ago on my R65 f@****g mess I made of it all and then had to take it to the pro with all the patronizing looks on his face....felt like a real pratt...well I am one!
Ok I confess I am a perfect idiot when it comes to diy stuff but agree with your commments and find Chiswick price hard to justify £ 270!!

[Alba]

As for an Oil and filter change I tend to side with Mr Honda's view of when they need changing, save your money and and little bit of planet and change it every 8K as per the manual. Every 4K is just a waste of money and resources - sorry Boris.

The good old oil question.... Let the fun begin.

My tuppence, you only need to change the oil if it is starting to break down or its carrying particles of metal round the bike (small enough to get through the filter) magnet on filter helps this. Breaking down test some one posted here if it does not create a droplet on the back of your hand it's goosed.

[Austin]

Thanks guys...I have a mental block when it comes to doing anything on a bike....tryed once years ago on my R65 f@****g mess I made of it all and then had to take it to the pro with all the patronizing looks on his face....felt like a real pratt...well I am one!
Ok I confess I am a perfect idiot when it comes to diy stuff but agree with your commments and find Chiswick price hard to justify £ 270!!

£270!!!!! I would go in with the service book and ask for a breakdown of how much time they plan to spend on each of the 5 items involved and how come it adds up to £270. I can see about 1hour labour in a 4K service even if they change the oil.

The good old oil question.... Let the fun begin.

[africajim]

If I rode like a soup spiller I might consider longer service limits but as I ride my bikes pretty hard,,, hard as in mine knows where the rev limiter is, so I err on the safe side. I go for 4000 miles between oil and filter.
Agree with mechanical minded folk, the service is pretty easy but, and it's a big but,,,, to someone who isn't mechanical it can end up costly to repair damage done to a bike. Imagine a tank hitting the ground while removing it, what's the price of a new tank? I certainly wouldn't want a repaired one on my new Varadero!
I like my doctor to know all about my anatomy when I visit him, I don't care that he couldn't service his own Land rover (I bought it off him !) I'll do the service work, that's my job, the quack does what he does best!