[Jeff]

What are people paying for their first service? What is a fair price?

 

[nick]

what could they possibly do to a new bike but check some bolts , change oil and filter and tighten the chain and lube it?
I did it myself, cost me like $70.00 filter, oil and lube.

oh I forgot I adjusted the shifter it was to low and my clutch cable was getting some slack

 

[AJ Nin]

A fair price is probably $120, but they will charge you $175. The only bikes I've ever taken in was for recalls or something defective like a fairing gap on the Ninja 300, but I enjoy working on bikes. Oil and filter costs about $20 is the other reason that I like to do stuff myself plus no waiting or worse yet, leaving the bike.

 

[Jeff]

Thank you very much... I have been getting 160.00 to 180.00. I will most likely bring it to a friend of a friend. Is there any reason It must go to a dealer?

 

[AJ Nin]

Do it yourself. We'll talk you through it. If you don't already have the proper tools, you can buy a metric socket set (even a cheap $10 set from Harbor Freight works fine) that includes a 17 mm socket for the oil drain plug, oil drain pan, filter, oil, and an oil filter remover, way cheaper than the dealer's charge. Unless the bike needs something more than an oil change, I would just do it myself. It's always better to learn how to do routine maintenance on your bikes, if you are able.

 

[Jeff]

I have the tools. What about making sure all the metal shavings drain out with the oil? What kind of oil should I use? Adjusting the chain? What else would need to be done for a 1st service?

 

[AJ Nin]

If you ride the bike a bit to get the oil temp up 10 min. or so (be careful not to burn your hand on the exhaust), then everything like metal shavings come out in the oil when you remove the drain plug. Same with the filter. Just let it drain until it stops. You can wipe off around the outside of drain and filter area, but don't stick anything up inside. I always sit on the bike and move it from side to side a little to help get almost all the old oil to drain out.

You can use a lot of different oils. The manual on page 9-1 tells you the kinds of oil to use with a guideline for different climates. Look for the JASO MA on the oil jug. That means it is OK for motorcycle wet clutches. Any oil made for motorcycles is OK of course too. Also avoid oil that says "energy conserving" or "high mileage" because it could cause the clutch to slip. I use Rotella T6 full synthetic for Walmart...$22 a gallon. It is JASO MA rated.

Check you chain tension. If it was good to begin with it probably does not need adjustment. Bikes normally go 1000 miles or more without needing chain adjustments with good o-ring chains like the FZ-07 has. Mine came from the dealer out of adjustment is why I needed to adjust mine.

Sounds like you are thinking of doing the oil change yourself.

 

[Jeff]

I am seriously concidering doing it myself. It seem it would be a good money saver. What what the dealer be doing for 160.00 to 180.00 anyway?

 

[AJ Nin]

Anything from just an oil and filter change performed by a summer hire who has never changed oil before and puts too much or too little oil in and doesn't screw the filter in right, scratches your gas tank with his belt buckle, to a proper oil and filter change, plus checking over all the bolts and nuts for proper torque, adjusting and oiling the chain, adjusting the clutch free play, checking and adjusting the throttle body synchronization, check tire pressure, and doing a test ride to see how it performs...lights, horn, brakes, tracking. Probably much closer to just a competent oil and filter change. Dealers have a lot of fingers in the pie...owner, receptionist, mechanics, salesmen, maintenance, fixed overhead, advertising, which is how you get a $180 (plus tax) oil change.

 

[Jeff]

Thats too funny, but most likely true.

 

[AJ Nin]

Well you know my bike came with too much oil and the chain loose. Those two things are about all that was done to the bike and they were done WRONG. In this case I saw the guy who was doing the set up. While he was not a summer hire, he didn't take the time to do it right. Nobody cares about your bike as much as you.

 

[Kahold Cheung]

My chain was the same it was so loose it was like flapping plus it was bone dry and the oil was cheap oil anyway

 

[Arider]

You guys are right. I had a used Nighthawk CB700SC 20+ years ago; now that tells you my age, which is embarrassing. I took it to a dealer for
servicing. When got back, at least half of the plastic tabs to hold on fairing pieces (if you remember them!) were broken off, with half stuck in the tab & rest on the fairing Luckily, my handy husband back then retrieved all the pieces, glued back together with some trick with glue & baking soda to save my bike. Oh, this is still my handy husband, who builds my bicycles from parts; fixes & upgrades all my motorcycles. I am just bragging; I really do love him!! In any regard, I doubt anything has changed at the dealerships...

 

[stefano225]

I had my bike in for the 600 miles maintenance this weekend with actually 780 on odo,did change oil and filter myself at 600 which save me few dollars.I was there for 2 hours they go over every nuts and bolt,lube and adjusting every moving part cost me 170 that's 80 dollars an hour plus taxes,I know it sounds little high but I always get first service done by my dealer they do a good job never had a problem and keeps me in warranty in case something goes wrong.I feel like said this in three different threads