Maintenance - schedule or whenever?

[Gas Man]

Yeah its good, I don't care either way. I'm just saying, if the manufacture says to service them, do it. Do you think you know better than they do?

My 9R bushings were still in great shape but I didn't do the forks. That was before I got really into my own wrenching... so a race shop did them.




I can't remember how many miles but it was a 2002 bike. 15k miles or close

The first bushing is barely worn... the 2nd is slightly worn. But then again I didn't wheelie or hard on my bikes. BUt yes as tach stated... hardly worn compared to the chopper.

Honestly in a sportbike... there is a huge change for the good by just changing the oil to some good ohlins syn oil.

[racedoll]

As posted in my Cleaned and ready thread - I changed my spark plugs today.

I asked Erik on Friday (when I was picking up oil, filter, etc) if I needed to change my spark plugs as it had been 6000 miles. He said no.

I checked them today and ended up replacing them as they were black. Thankfully the auto parts store was open today. He would have never guessed that I needed to do that just after that low of mileage but I did.

[Gas Man]

I use to change them on my 9R every year. Way over kill but there was no way I was going to pull them and not just replace them.

Look familiar?

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by marko138

Mostly follow the schedule...or try to as closely as possible. Oil I change a little more often than recommened..but nothing major.

Word-for-word, this.

[derf]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

Do you think you know better than they do?

Not better than them. We have competing interests, The manufacturer wants me to service my bike at an authorized service shop for everything, they expect a majority of the people to have a shop do their servicing. This keeps their dealership network open. yes their service schedule is going to be very conservative. There are plenty of other reasons why they make their service intervals so short.

But i also say that with the understanding that I dont own a bike that has a super crazy service schedule. If I had a duc, yes I would be much more dilligent about servicing it, checking the valves every 150 miles and such. Being that I have a honda I believe I can stretch the service interval out a wee bit.

[njchopper87]

Whenever. I'm still learning about everything I'm supposed to be doing and I don't have much money to throw around. I do what's required (oil and filters and shit like that) and stretch the rest. I wish I still lived in Jersey though.. my next door neighbor was a mechanic and he'd help out no questions asked for beer or a return favor.

[Gas Man]

I hear ya Derf...

hell really for the most part the average person is still overkill on regular oil changes. I think I saw something on your oil breaks down mostly in the first 500 miles. Than it really doesn't do much less. The biggest important part is the oil filter cause once they get gunked up they just go into bypass. But the oil itself can go much longer than we run it.

[marko138]

Originally Posted by derf

Not better than them. We have competing interests, The manufacturer wants me to service my bike at an authorized service shop for everything, they expect a majority of the people to have a shop do their servicing. This keeps their dealership network open. yes their service schedule is going to be very conservative. There are plenty of other reasons why they make their service intervals so short.

But i also say that with the understanding that I dont own a bike that has a super crazy service schedule. If I had a duc, yes I would be much more dilligent about servicing it, checking the valves every 150 miles and such. Being that I have a honda I believe I can stretch the service interval out a wee bit.

You would check your valves after every tank of gas? No fucking way.

[azoomm]

Originally Posted by derf

But i also say that with the understanding that I dont own a bike that has a super crazy service schedule. If I had a duc, yes I would be much more dilligent about servicing it, checking the valves every 150 miles and such. Being that I have a honda I believe I can stretch the service interval out a wee bit.

Ducati motorcycles are NOT that high maintainance. But, I find it awesome you would check the valves after you get half-way through a tank of gas.

When I had an odometer, I followed the maintainance schedule to a T. Now that it's a track/race bike - I follow the calendar rather than the miles. Oil changes every three months, valve check once a year. I just had the suspension taken care of - and the rest is taken care of and tracked [brakes/chain/tires/plugs/etc.].

[Trip]

Originally Posted by Gas Man

remember on american vtwins I have 3 different oils (motor, primary, trans). I change all 3 EVERYTIME regardless.

My Bavarian master piece also has 3 that have to be changed. Motor, Tranny, and Final drive. Tranny and Final drive are the same type of oil though.