[badkitty]

ok i just found out i was supposed to bring my bike in for a 600-1000mile service. Nice they DONT tell me that when i bought the bike. I'm at 1400miles already in 1 month. Did i mess up anything by going over miles. Or is that just their RECOMMEDED mileage. Just so they can make more money. Do i REALLY this ?

 

[bat4255]

Good Idea to get the oil changed ASAP.
The engine gets a lot of shavings during Break-in. Change the oil AND Filter ASAP, your bike will be a lot happier. I changed mine at 250 miles AND 600 miles, then at 4,000 miles. Trans too.

Also you my need to get your tappets checked for tolerances.

Check your Bolts for torque.

Bottom Line, the first service is the most important

Jim

PS I did my own service, as long as it's documented, the warrenty still applies

 

[Novaz3]

Kitty i guess they didnt give you a owners manuel when they gave you the bike??? From what i hear the first service which is 500 miles is one of the most important. Thats probaly the reason you were having all that trouble with your Kat.

 

[jaydog19833]

I wouldn't say its the problems with your bike, but you should definately get it serviced. Usually they put in lighter oil because they expect it to sit in the shop for a while and also crud ends up in the oil during break in period. Its a good idea to have this service as soon as possible, but your bike isn't on its way to the grave by any means.

Usually if you buy a warranty its a good idea to have regular services done to look good for the warranty if they wonder why yuor bike died.

Your bike isn't dead just make sure you get that stuff changed NOW!

 

[Clint]

The valves can move quite a bit during break in, and if left tight can cause engine damage. The oil needs to be replaced immediately, since it now contains particles from the rings seating and other contact points.

Get 'er done.

 

[badkitty]

hmm guess i do need it. Well a friend's neighbor works for a local bike dealer and said he'd do it himself at home for $150 . I see him working on all kinds of bikes and offroad in his garage.He has quite a setup.

 

[badkitty]

oh and by the way....i know that for cars an average of 12-15K miles a year is normal. What is normal for a bike ?

 

[prekarious1]

Like the others are saying get your oil changed NOW! Break in oil really isn't much thicker than dirty water and you get metal shavings breaking any new engine in. Hopefully your drain plug will atleast be magnetized so most of the shavings stay in the oil pan.

$150 is a bit high but might be needed here. Go ahead and change the oil yourself before you take it in and just show the receipts for the parts so you don't get charged for that aspect of it, but you will need to get your clearances checked out.

 

[tlwisner]

ok i just found out i was supposed to bring my bike in for a 600-1000mile service. Nice they DONT tell me that when i bought the bike. I'm at 1400miles already in 1 month. Did i mess up anything by going over miles. Or is that just their RECOMMEDED mileage. Just so they can make more money. Do i REALLY this ?

Owner's Manual is good reading! You'll learn a lot about your bike. 8)

 

[Cougerbait]

I had the dealer do my first service at the 500 mark. And the cost was only 100. But then again I have the SV650 standard. They might charge more because of all the plastic. Good luck!

 

[jaydog19833]

My service was 87 dollars from the shop I bought it from

hour of service = 55 dollars

oil = 32 dollars

 

[zleviticus]

Would iut be worth for us to put a post or sticky telling what the common maintence is and when.. maybe someone can type something up from their owners manual as a base...

thoughts?

I would volunteer but I do not have a bike yet so no manual..

 

[badkitty]

tlwisner .. unfortuneatly i just GOT my manual. They didnt giver it to me when i got bike...and 3 weeks later i realized it and went in and asked for it..

What kind of oil should i use? I know what kind the manual says , but there is always something better out there besides what the manufacturer says.

 

[Uncle Bob]

Just go with whatever is recommended in the book for now, after you have a couple thousand miles on it then consider switching to synthetic but not too soon since it's very slippery it may hurt break in.

 

[pitbull76]

That price of $150 is not bad for the service on a Kat. The valves need to be checked/adjusted and that can take some time to do. It's not terrible if you want to do it yourself, just a little time consuming.

 

[87gsxrnut]

to synthetic but not too soon since it's very slippery it may hurt break in.

Naaah . . after the initial break-in, you should be able to switch over if you want to. I have a couple of flogged '85 and '86 motors that have buttloads of miles on them and have only been run w/dino oil and have never been rebuilt.

I drop synthetic oil into my fresh racebike motors after 1-2 trackdays.

to synthetic but not too soon since it's very slippery it may hurt break in.

Plugs are magnetized. But, they only can capture steel, not aluminum. I have had motors that had decent looking drain plugs, only to find out after pulling the oil pan that the pan and pickup screen were full of shavings.

- Nut

 

[badkitty]

UH. no one answered the mileage question. Can anyone please. What is a decent average per year?

 

[TL chris]

UH. no one answered the mileage question. Can anyone please. What is a decent average per year?

That depends on you. Is it your daily driver, or just a weekend warrior thing? Anywhere from 5,000 to 15,000 miles annually isn't unheard of. Most people have seperate vehicles they use during bad weather, or for driving to work during the week. Depends on your geographic loaction too. Some peeps can't ride for a few months out of the year. Too many factors to compute there BadKitty, sorry I can't be more specific.

Taking the bike into a dealer for service may cost you a few more bucks, but if some adjusting needs to be done, they are equipped to do it. Also if you motor or drivetrain gets messed up due to a maintenance flaw, they are liable. Oil drainplug not tightened properly or crossthreaded, bad valve clearances, or any number of things can be taken care of without charge to you. Because they perform the work and you have documentation of all things done or not done. Dates, mileage and everything.

I'd personally take it in to a shop and let them do it. Except for the oil. Thats too easy.

*OK I'm done typing now*

 

[bat4255]

In WI, the season is limited, typically Easter to Thanksgiving, some more or less (7-10 months). My son does about 7,000 miles on a GSX-R 600, I do about the same on a Burgman 650. I know some do 12,000 and some only 2,000 per year.

It does vary quit a bit, depending on ones situation. I know a rider with a 8 yr old Goldwing with 88,000 miles on it it and said it's just broken-in. He rides South in winter and north in summer, He's 70 yrs. old. My neighbor has a Goldwing and hardly see him on it, maybe 1,200 miles a year.

I'm 52 and my son is 26, age is no factor.

 

[jaydog19833]

I live in NY, so I ride about 8 months outta the year. I put about 3,000 on last year.