servicing costs

[Sand bags]

Hi all,

 

Due another service on the MT07. Currently on about 15k.

Had its 1st 600mile service and 2nd 6k service (which was done at more like 9k due to lockdown delays).

 

Got a quote from my usual garage for £350.

• oil and filter change
• spark plugs replacement
• injector balance
• brake caliper service
• ecu check
• overall basic check (greasing stuff, lubing cables, chain adj etc)

 

price seems a bit steep to me, the parts can be purhcased for around 70 quid, which makes that £280 labour!

I can do all that stuff myself, minus the injector balance and ecu check. I imagine the most labour intensive part is the injectors and plugs.

 

My question is, is the injector balance really needed? I know it suggests in the manual at certain intervals and in an ideal world you'd follow all steps and check everything as regular as possible. But in the real world where energy costs are through the roof  i like most people am trying to save a pound note where possible. 

I'm also due new tyres which as most of you know is another chunk of £. Need some pads on the rear too, can find them cheap enough online but my dealer won't put on parts they haven't purchased themselves, but they offer the exact same product at a higher price. I suppose they just purchase direct from one supplier and don't shop around for deals as I do.

 

Anyway appreciate some advice. I know plenty of people who just change oil and filter regularly themselves and not much else, who claim thats all you need to keep it going.

[Bender]

Presumably the dealer knows the supplier of their parts and knows they are not cheapo copies, I can see why they wouldn't want to fit parts supplied by Joe blogs, they will also make a small markup on parts. 

 

Injector balancing can't do any harm other than to your wallet. 

 

It's not something I would be doing unless I suspected a problem or had silly miles on. 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I do my own servicing including stripping the brakes, replacing all fluids, and checking the ECU. It isn't really difficult. The biggest issue is getting at the rear caliper because someone thought it was a good idea to fit a swingarm bag right over it. 

 

I feel more at one with the bike when I've done the maintenance. 

 

I can do injector balancing but so far it's running fine so if it ain't broke......

[Pie man]

If you can do it yourself, why not. You will be saving money and have some left over to buy the carb balancing gauges for around £30. Plenty of info on the Utube. I prefer to do it myself too. 

[Sand bags]

thanks for the replies. yea I think I'll do the work myself. most of it is straight forward, and anything that is not is good to learn! 

 

how often do you guys replace brake fluids?

and how often spark plugs? or is it the same story and leave them unless it's not running normal.. 

 

thanks

 

 

[Pie man]

I change the brake fluid every two years - piece of pish on the MT. Not changed the plugs yet (3 years old and only 7k miles) When I'm near the mileage I will check them but not necessarily change them for the sake of it.  

[linuxrob]

Careful replacing brake fluid with ABS, some models can catch you out.

If you want to do the work yourself please get a quality service manual that covers your exact model. It will all be in there and a guide to the tools you may need or can use.

Hopefully you find it fun and satisfying as i do.

 

rob

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I also replace brake fluid every two years. On ABS systems if you don't use the software to flush the entire system you leave a small amount of old fluid in there, but if you're doing the fluid every two years that's not a problem. 

 

I fit iridium plugs and change the at 10k. Having two bikes that means each gets new plugs about every three to four years as they both do about 3k a year. 

 

They are both twins and getting at the plugs is quite straightforward. 

Edited May 28, 2022 by Mississippi Bullfrog

[Mickly]

Some bikes hold water around the spark plugs ( I’m looking at you Triumph Triples !! ) so whipping them out on a yearly basis is a good way of making sure they don’t get corroded & seized in, this can cause you a world of hurt.

[Sand bags]

cheers guys 

 

yea i'm gonna change my plugs too. Just ordered some plugs, oil, filter and rear pads.

 

Never changed brake fluid before - not sure if its been done previously in any of the services. Says brake caliper servicing but not sure if that included fluid changes. So should prob get that done also. I'll have a look on youtube for a tutorial. 

 

Just looking at the manual , says to change brake lines every 2 years. Something that needs to be done?

[fullscreenaging]

Go for braided line and you never have to change the lines again, just the fluid. 
Look for wez moto lines. They are essentially Hel lines rebranded. 

Edited May 28, 2022 by fullscreenaging

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

For brake fluid change I can recommend the Motion Pro tool from Dirtbikexpress. It combines a handy rachet with a tube and one way valve. I use it on both my bikes, the Bobber's rear caliper bleed nipple is fiddly to get at, it makes the job an absolute doddle. Just make sure you order the right size for your bleed nipples. 

 

 

[Pie man]

4 hours ago, Sand bags said:

cheers guys 

 

yea i'm gonna change my plugs too. Just ordered some plugs, oil, filter and rear pads.

 

Never changed brake fluid before - not sure if its been done previously in any of the services. Says brake caliper servicing but not sure if that included fluid changes. So should prob get that done also. I'll have a look on youtube for a tutorial. 

 

Just looking at the manual , says to change brake lines every 2 years. Something that needs to be done?

My manual for the MT07 change brake lines every 4 years - Braided lines next if the rubber has degraded enough 

[Stu]

What the hell is an injector balance  

 

Do you mean throttle body balance? 

[TimR]

13 hours ago, Stu said:

What the hell is an injector balance  

 

Do you mean throttle body balance? 

It does actually exist BUT on the whole not really a test required for a service .

More attuned towards high performance engines or to determine if new injectors are faulty .

 

 

 

[Sand bags]

22 hours ago, fullscreenaging said:

Go for braided line and you never have to change the lines again, just the fluid. 
Look for wez moto lines. They are essentially Hel lines rebranded. 

 

i was right with ya until i saw how much they were  but your right, when they need changing be worth spending the extra to get some braided ones. add a little colour pop with it also

 

20 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

For brake fluid change I can recommend the Motion Pro tool from Dirtbikexpress. It combines a handy rachet with a tube and one way valve. I use it on both my bikes, the Bobber's rear caliper bleed nipple is fiddly to get at, it makes the job an absolute doddle. Just make sure you order the right size for your bleed nipples. 

 

 

 

sounds handy, i'll look into this

 

18 hours ago, Pie man said:

My manual for the MT07 change brake lines every 4 years - Braided lines next if the rubber has degraded enough 

 

yea my mistake, was the fluid that says every 2 years. Got another year before i need to start thinking about hoses then

18 hours ago, Stu said:

What the hell is an injector balance  

 

Do you mean throttle body balance? 

 

essentially its just cleaning and checking spray patterns of the injectors/adjusting synchronisation. Its in the manual for more or less every service interval. Groups it together with checking idle speed....which i assume is the throttle body balance you are referring to.

[Stu]

5 hours ago, Sand bags said:

 

essentially its just cleaning and checking spray patterns of the injectors/adjusting synchronisation. Its in the manual for more or less every service interval. Groups it together with checking idle speed....which i assume is the throttle body balance you are referring to.

 

I have never known a need to clean and check spray patterns unless there is a problem and that's a specialist job 

 

Adjusting synchronisation is just balancing the throttle bodies 

[Sand bags]

22 minutes ago, Stu said:

 

I have never known a need to clean and check spray patterns unless there is a problem and that's a specialist job 

 

Adjusting synchronisation is just balancing the throttle bodies 

 

i see, well they were probably just trying to make it sound like something specialist and essential. I wouldn't be surprised if they charged me for it without doing any "balancing" or work to it at all. After all, how would anyone know without watching them 

[Stu]

46 minutes ago, Sand bags said:

 

i see, well they were probably just trying to make it sound like something specialist and essential. I wouldn't be surprised if they charged me for it without doing any "balancing" or work to it at all. After all, how would anyone know without watching them 

 

Its probably to scare you in to going to the dealer for servicing  

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

11 hours ago, Sand bags said:

 

i see, well they were probably just trying to make it sound like something specialist and essential. I wouldn't be surprised if they charged me for it without doing any "balancing" or work to it at all. After all, how would anyone know without watching them 

I don't know about yours but mine are done via the software. 

[Sand bags]

 

2 hours ago, Mississippi Bullfrog said:

I don't know about yours but mine are done via the software. 

 

tbh i don't have a clue how they do it mate. my original posting was more or less to see if this was a real thing that needed to be done, or just a money maker for them. i think i will just save myself a load of cash and service myself from now on.

 

brake hoses next year most likely

air filter isn't listed until 24k... will check and clean the hose though

has a valve clearance at 24k interval... i won't be able to do this i assume. is this something people do, or just if its not running correctly?

[Throttled]

If you can, get your bike serviced during the winter months, when dealers are quiet and there is often a discount going.

[fastbob]

Servicing Costs .... Yes it does

[Sand bags]

On 30/05/2022 at 15:34, Throttled said:

If you can, get your bike serviced during the winter months, when dealers are quiet and there is often a discount going.

good tip, thanks

 

 

whilst were all here... have any of you had tyres fitted that you've supplied yourself.... how much did you pay?

 

I've only rang one place so far, im in london, i got 50/60 quid roll in roll out. I'll ring a few other places shop around. If its a good enough saving may consider removing the wheels and take them into the shop, but rather not tbh.

[bud]

I think it can vary a lot, what you pay for tyres. Last time I paid £30 to loose wheels. This included getting rid of the old tyres, and fitting new valves.

Was talking to people about this a little while ago, and anywhere from £10 to £20 per wheel seems average.