First Service '09 What to look for ???

My new '09 is ready for its 1st service. I got a free oil/filter change coupon from my dealer so gonna take it there. What are some other items to service or look for? Thanks, Robert.

 

Money in your bank account. Best bet is to get yourself a factory manual before you take the bike to a dealer.

 

I wouldn't even take it to the dealer.



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I gots bundles of $$, but "free coupon", lol, what's wrong with the dealer servicing it?

 

Nothing really IMO but keep all those bundles of $$ you can. "Free" shit from a dealer usually comes with a price.

Where we are going with this one is like the ads we see from several outfits that will do things like lube your cage for some low price that doesn't even pay for the oil at wholesale then the smiling service manager informs you your car has terminal rot and they can save it for another paltry $874.99 plus the $9.99 oil and lube job. The next thing is they usually go for is a new set of rubber. By the time they get done you are back to eating grits and chitlins for a whole month in the dark..

 

I had a battery replaced at the dealer (CBR) and when they put the seat back on they cross threaded the two screws that hold down the seat. Yes, both of them. The service tech was a greybearded fellow that had been there a long time and he fucked up putting in screws?

Never again will I allow the dealer to touch my bike.

 

Ok, I get the "anti-dealer" sentiment, I don't take my autos to the dealers either, I'm an aircraft mechanic with plenty of tools. But still would like to know the little things inherent with this bike, ie., check steering head bearing torque, perhaps thread locker on the side stand bolts, clean/wax chain, etc., etc, Anyone with real answers? I'm all ears!

 

Depend on miles service on the bike, Is it 600 miles service. The first 600 miles they will check the valves, oil change, check and torque all the bolts fastener, check and lube the chain that about it.

 

My $0.02

Trade the free coupon for a t-shirt. It would be worth more that way.

I had my 600 mile service done about 6 weeks ago. He said all he was going to check was the chain tension, torque on under carriage bolts, change oil and filter, and visual inspection. Super cool dealer mechanic didnt check the battery, I went to start the bike after it was finished. Didnt start. Wow, cool guys.

If your a mechanic save your self the head ache and DIY. Follow the owners manual for service maintenance and you'll be fine.

 

Friend of mine took her bike in to the dealer for the 600 mile service. They changed the oil. She left, decided she wanted to pick up a few items at the dealer and went back. Bought her stuff and when she came back out there was a huge puddle of oil under her bike. Turns out they didn't tighten the oil plug.

 

Check chain tension, and lube it, check tightness of fairing fasteners, the dealer will change the oil and filter, but check they havent overtensioned the chain, make sure they have replaced ALL the fairing bolts and clips, and good luck next time you come to remove the sump plug and oil filter. Oh and check they havent overfilled the oil.
All of those thing have been stuffed up by dealers in the past on my bikes, so I never go to dealers now. D.I.Y.
Other than that, not much goes wrong with these bikes, just follow the maintenance schedule.

 

Thanks guys, I've decided to do this myself as my work schedule would require me to leave the bike at the dealer for a week before I could go back and pick it up and aint no way in ---- she gonna sit there for a week. Probably get knocked over, scratched up, etc. I ended up ordering genuine Honda oil and filter, comes out to $31.00 for me to change the oil & filter. Thanks again!

 

1st service, all they do is change the oil, all the rest of the so called "Checks" is BS & will not be done, its just a way of getting more money out of you from the so called list which come with a standard how much time each check is supposed to take. I've heard a lot of horror stories from dealer servicing & experienced a lot of my own. One bike I had they were supposed to change the coolant, which they did, but put in straight coolant (no 50/50). Last time I had a full service done on my last bike (valves & shims), they got an apprentice to clean the bike with a high pressure hose & blew off the decals on the side covers. And then tried to tell me it came in like that. I've since found a really good place to take my bikes & are they more than happy for you to watch what they do. Small operation, but professional & so much cheaper than stealerships. I do my own oil changes & minor stuff like plugs & chain. But my back & knees are way past doing anything major.