8000 Miles Maintenance Service - How Expensive? (posted on VFRD also)

I just received a quote from my local Honda dealer for the 8000 mile service. They quoted 4 hours labor (@ $130.00 per hour) plus parts and supplies. That's a minimum of $520.00 just for labor. Ouch!! The service manual calls for inspections only (no valves) and replacement of the oil, filter and clutch filter (DCT).



Any thoughts, comments or experiences on this matter?



Thank you,

anbark22

 

DON'T DEAL WITH STEALERSHIPS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! . Find yourself a local mechanic with some referrals .

 

A fellow would have to already know that model fairly well--

To get it done that quickly...

Look at this list and tell me how quickly someone could properly inspect (and adjust if necessary) all of this stuff, especially if they've never seen one of these bikes before?

Inspect 18 items @ 10 minutes each = 3 hours. Drain and Replace oil and filter + remove/replace 2 body panels + clean up, check for leaks, write it all up and certify it all meets Honda specs = 1 hour.

from the VFR1200 Owner's Manual
The maintenance schedule specifies the maintenance requirements necessary to ensure safe, dependable performance, and proper emission control.

Maintenance work should be performend in accordance with Honda's standards and specifications by properly trianed and equipped technicians. Your dealer meets all these requirements. Keep an accurate record of maintencnce to help ensure that your motorcycle is properly maintained. Make sure that whomever performs the maintenance completes this record.

All scheduled maintenance is considered a normal owner operating cost and will be charged for by your dealer. Retain all receipts. If you sell the motorcycle, these receipts should be transferred with the motorcycle to the new owner.

8000 Mile
Inspect:
Fuel Line
Throttle Operation
Radiator Coolant
Cooling System
Secondary Air Supply System
Brake Fluid
Brake Pads Wear
Brake System
Brakelight Switch
Brake Lock Operation
Headlight Aim
Clutch System
Clutch Fluid
Side Stand
Suspension
Nuts, Bolts, Fasteners
Wheels/Tires
Steering Head Bearings

Replace:
Engine Oil
Engine Oil Filter

i wouldn't blame the stealer too much--he has overhead but i'd want at least $500 to do all that too. Besides service workers can't be expected to work for free, and the peace of mind knowing that your scooter was checked over by a qualified mechanic would be worth more than money to folks that understand risk management and life-critical hardware, etc... Just sayin'

 

This is all general maintenance. Is this something that is beyond your abilities to perform yourself?

 

$130/hour, so they can have an apprentice service your bike? Psshhttt. - Do you get to wait in a room full of complimentary coke and strippers?!

 

Well, I don't know how it is in the US, Tink, but Australian dealers all claim to make zero profit on sales of new bikes, thus they justify gouging us on servicing charges.
And I put it to you that any dealer who is charging US$130/hour for labour is in no danger of going broke.

 

On-site machinery servicing is in no way comparable to a workshop setup. Charging $130/hour for basic servicing of a motorcycle is sheer robbery. My local dealer charges $70/hour.

 

Well, I certainly agree that the first service should be done by the/a dealer. (All major services, too.)

If you can get someone to pay you >$100/hour for wrenching, well, that's how a free market works, right?

Personally, I would consider that too much but that is only when compared to what the average rate is here. Neither the dealer who works on my bike nor the dealer who works on my truck charges more than $70/hour...and that is considered to be the top end in these parts!
I also make a distinction between a guy who does on-site repairs and a guy who does oil changes at the local garage. - The former is often a mixture of fitter, turner, mechanic, electrician and metallurgist, and has been doing his work for many years, while the latter is usually an apprentice who can barely be trusted to put tyres on the right way around.
But, hey, that's what I've seen in the two countries I've lived in over the last 12 years. It may well be different where you are.

 

You would be surprised what happens when you talk and work! I have seen experienced mechanics that have been around the world and back mount tyres backwards. It has even happened to me :tounge2: People that road-raced who were on the balls of their arses would mount tyres backwards to get th last drop of tread life out of them too.

The old adage, "shit happens" was coined for our friend Murphy. I am still on the fence about the dealer first service though. I mean, if you did it yourself assuming your competant and have all the tools to do it, and the bike was re-called for some crazy reason. Do you think the manufacturer would waive your right to the re-call because you eliminated the first service?

 

£120 for my 8k service here in England, equivalent to about $180 for you. It's an hour's worth of oil change and a once over - it need not be longer or more involved than that, really.

 

I'm with the "that's too much crowd" ...but then I do all my own work. Some people seem to think these things are the mechanical equivalent to the space shuttle, but it's just a machine. If you don't have time, tools, or confidence to do it yourself, then your best bet is to shop around and get the best price you can from a respectable shop/mechanic (you trust) who is familiar with the bike.

If you have the time etc., just do it! Oil + filter, check brakes and fluids (brake, clutch, coolant), give everything a once-over with the manual and the appropriate torque wrench (don't forget the steering head) and go for a ride. It really should only take a couple hours to do everything thoroughly, and it's especially nice to know that it was actually done!

Most shops around here won't let you watch the work being done, so I refuse to participate. ...been burned too many times in the past; never using dealer service again unless it's for a warranty repair (which I hope I never need).

Your mileage may vary, but that's my $.02

 

Zen, my local dealer has a humongous window installed in one wall of his showroom, allowing customers to see their bikes being worked on. I think it's a great idea and I would do the same thing myself.

 

$520 & their still going to charge you for the oil, which is basically all their going to do. The VFR is my 20th bike & from my experience & regardless of how much they are going charge for the "Inspection" they supposedly carrying out, is just BS. Try claiming for a broken throttle/clutch cable or a bolt that's fallen off, (all part of the service "Inspection") & see how far you get. Just numbers on a service chart that are broken down into how much time it supposed to take & how much to hit you up for.. What they have got is the "warranty" that locks you in for a couple of years, because if we need to make a claim on any fault or problem, then the warranty has you by the balls.
I've had that many bad experiences with dealerships servicing, I walked away from them years ago. Because of the warranty, get it done, but find yourself a good mechanic that you can trust to do the work.

 

I paid around $220 for my 1000km service, which took 2.5 hours and the mechanic checked everything on the bike. I actually watched him going over every nut and bolt to check nothing had loosened up. Then he got his apprentice to wash it down (even cleaning the nut recesses in the rims) and dry it off with a cloth and air compressor.

 

My first 600 mile service cost $90.00 and took about an hour. It was merely a glorified oil change. That's why I am always weary of dealerships doing what is supposed to be done. I did not see them torque any bolts, etc. Just a visual inspection.

Yes, I can do the oil change and brakes. I purchased the Factory Shop Manual as soon as I bought the bike. I changed the oil, filter and clutch filter (DCT) at 4,000 miles myself (Amsoil synthetic). It was very easy and took about 40 minutes.

The bike has not sold well in North Florida, therefore very few mechanics or shops have actually seen a VFR1200. That's why I'm so weary of just anybody touching my bike. Yes, I will shop around for a competent and reasonable shop here and in South Georgia. The other problem I have is that I purchased the extended warranty (first time ever on a bike) and need to be able to document the scheduled maintenance. Yes, I have receipts for the oil and filters, but how can I document the inspections and torques checked?

Thank all of you for the excellent advice and comments. This is a great forum!