First Service

[BMC55]

I am curious how many owners brought their Tenere in for the first service. Was the service satisfactory and any noticeable difference in how the motorcycle performed afterword? Was anything found that needed attention? Thanks for any information people care to relate.

 

[JRE]

I did...no issues with level of service (YMMV) and the only thing I noticed that felt different is they adjusted the throttle cable so the play (due to stretching) was minimized. Did the second service myself and will continue to do my fluid changes. When it gets to synching throttle bodies, valve check, it's going into the shop.

 

[WJBertrand]

Took mine in for the 600 mile service, the only thing I noticed different was cleaner oil in the sight glass.


-Jeff

 

[RhodeTrip]

Took mine in for the 600 mile service, the only thing I noticed different was cleaner oil in the sight glass.


-Jeff

+1

 

[trainman]

bought mine new and was told that they come with a mineral engine oil for running in, Yamaha put semi synth in from the 600 mile service onwards, cannot recall if I noticed any difference,

just had the 6000 with new oil and it feels smoother but maybe he did the idle balance too this time?

 

[ace50]

I did mine at 500 miles instead. Man were they dirty. Plan on doing all my own servicing. You learn the bike better.

 

[TomZ]

My experience with having a dealership perform the first service on a 2012 Tenere was poor --a sloppy job of changing oil and later indications that other services had not been done. You can easily change the engine and gear oils and do other checks as described in the owner's manual. Buy a service manual and check torques as recommended. I recently upgraded to a 2015ES and did the 600 mile service myself.

 

[Arkyrider]

Took mine in for the 600 mile service, the only thing I noticed different was cleaner oil in the sight glass.

-Jeff

+2

 

[Juan]

I firmly believe that the first service is the most crucial. It's during the running-in of the engine that gears, pistons in cylinders and other moving parts are smoothed out. That's why the oil change (engine and final gear oil) are recommended after only a few miles (few relative to subsequent oil changes). The first oil change will likely have tiny metal particles from the smoothing out. True there's the oil filter and the magnetic final gear drain bolt to catch these metal particles, but extracting these particles from the engine would be the safest bet for a prolonged engine life.

So at the first service, the oil is changed not because it has 'broken down' but because it is dirty with metal particles.

 

[Wanderer]

Howdy,
Unless you are experiencing an issue with the bike the 600 mile service is can be easily done by yourself saving a lot of money ::015:: . Get a manual if you don't have one, go through the 600 mile service requirements, most are check and adjust. The engine oil, filter and final drive fluid are the only actual items that need more than check and adjust. Print out a copy of the service schedule, check off each of the items you performed, sign it and date it. With receipts for the oil, filter and final drive fluid you now have an official record of required maintenance. I keep a log in a 3 ring binder, everything that happens to that bike goes in there, date, mileage, what was done and the corresponding receipts. Never a question with the dealer on any bike I ever owned doing my own maintenance that did have an issue. Also at resale/trade it tells a lot about the condition of the bike.
Later,
Norm

 

[Big Blu]

I make the 600 mile service part of the purchase deal on all my bikes. W hen I them in for service I ask the service manage to ensure they that they do ALL the things on the list and review the list with him. I took my '06 FJR in for the 1st service and when I got home noticed they did not change the final drive fluid. Went back to the dealer immediately and asked the service manager about it, his response was.... "we never do that at the 1st service". I was more then pissed. I told him I wanted it done and he told me there would be an additional charge. I marched into the sales managers office and dropped the turd on his lap. I watched as they changed the FD fluid, you bet I did, and was not charges.

I didn't go back there for 5 years till after it had changed hands twice. Purchased the "12 ST their during that 1st visit back. I watched as they did the 600 mile service and installed heated grips which were also part of the purchase deal. I could tell they were having difficulty with the grips, tech had several consultations with other techs during the process. The heated grip failed in three months. Took it to a different dealer, they replaced the grips under warranty and said the failure was do to damaged wiring caused by improper routing if the wiring during installation. Arggg. ::007::

Paul

 

[HBLQRider]

I always wonder why manufacturers of motorcycles don't care how crappy most of their dealerships are. Some of these places can sour you on a brand for life.

 

[cliffo]

Almost two years later and over 27,000 miles. I have done all my own servicing stuff. Last month did take it in cause left fork seal went out. That was covered under Y.E.S..

 

[NCsurveyor]

I did my own 600 mile service as well. Bought a new snap-on inch pound torque wrench and some new (un-worn) sockets and allen bits so i wouldn't booger up my bolts. Was anyone besides me surprised at what came out of the final drive? It was about two teaspoons of black sludge!

 

[2daMax]

Did my own 1st service at 115km for engine oil, after a good hard break-in. Pour in mineral oil which I later changed at 1300km with the oil filter. Fully Synthetic as of now 3000km. Final Drive oil changed at 600km.

Reason for DIY service is because I didn't buy it from a dealer and there is no warranty. In my country we call this grey market imports as AP Recond (Approved Permit Reconditioned bikes - which means, it has been tax for import with a import permit, as a used vehicle which gives it a high tax break).

 

[itlives]

I bought mine last April with 9,000 miles on it. I'm looking at the 24,000 mile check up in a coup!e hunnert miles. I'm going to let Jaxon give it a good going over as soon as he calls me.
This is the most expensive "thing" I've ever owned. I'll trust it to someone that is recognized by the community.

 

[bigboy61]

For the first 600 mile service I use my Yami dealership. I just want to be on the dealer record that I brought the bike in for it's first service.

Most of the other service miles I do my own oil, gear, and filter changes. It is then I also check the tightening of any nuts and bolts, etc.

Any other YES warranty issues gets handled by the dealer as well.

 

[rider33]

For the first 600 mile service I use my Yami dealership. I just want to be on the dealer record that I brought the bike in for it's first service.

This. It is important to chech the bike over after the first few hundred miles & change the fluids but you can do that yourself. I just like having a written record from a manufactures representative that the bike was operating properly. I also use it to gauge if that particular dealer has a clue....

 

[Rambler]

Coming up to (rather slowly than anticipated) the 600 mile service point on my Cobalt.
Local - Mountain Motorsports - will charge 'around $320' for the service which can take up to 3hrs time.

Questions:
1. Service cost: is that around the 'average' across dealers?
2. Are dealers OK with owners requesting to 'watch' the service being done?
3. Anything in particular I would need to point out that they complete or products that they should use?

 

[RCinNC]

My 2014 is just shy of 40,000 miles, and I've had it serviced once; at the 26,000 mile valve clearance check. That task was beyond my comfort level. It won't go back again until the next valve check, unless something breaks that I can't fix. Everything else (brake system flush, tire changes, clutch fluid flush, rear differential service, fork service, oil changes, etc) I've done myself. I bought a service manual, but I honestly think you could get by doing all the services I mentioned just from information I've found on this forum. The threads on things like wheel removal and fork maintenance are actually better written and easier to follow than the sections of the service manual.

If I had unlimited funds and boundless faith in the mechanics at whatever shop I used, I'd probably never touch my bike except to ride it. Neither of those conditions exist, though, so circumstances force me to become familiar enough with wrenching to do my own maintenance.

I wouldn't look down on anyone that did take their bike in to a shop for a 600 mile service if they have the money and lack the time/desire/skillset to do it themselves. I do seriously question shops that charge 300 plus dollars for a service that is basically just an oil and filter change. 3 hours?? To change the oil and filter and (maybe) check the torque settings on some bolts? And I say "maybe" because I seriously wonder how much of that actually gets done during a 600 mile service. If you deliberately loosened the rear axle nut, or one of the caliper bolts, and took it in for a 600 mile service, I wonder how many shops would actually catch it? And if any dealership tries to insinuate (or directly states) that your warranty might not be honored if you don't get your bike serviced by them, move that dealership in your mind over to the "unethical crook" category, and take that into account if you decide to use them for any work in the future.