Rambler said:
I would fall into the 'lack the time/desire/skillset' basket. More, I should say, lack of 'comfort and confidence in skillset' - being a new bike and all that!
Items that would be (or listed) completed in the 600mile service:
- Oil/filter change (remove "break in" oil from engine)
- Chain lubricate and adjust tension
- Inspect all major components Clutch cable tension / free play adjustment
- Throttle cables inspection / adjustment
- Front brake system operation (caliper and master)
- Rear brake system operation (caliper and master)
- Steering system inspection (check stem bearings)
- Front suspension inspection (inspect fork seals)
- Rear suspension/linkage inspection (check tension)
- Front and rear tire pressure adjustment
- Some units we inspect valve clearance and adjust the valves. If you've noticed a loss in power on your new bike, chances are you need your valves adjusted.
LOL, if I got a bill from a service department on my Super Tenere that included chain lubrication and tension adjustment, I'd definitely feel like I'd found one of the more ethically challenged dealerships out there.
And yes, I'm familiar with what's on a 600 mile initial service; it's in the owner's manual. And it looks very impressive and work intensive when it's written out like that, but it's not three hours and $300 worth of work, unless the mechanic stopped to go see a movie during the service. Nor does it require some highly specialized knowledge to do. Like I said in my earlier post, I totally get why someone wants a shop to do the work. It's not a fun thing to be sitting in a garage in NC on a 90 degree day getting dirty and sweaty. But bike maintenance isn't some mystical science, and painting a picture that it's something extensive and complicated and should only be undertaken by professionals (assuming you get an actual pro doing your service, and not the resident shop monkey) is a disservice to guys who might want to try it themselves but get scared off by people making it seem too complicated.
LOL, if you've noticed a loss of power on a bike with 600 miles on it, chances are you need your valves adjusted? If a mechanic suggested that as his first stop on the diagnosis train, I'd wonder where he got his training. I'm not saying that couldn't be the problem, but there's a few other steps I'd want checked before they soaked me for a 400 dollar valve check for a
highly unlikely cause of that problem.
I do feel for the guys in non US countries whose warranty laws work differently than ours. I know you're stuck with the requirement to have service done by a shop if you want to be covered by the warranty.
