DIY Motorcycle Servicing | Should You Do it?

[@gordonhenderson1708]

I agree, the pros outway the cons. You knows what's been done and you get to know your bike. You're not at the dealer's mercy regarding appointments and you save some money. Regarding waranty or resale, I have dated receipts for all the fluids, filters and spark plugs purchased from the dealer. Good video, Sam!

[@SamVBikes]

Thanks Gordon! Couldn't agree more! Plus I think when you eventually sell it on, the buyer will be able to tell the love and time put into it just from the huge wallet of receipts and slight tear in your eye as they ride away haha!

[@CompletelyBaked]

Love it no faff, no nonsense, links for all to see, great video 👍

[@luzindro]

Great video. I also have a Tracer 700 and do the mid-level services myself. It's stupid easy. Thanks for reinforcing my decision.

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you and thanks for watching! It's way too easy to pay someone else to do it for you!

[@michaelmclarney1994]

Nice upload, I hope it persuades others to have a go as it's really quite simple, especially on a naked bike. Once you have a bit of experience it can be done in an hour on a naked bike 👍

[@SamVBikes]

Thanks Michael! It's definitely saved me a good amount of cash in the past few years. And if nothing else, a good sense of achievement when it starts at the end and you haven't broken it haha!

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@SamVBikes I know what you mean, it's especially worth it if the bike is out of warranty. A dealer service history isn't a guarantee that the work has been done either. 26 years ago, I purchased a used fj1200, privately, with full service history from a main dealer in Bridgewater. On doing the 20,000 service in my garage, I found that the clutch and brake fluid was thick brown sludge and the plugs and air filter were not in good shape either, considering they should have been replaced 4000 miles previously. At best it had oil and filter changes only. I do absolutely everything myself and know that it's done correctly.

[@SamVBikes]

That's shocking to hear! Especially paying a 'trained mechanic' to do the job for you... you'd at least hope they were doing the job they were meant to be doing! It makes such sense to do it yourself out of warranty. Plus you know you're not rushing it because you have another 3 bikes to do!

[@michaelmclarney1994]

@@SamVBikes that's right. I may be slower with some jobs but at least I know it's done. I would hate to be riding through some faster roads, in a spirited fashion, wondering if the chain was okay and has the rear wheel nut been torqued correctly. You remember I have 3 bikes too!

[@SamVBikes]

Exactly that! Glad I'm not alone in my thinking! Thanks for watching as always Michael

[@michelod.i.y.5202]

Great video 😊

[@mallajabo]

Nice video even better with all the links - thanks!

[@jefflambert8603]

I can Do the Basic Service.. On Two Occasions I have to Dealer For Valve Clearance Checks But they Did not Need any Adjustments Or Shims.. Expensive bill for a Service That Required only a Check

[@bobfisheruk]

I completely agree that is is safer to do it yourself, My NC 750 X is now just 3 years old and had its first MOT today, I discovered that when the Dealer did the 1st and 2nd Service for the warranty that they pumped out the Old Oil instead of Draining it, This is Unacceptable, I have just done a Service on mine including Regressing the Lower Suspension Bearings, Tappet Adjustment and a Lot of small jobs that I don't think a main dealer a main dealer would do..

[@SamVBikes]

Surely pumping the oil out is more work than undoing a bolt! Madness! Sounds like that's going to ride a whole lot smoother after that! Good work

[@bobfisheruk]

@@SamVBikes At least I know that all the Oil is fresh, The fuel in it was 5.5 months old and ran a bit rough when I toot it for the MOT, After I topped it up with fresh fuel and it was running great after a few miles. It is very good to know that you feel everything is well on the bike doing it yourself..

[@SamVBikes]

Couldn't agree more! Glad it was sorted though!

[@Clasq_GOD]

It never voids your warrenty with self oil change , atleast here in australia.

[@SamVBikes]

Great! Here they are fine with it for the most part, but if anything goes wrong, they will use that to refuse a warranty replacement!

[@bradleymorgan8223]

There's nobody around me that can do it in a reasonable time, or for a reasonable cost. I'll do it myself thanks

[@SamVBikes]

Definitely a good reason to do it yourself!

[@RyaNewGame]

Subbed, love your videos and so happy I came across your channel, love how you explain things ! Used to have a Tracer, sadly for only a few months, but looking at getting another one again. My only question is about the cons video you made. Is rust an issue for you ? Because I've seen a lot of people say that it rusts easily. What do you do to protect against that ?

[@SamVBikes]

Thank you! Glad I could help out! I'd definitely recommend getting another one! The rust side of things - there is a very small patch of surface rust on the bottom of the rear shock but nothing to worry about! I cover my bike in ACF-50 once a year which is like a rust and general protectant. Will do a video on it at some point! Thanks for watching!

[@RyaNewGame]

@@SamVBikes Thanks for the quick reply ! Kept going through your videos on the Tracer especially, looking forward to seeing the one about cleaning the exhaust pipes, and now the newly announced one :D

[@SamVBikes]

@@RyaNewGame Got a few lined up already so hopefully it will be of interest! Please let me know if there is anything else you want me to cover and I'll try my best!

[@RyaNewGame]

@@SamVBikes I'd be really interested as to how the engine handles going on the highway at 70-80 mph for some time, as I didn't get to test that myself, what's the rpm between 70-80, and if the engine sounds that it's being too pushed, in 6th gear of course. As that would be the only reason I would choose an inline 4 like the CB650F over another inline 2

[@SamVBikes]

@@RyaNewGame I rode up to Scotland on this and regularly ride to Cornwall to see my parents on it. Genuinely have no issues with it. It sit's around 2-3k revs on the motorway doing 70ish. It's comfortable too. I stick on a throttle lock type cruise control and it makes it so much more relaxed! I've got a Scotland trip planned as soon as the lockdown lifts, so will try to get some footage!

[@Jackofalltrades644]

Great video thanks 😊

[@SamVBikes]

You're welcome!

[@blonditbg15]

would love to get a guide on how to replace spark plugs in tracer, tried 3 times and I always get intimidated by the amount of shit/wires/hoses that go right above spark plugs

[@SamVBikes]

Ahh I did my service a few weeks back! Should have filmed it! The best way I've found is to get the tank off first. Gives you the access you need to get at them from above. Unplug the clips on the HT leads and get something to lift them up. They are a pain to get off though. Once you have them off.. a deep socket wrench with get them off but you'll need a magnet of some sort to get them out!

[@Prosecute-fauci]

I own a BMW. I am absolutely not paying a dealer $1500 for a service.

[@paul_london]

Where do you dispose the oil and brake fluid afterwards?

[@SamVBikes]

Save it up in old brake fluid bottles then take it to a waste recycling plant

[@KR7PT]

My mate says servicing and maintaining a bike is as expensive if not more expensive than a car. I drive a 3.2L turbo diesel so like. No, it's not. I DIY all my services on that so a bike is a walk in the park for me.

[@SamVBikes]

Haha! I could see his point if comparing a bike that needs servicing every 4k miles vs a car that needs servicing every 15k... but like for like... its definitely not! Good on you for doing your own!

[@lynxeffect84]

​@@SamVBikes how often does a bike need servicing how many miles ?

[@SamVBikes]

Depends on the bike. My bike is every 9k miles, and my car is every 10k, or once a year for both