I am riding to Thailand I'm going through Turkey my service intervals are quite long 9 1/2 thousand Miles intervals , it would be a lot nearer the service interval if I have it serviced in Turkey any advice about appreciated please ?
I have searched on this site first but couldn't find specific advice
My bike is a KTM 1190 adventure it doesn't need a service for another 5000 miles but will then need a big service valves etc ,plus change chain sprockets tyres and brakes. If I do get it done in Turkey it should ok then to Thailand re mileage.
Thanks for any advice
Safe riding
Paul

Paul:

I suggest you get the bike serviced in England before you depart, not because the UK mechanics are any better than the mechanics in Turkey, but simply because it is prudent to have a thorough inspection and control of the moto before setting off on a trip such as the one you are planning.

For what it's worth, I base my European motorcycle out of Zurich, and I always get a major service done at the start of every year, before I head out on long trips (Morocco, Turkey, Scandinavia, etc.), without regard to whether or not such a service is required based on mileage alone.

In 10 years and 170,000 km of riding, I have NEVER had a technical problem on the road... never.

The last thing you need on a UK to Thailand ride is headaches along the way, or difficulty finding parts along the way. Get 110% of the necessary service done at home before you leave (including installation of a couple of new tires if your exiting tires won't take you all the way to Thailand), then you can enjoy a worry-free and hopefully trouble-free trip.

Sure, it might seem like a bit of a 'waste' to replace the chain, tires, brake pads, etc. before they reach the end of their life, but consider it to be cheap insurance. You're going to have to spend the money anyway before you reach Thailand, might as well spend it up front and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having everything in perfect shape before you leave home.

Michael

The only thing I would add to PanEuropean's good advice is ask the mechanic to let you watch the service and learn something about your bike from them, it might come in useful on the road and get their advice on a tool kit so you have enough to perform basic work but don't carry tools you will never use.

Thanks very much both of you for the advice I think I've just got a get my head round the fact that On such a big trip I'm going to have to spend some serious money before I go and have my bike serviced well before it needs it and lots of things changed again before they need it, before I leave.
Much appreciated
Safe riding
Paul

Hi Paul:

You've pretty much figured it out.

If it is any consolation, consider that the ancillary costs associated with having to carry out an unscheduled repair in a foreign country along the route (shipping of parts, food and lodging while waiting for the parts, communications expenses, etc.) could easily make an unscheduled enroute repair or replacement of a component cost 3X as much as the same work carried out ahead of time in your home town.

FWIW, I spend about £1,000 in the spring of every year on preventative maintenance (scheduled services, tire changes, brake pad changes, stuff like that) before heading out on annual rides of 7,000 to 10,000 km. I don't think I have ever worn a set of tires or brake pads out, they always get replaced before the beginning of a long ride, rather than at end-of-life. The payoff is what I wrote above: the bike has never let me down or inconvenienced me enroute in 10+ years and 170,000+ km.

I have a ST1100, the costs might be less for a smaller bike.

Michael

Michael
Really good advice I will take it my trip is over 15000 miles then I want to tour around Thailand so it needs to be right.
Thanks again
Paul

Paul,
Im riding with you and if you need any major KTM work done in Chiang Mai before your Thai ventures, I have a lot of experience & contacts there ... so just worry about the first 12k miles.
Notwithstanding a lot of good advice on the thread here already.
Russ

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