How many people take there new bikes back to the dealers for a service ?

I do the pointless 600/900 miles one at the dealer to get the warranty up to the 4000/6000/10000 point with less argument, then burn it to preserve the actual function of the machine. I use logo'd filters etc. Up to the end of the warranty to reinforce my side of any argument, but really don't want the dealers monkey touching my stuff.

Via Moto in Sheffield were the classic experience with the Guzzi. Told me the first service was 600 miles, it's actually 900. Changed the gearbox oil, which isn't due until 16000. Used the wrong gearbox oil producing a machine that won't go into second on cold days. Over filled. Tried to cure the oil problem by mis-adjusting the clutch. Don't seem to have opened the valve covers. Sorted that lot myself by 900 miles.

Royal Enfield didn't bat an eyelid at giving me a free TPS despite doing all my own work.

Triumph and BMW of course have the huge reputation for rejecting all warranty, even if you buy tyre air from them. Had that experience with the Bavarians back in the 90's.

Andy

You can buy bikes new?

I guess it depends on how your mechanical skills compare with those of the dealer. It's been a while since I bought any bike new but we've had a few new cars. With those though the service intervals have been stretched out and out and out to the point where if you don't do many miles and chop them in every few years you'll never get to the first service. The first service on my wife's string of Minis is at 15,000 miles for example and that's only an oil change and a check that nothing's dropped off. Anything else is a warranty issue and in contrast with the bikes we've never had any problems with that corner of the BMW empire. I've often wondered why a 'high mileage' car has 15k mile scheduled oil changes when a 'weekend plaything' bike needs to meet the dealer again after 6/900 miles. (I do know the answer).

A friend of mine runs a number of slightly older bikes - slightly older being around 20yrs old, so at the bottom of their depreciation curve. He has limited mechanical skills so depends on local dealers (mostly bloke in a shed ones but occasionally main dealers) for jobs - including servicing - that I'd do myself without giving it a second thought. Mostly he's been happy with what they've done but his criteria for success is that the bikes keep running. He can't (and doesn't) check and depends on the 'honesty and integrity' of the mechanic to do the work and tell him if there's anything else on the way out. He has a list of people experience has pushed him towards, and surprise surprise, none of them are main agents.

I had a similar experience with the Rieju, the dealership we bought it from said it didn't need it's first oil change until 1000km but the manual said 500 ... they gave us the runaround on outstanding problems, fitted the wrong replacement fastener for one that shook out (which then fell out right away), etc.

After that we went to another dealership and they were great - they listened to what I was saying*, did a bunch of diagnostics, tried replacement parts to troubleshoot, and since then the bikes been lovely. I can see why other people take bikes there for major work, which is something I'd look out for if I were buying another new bike.

*unusual for many garages when you're a woman, lol

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...

I have been able to purchase quite a few new bikes over the years ... and allways serviced them myself ... If you read the warrenty book its states ...the bike/car should be serviced in acordance with the manifacture intervals
Kept all reciepts and never had a warrenty claim rejected ( even my bmw ! )
Keith