The Motorcycle Service – What You Need To Know

So you’ve bought a beautiful motorcycle and want to keep it looking – and more importantly, running – its best.

Regular servicing is the most effective way to keep your motorbike in tip-top condition.

Why service your bike?

Firstly, it will give you great peace of mind. Your motorcycle is essentially a seat that can travel at incredibly high speeds; the last thing you need is something breaking off, coming loose or springing a leak at motorway speed.

It will extend the life of your motorcycle, and keeping the oil regularly changed and everything ship-shape will ensure it’s performing to its full potential every time you hit the road.

Does the service have to be done by an expert?

Service mechanics will have an eagle eye for loose seals or bolts that need tightening or cracks in rubber. They’ll be able to tell at a glance whether some O-rings are splitting in your chain and if your clutch cable is showing signs of wear.

From a safety perspective, a regular service schedule, staggered with your MOT, should ensure that experts look at your bike every six months or so.

Safety is paramount when it comes to motorcycling.

As well as having professionals look over your wheels every six months or so, make sure to complete regular eyeball inspections yourself of things like the tyres, levers, pedals and bolted-on pieces of fairing or mudguards.

Can a motorcycle service save you money?

A full service history will ensure you can sell your bike for top dollar when you decide to.

You’ll have probably pondered the question of “how much mileage is too much?” when considering a motorbike purchase. The short answer is that a bike with 25,000 miles serviced regularly will probably do you much better than one with 10,000 miles that’s never had so much as its chain cleaned.

If you can produce a service book with annual stamps, it will reassure the prospective buyer that you’re someone who is conscientious and has done their best to make sure the bike has had the best life possible.

Similarly, it’s something you should be looking for from anybody you may look to buy a bike from.

How often should a motorbike be serviced?

Broadly, motorcycles benefit from servicing once a year or when they reach certain mileage milestones. Each bike will be different, and your owner’s manual should tell you your specified intervals. But after your bike is fully run in, an annual service should suffice.

You can complete basic maintenance yourself – such as topping up or changing the oil, checking and changing the battery, and ensuring your chain is tightened weekly.

But for a full service, it’s advised to let professionals handle the job.

This also depends on how often you ride. Suppose you’re a weekend warrior who only brings your bike out once every few weeks in summer. In that case, your routine maintenance won’t need to be as intensive as a year-round commuter, whose battery will be battling freezing temperatures in January with a chain putting up with 52 weeks of grit, salt and rain spray.

If you’re someone whose bike regularly runs super-hot on track days, or you push it to its limits regularly, your oil may need changing more often, as well as tyres and brake pads.

What does a motorcycle service include?

There are different levels of service your bike may need. These are often categorised as follows:

• Interim
• Annual
• Major
• Full

Every service will include vital maintenance like inspection of bulbs, clutch play, bearings, spark plugs, general nuts and bolts, suspension, exhaust, a change of oil and filters, and a look at coolant and brake or clutch fluid (where necessary).

What will an interim service generally include?

An interim service is the most basic kind. It will cover many minor points but won’t get too deep into the bike’s guts.

What will an annual service generally include?

You should go for the annual service if you feel your bike needs some attention. It covers everything in the interim but usually adds a spark plug change.

What will a major service generally include?

The major service will take care of almost all potential issues and look back over the bike’s history to make sure nothing is in danger of re-faulting if it’s gone wrong before.

What will a full service generally include?

A full service replaces almost every kind of oil or fluid to fresh and new, as well as a detailed examination from front to back.

If you’ve kept your bike in good condition, and had it serviced most years, then an interim service will generally be enough to keep you on the road and shiny side up.

After leaving a bike sitting for several months or more, or if you’ve purchased a bike with a spotty service history – or none – you may want to upgrade to a more comprehensive service.

How much does a motorcycle service cost?

This, again, largely depends on your bike. My Moto Guzzi V7II, for example, isn’t something that every garage has the expertise to work on. It also requires specific kinds of oil that aren’t cost-effective to keep in small quantities, so I’m somewhat at the mercy of garages that can complete the service.

However, you can generally expect to pay around £125 for a basic motorcycle service, with prices reaching up to £750 for a fully comprehensive service on a rare or unusual bike.

Motorbikes with a 125cc engine or lower are substantially less. If you have a reasonably standard bike like a Suzuki SV650, with readily available parts and lots of local knowledge, you’d be looking to spend between £125-£550 in total, depending on the level of service you need.

How long does a motorcycle service take?

Usually, all work can be completed in one day – many garages offer weekend or Saturday servicing, so if you use your bike as a primary vehicle during the week, you won’t be left without it for too long.

If it’s a full service, or the mechanic finds something that needs urgent repair, they may wish to hold onto it for a few days.

Some garages also offer courtesy bikes if you’re going to be without it for a while.

Conclusion

In conclusion – service your motorbike. Even if it’s an interim service, having a professional set of eyes on it once or twice a year can be nothing but good for you and your bike.