Service cost.

[GTRpilot]

15000 mile service is looming, local Kawasaki dealer has quoted me just shy of £400!
Sound's steep?

[nightrider]

Ask them what are you getting for £400,  oil change is easy ,so is diff , air filter also easy , a lot of it is just checking , front and rear brake pads out and clean Pistons is also easy to do , spark plugs are a pig , to do I'm told , but if you take all the body work off then that should cut costs ,, I would use a good independent dealer over a main one , and save a lot of money ,  just watch a few YouTube vids on how to do it yourself ,,,

[O.C.]

  

Check the service/maintenance schedule in your owners handbook from which you will be able to decide what you can do yourself

Ask your dealer to do the remaining jobs, thereby saving you some dosh, he should also then stamp your service book

Service schedules have become more inspection/check related over the years, apart from the ones at higher mileages

[snowy]

Give Taylor Brothers Motorcycles at Haughton, Stafford a ring, not too far away. Julian used to be mechanic for main dealer in Stafford, set up on his own and good value well recommended, does a lot for blood bikes. Did my big service recently, well pleased with price and work.

[mikeyw64]

when it comes to things like spark plugs and air filters if performance and fuel consumption is still ok then (unless theyre really easy to get at) I take the view, why bother

[BigAlan]

All fluids are easy, filters are easy, even getting the diff off and lubricati g the drive start is easy, the pig jobs are spark plug changes and valve checks.

The rest with a decent set of tools are easy.

Alan

[GTRpilot]

Had the plug's and brake fluid changed on the last service, done approximately 5000 miles since then, just want to make sure all is ok for my tour down to Croatia and back.

[mikeyw64]

Had the plug's and brake fluid changed on the last service, done approximately 5000 miles since then, just want to make sure all is ok for my tour down to Croatia and back.

Just make sure you're European breakdown is up to date and you have a spare credit card, no problems ;)

I was heading for Croatia via ferry from Italy when I came off my Blackbird, really must make another effort sometime

[GTRpilot]

Just make sure you're European breakdown is up to date and you have a spare credit card, no problems ;)

I was heading for Croatia via ferry from Italy when I came off my Blackbird, really must make another effort sometime

Ouch. With Carol Nash for breakdown, etc., Heading to Hull for ferry to Rotterdam, then down through Germany, Austria, Slovenia into Croatia. RV with wife at Zagreb airport, 9 days around Croatia and island's, drop wife at Zagreb for flight home and bike it back.

[O.C.]

Having that work done only 5000 miles ago your plugs and fluid should be ok     

[mikeyw64]

Ouch. With Carol Nash for breakdown, etc., Heading to Hull for ferry to Rotterdam, then down through Germany, Austria, Slovenia into Croatia. RV with wife at Zagreb airport, 9 days around Croatia and island's, drop wife at Zagreb for flight home and bike it back.

It was an eventful trip :)

AA European breakdown were brilliant (think I was with Carole Nash at the time)

http://sharetheexperience.co.uk/BB/italy.htm

[GTRpilot]

Crikey! 
Had a mishap on my Blackbird in this country, they do crash well, I came off battered and severe bruising but no breaks. Also had prob's with the dreaded reg/rec, morning of the return ferry from France bike refused to start, my memory of that morning is my 10 year old son pushing the fully loaded Bird onto a slope so I could bump start her and make the ferry 

[GTRpilot]

Having that work done only 5000 miles ago your plugs and fluid should be ok     

Yeah, I don't intend getting them changed, I'm happy to do oil, oil filter, final drive and air filter, not sure what else should be looked at for 15000 miles, really just want someone to look her over before the trip, peace of mind really.

[ChrisB]

15000 mile service is looming, local Kawasaki dealer has quoted me just shy of £400!
Sound's steep?

J and S Northwich did my 15000 service just under 2 years ago for £300.
My last 2 services which are smaller, I did myself. 22,000 service a couple of months ago, parts from M and P and Motul oil bought locally came to just under £100. Took me half a day to complete after 2 days thinking about it. Included brake and clutch fluid, oil and filter, air filter, coolant change, rear axle oil etc etc. J and S wanted £400 ish. Next is the big one with tappet check which I may look for outside the dealer network.

[GTRpilot]

J and S Northwich did my 15000 service just under 2 years ago for £300.
My last 2 services which are smaller, I did myself. 22,000 service a couple of months ago, parts from M and P and Motul oil bought locally came to just under £100. Took me half a day to complete after 2 days thinking about it. Included brake and clutch fluid, oil and filter, air filter, coolant change, rear axle oil etc etc. J and S wanted £400 ish. Next is the big one with tappet check which I may look for outside the dealer network.

It was J&S that gave me the £397 quote for 15000 miles.