Service just left me in shock...

[thunderglass]

Buy the few tools needed and get the Honda service book and just do it so you'll know its done and done right. I for one would not trust the dealer to actually do it but if you want to just give them $300 for nothing but maybe peace of mind on the warranty then go ahead but you may be doing the engine a disservice if they aren't actually doing it.

The 600 mile service other than an oil change is just to make sure that the bike was correctly assembled and that the initial valve lash setting was correct. It will need to be done at some point but it is debatable on the need to do it that soon.

[John Hopkins]

Thirty dollars to fit two new tires at my local bike shop..I supply the tires..about the original post..When you buy a new vehicle the dealer always charges like a wounded bull because they can say your guarantee is void if you don't have the first service...having been caught once I always ask for the first service free as part of me choosing them to buy the vehicle from...and most of them put an apprentice on the first service and not many would check the valves other than looking at the color of the sparkplugs and in extreme cases doing a compression test..

John.

[Buicknick72]

Magnuson?Moss Warranty Act - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Just read your warranty paperwork. If it doesn't clearly state it in there, you are good.

[vandinroth]

Originally Posted by ButchA

I called the "stealership" yesterday to ask about a basic oil change and they guy said roughly, $75 bucks for everything, in and out the door. They can do it in 30 minutes if I come right over.

Man i'm in the wrong flippin business. I'm gonna open a motorcycle oil change garage and i'll only bill 60$ for the change that way i'm cheaper.

Seriously, that's insane. I guess i always figured that people that rode motorcycles were self sufficient enough to be able to do something like change oil. But the sad part is they probably get alot of people do those 75$ oil changes.

[MudholeMike]

Originally Posted by thunderglass

Buy the few tools needed and get the Honda service book and just do it so you'll know its done and done right. I for one would not trust the dealer to actually do it but if you want to just give them $300 for nothing but maybe peace of mind on the warranty then go ahead but you may be doing the engine a disservice if they aren't actually doing it.

The 600 mile service other than an oil change is just to make sure that the bike was correctly assembled and that the initial valve lash setting was correct. It will need to be done at some point but it is debatable on the need to do it that soon.

^^This. I ordered the Honda service manual online a day after I purchased my bike new in 2008. Most of the tools needed I already had so the price of the manual (around $60.00 if I remember correctly) was money well spent. The bike now has over 45,000 miles, and all maintenance and repair has been done by me. Therefore, I know exactly when, where, and how the maintenance was performed.
As far as the warranty goes, make sure you keep good records of all maintenance that is done. This includes all receipts for parts and/or any other services perfomed. I keep a running log of all labor that I've done on my bike, indicating date, mileage, and a description of what was done. Not only is this acceptable for warranty claims, but if you go to sell the bike, you have documentation to show the prospective buyer how it was maintained.
The end result of all the above is that you will have a well maintained bike, and you'll save a lot of money in labor charges over the duration of your ownership.

[rmw]

$320! Wow, that is exactly $140 dollars more than the 1000 mile check on my Harley and they check like fifty items on that service and I know they checked all the bolts cause I stood there and watched them do it and that included two fluid changes and a filter as well as hooking it up to the computer and running a full engine diagnostic. I'd go looking for a good Indy shop.

[MikeB]

So far, the 3 shops I have contacted all want ~$200 total to install front and rear tires. Is this good / average?

That's probably because they are quoting a price for work if you bring the entire bike in to them. I (and others who pay $25 or so for mounting and balancing) remove the wheels and bring them in to the tire shop, saving that extra labor cost.

For my next change I'm going to mount them myself the old-fashioned way and use Dyna-beads for balancing.

[frbob]

I wish I could do Dyna Beads but the VLX has tube tires... I have no problem taking the front tire off to take it to the shop but I don't know about the rear time and the chain adjustment and alining putting it back on..

[vandinroth]

Originally Posted by frbob

I wish I could do Dyna Beads but the VLX has tube tires... I have no problem taking the front tire off to take it to the shop but I don't know about the rear time and the chain adjustment and alining putting it back on..

You can use dyna beads with tubed tires.

[ButchA]

Originally Posted by vandinroth

Man i'm in the wrong flippin business. I'm gonna open a motorcycle oil change garage and i'll only bill 60$ for the change that way i'm cheaper.

Seriously, that's insane. I guess i always figured that people that rode motorcycles were self sufficient enough to be able to do something like change oil. But the sad part is they probably get alot of people do those 75$ oil changes.

I just went through my Honda service plan entries online, and looked up my '07 Aero 750....
https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com
7/17/2007 - - - Mileage: 678. First 600 service. Cost: $0.00
3/4/2008 - - - Mileage: 3,908. 4000 mile service/oil change. Cost: $0.00
9/5/2008 - - - Mileage: 8,365. 8000 mile service/oil change. Cost: $0.00
7/23/2009 - - - Mileage: 12,107. 12000 mile service/oil change. Cost: $0.00
6/10/2010 - - - Mileage: 16,266. 16000 mile service/oil change/new tires. Cost: 44.60
(only because I forgot to include the tubes with the new tires - edit... I supplied the tires).
= = = = = = = = END OF 3 YEAR EXTENDED SERVICE PLAN = = = = = = = =
2/28/2012 - - - Mileage: 20,800. Oil change done by me (finally, I learned how!). Cost: $24.20
(not including the $8.99 Honda/Toyota 64mm oil filter wrench)

Edit again: If I didn't change my own oil yesterday by myself, it would have cost me about $75 bucks at the "Stealership".