36,000miles service

[Jeannot]

My bike is due for one. Can somebody tell me an approx. price and what would be done. I was told that the alternator belt should be changed too. Thanks
JC

 

[sproggy]

The service schedule in your owner's manual will tell you what needs doing. If you haven't got an owner's manual you should get one. But yes, the belt should be changed.

Price depends on where you take it - main dealer labour rates differ around the country, independents will generally be a fair bit cheaper than main dealers and doing it yourself is the cheapest option by some margin.

Decide who you want to do the work and then call them for a price.

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I see you're in the SE, no brainer in my opinion. Steptoe is your man.

 

[Jeannot]

Thanks guys. I don't have the manual but managed to get my hand on a Hayes book and saw what is involved exactly. Called Cannon in Braintree and it is a couple of quid short of £300.

I would love to take it to Steptoe (after everything I have read).

I have been given the name of an independent mechanic (Lou Crump) and he will charge me £190 (including the belt) and probably will go with that. DOing it myself, I would love that but i don't know how exactly and I don't have a garage and really don't fancy to do it outside on the pavement.
JC

 

[sproggy]

An alternator belt costs less than £15 and takes about 10 minutes to change so don't over-estimate the cost of that part of the service.

I used to service my bikes on the path outside my house before we moved to a house with a garage. An oilhead is well suited to that sort of maintenance and it's a great way to get to know your bike. Spend some of the money you save on decent tools (including a Twinmax to balance the TBs), refer to the Haynes (or factory) manual and you won't regret it. Pick a dry day, though

 

[Jeannot]

An alternator belt costs less than £15 and takes about 10 minutes to change so don't over-estimate the cost of that part of the service.

I used to service my bikes on the path outside my house before we moved to a house with a garage. An oilhead is well suited to that sort of maintenance and it's a great way to get to know your bike. Spend some of the money you save on decent tools (including a Twinmax to balance the TBs), refer to the Haynes (or factory) manual and you won't regret it. Pick a dry day, though

I hear you sproggy and would love to learn. One of the forum's member offered to help if I needed. I will probably try to go that way a some stage. I have done a few things myself and you are right it's a great satisfaction.

Just the thought of having the bike on the drive, with a job half finished, does not enchant me.

BTW what do you mean by "oilhead is well suited to that sort of maintenance"

JC

 

[Decster]

..

Just the thought of having the bike on the drive, with a job half finished, does not enchant me.

you have a driveway lucky git.....i have to do it on the public path

 

[sproggy]

BTW what do you mean by "oilhead is well suited to that sort of maintenance"

'Oilhead' is the general term applied to the R850/1100/1150 bikes. IMO they are well suited to driveway/roadside/home maintenance because, particularly in the case of the R and GS, everything is easily accessible. You don't have to strip off loads of bodywork and delve into the middle of the bike to check/adjust valve clearances like you do on most bikes, throttle bodies are exposed and accessible for balancing, plugs easy to change, oil is easy to drain from engine/gearbox/final drive and just as easy to re-fill. They're a doddle to work on and you don't need special equipment. Basically they're pretty low-tech compared to most 'modern' vehicles and you're unlikely to do a worse job at the side of the street than you would in a garage/workshop.

 

[Jeannot]

'Oilhead' is the general term applied to the R850/1100/1150 bikes. IMO they are well suited to driveway/roadside/home maintenance because, particularly in the case of the R and GS, everything is easily accessible. You don't have to strip off loads of bodywork and delve into the middle of the bike to check/adjust valve clearances like you do on most bikes, throttle bodies are exposed and accessible for balancing, plugs easy to change, oil is easy to drain from engine/gearbox/final drive and just as easy to re-fill. They're a doddle to work on and you don't need special equipment. Basically they're pretty low-tech compared to most 'modern' vehicles and you're unlikely to do a worse job at the side of the street than you would in a garage/workshop.

Thanks Sproggy for the explanation. Definitely want to learn about it (and save some money in the way)

JC

 

[ELIMINATOR]

I would add one note of warning if you change the engine oil yourself. My 1150 is the fastest draining bike I've ever had. I used to use one of those plastic containers that had the sump on one side, it used to splash everywhere!

I now use an old 5 gallon plastic container cut in half.

 

[Jeannot]

I would add one note of warning if you change the engine oil yourself. My 1150 is the fastest draining bike I've ever had. I used to use one of those plastic containers that had the sump on one side, it used to splash everywhere!

I now use an old 5 gallon plastic container cut in half.

Thanks Eliminator for the tip. By the way I need to find a list of all the tools needed for servicing my 850GS. I have done a few searches and saw a few posts but I was wondering if someone has a already made list so that I can start buying a few at the time.
JC

 

[longdog]

I see you're in the SE, no brainer in my opinion. Steptoe is your man.

+1 on this.

I used to take my old R1150GS to St Eptoe all the way from South Wales. He will allow you to watch and learn and give you tips for free.

You wont get a cuppa though

 

[motobiker]

Thanks Eliminator for the tip. By the way I need to find a list of all the tools needed for servicing my 850GS. I have done a few searches and saw a few posts but I was wondering if someone has a already made list so that I can start buying a few at the time.
JC

For the very basic stuff.. like an oil change. you only need to buy two 'special' tools.. an oil filter wrench. (best to get the correct one.. makes life easier than a 'universal' and a deep 13mm socket for the gearbox oil filler. Everything else for these task is pretty much basic... most things are in the tool set. or a basic spanner/hex key set.

I would start with getting a Haynes manual.. and buy tools as you need them.

 

[Jeannot]

For the very basic stuff.. like an oil change. you only need to buy two 'special' tools.. an oil filter wrench. (best to get the correct one.. makes life easier than a 'universal' and a deep 13mm socket for the gearbox oil filler. Everything else for these task is pretty much basic... most things are in the tool set. or a basic spanner/hex key set.

I would start with getting a Haynes manual.. and buy tools as you need them.

Hi Motobiker, I already had the Haynes manual and if I would have taken the time to have a good look at it I would have seen that there are a few pages dedicated to the tools you need rob i need to learn to read manuals, it's my bloody problem)

Thanks for the time to reply
JC