Service Time.

@Glenn2926: I love your impressions about the Trident.
I am always taking the possibility to test other bikes. But I would have refused the "Matchbox-Bike" you got.

 

Jesus that's dear, is that the normal price these days? My car doesn't even cost half that, even with the MOT.

 

Next time ask for the TS660

Although it won't come with the heat, handguards, extra lights or QS as stock! I added all of those to mine and love it. The two ride modes are the only ones I need. Got mine with the free panniers too! I went in to look at the 900 GT Pro, but decided I didn't need something that big for my short commute and occasional weekend jaunts, which suits the 660 just fine.

 

Gosh over £800, how long did they have your bike for?

 

Buy some decent tools and do it yourself, it's really not that difficult just time consuming.

 

That's the going rate for a 12000 mile Triumph dealer service, good job it didn't need any valve adjustments otherwise that adds another £150 to the cost, the 12000 service only includes the valve check and no adjustments (if required), you have to factor around £1,000 for that service unfortunately. It takes a full working day to complete the 12000 mile service correctly, although if doing it at home you can do it in stages as time allows.

 

If you own a modern(ish) Triumph and are planning on holding onto it for a while you really ought to check out the service costs. Depending on which model you have the biggie comes at 10,000 or 12,000 miles on some of them and as has been said, it's expensive, especially if you do the sort of mileage that Glenn2926 does. Most of us don't. I've had my Bonneville (from new) for about 7 years and done less than 8000 miles. I have 3 other bikes and put about 800 miles on each per year. The annual service on my Triumph is under £200 (and significantly less if I go for Youles winter service offer) which I'm happy with. When the 10,000 major service comes along (currently £800+) I'll need to lie down in a dark room to get over the shock but that'll be another couple of years away. But I knew all this before I bought the bike.

 

This, along with some bad experiences of dealer servicing years ago, is why I've done my own servicing for years. I was quoted nearly £700 for a valve service on the ZZR several years ago, all done in one day. Valve adjustment should be done with a stone cold engine. I don't see how it can be done in a day when dropping the bike off in the morning, unless it's not ridden there of course. My 2022 Street Scrambler is almost at 10k but I did a service at 6k. I was quoted around £370 for a dealer service. I guess if you are not au fait with things mechanical and taking them to bits then you have to trust in dealer servicing and pay the price.

 

I read your thread with the enormous service costs now a few times. I am really shocked about the price you had to pay. I never reached this price here in Austria. I did some services on my Tiger 1200 during using it for 35.000 km and my Bonnie with 15.000 km. My wife did 33.000 km on her Tiger 900. We only reached this price when we added new tyres too.

 

I would say that applies more to cars than bikes. When I part ex'd my 7 year old R1 for a Ducati 1198 ( BIG MISTAKE) the dealer wasn't concerned over the lack of dealer stamps in the book because it presented so well and ran/sounded as sweet as a nut, plus I had kept a log of self servicing along with receipts. In fact, it was the same with my previous GSXR1000 3yrs old and R1 before that, also 3 yrs old. Possibly more of a problem selling privately. Excluding dirt bikes I've only ever sold 3 bikes privately after owning them from new and again it wasn't an issue but I got fed up faffing about with tyre kickers and buyers not showing so decided from then on to go the dealer part exchange route.

 

Strange ....l think completely the other way, to me a dealer service history means nothing....l know a few "motorcycle technicians" and quite frankly I would prefer a bike well looked after by a competent and contentious owner.
There's nothing magic about bike servicing...take your time and work methodically and it's all pretty easy.

 

Or, find a competent independent mechanic who relies on good service to get repeat business. Dealers get almost guaranteed throughput in their workshops so may not try too hard, but that's a generalisation of course.

I used to do my own back when there were way less cables and computers involved...

 

Plus when you go to buy it, the surroundings, facilities and tool collection say a lot before the person even offers any detail. A few probing questions soon helps form a fairly accurate picture.

 

I have always done my own servicing and never had a problem selling my bikes privately. When a buyer sees the immaculate condition of the bike together with receipts for original parts and my garage full of tools (including any necessary special tools plus Dealertool diagnostics) he is usually convinced that it has been properly maintained. Each service is done by the book and fully documented including valve clearances.