Recommended Service

[chief]

Yep, I've gotten to the point where I have to decide what's worth my time and energy and what isn't. In past years I'd do it all, regardless.

[ratze]

I do it all, allways have. nobody wrenchs on my babies, did my first motor at age 14. it actually worked. LOL. and i thank God every day for a mechinical mind. but now iam geten to old ta do it, big stresser fer me. but on the other hand thats why i now ride kawasaki, not being an agressive rider maintence is very minimal. if i could find parts fer my ole guzzi ied give it another go. i got er wore out. 

[chief]

Yeah, finding the right wrench can be a PITA sometimes.

I once took my bike over to the biggest Honda/Kaw/etc dealer in the area to have new tires put on. I always buy tires from a dealer and let them install... EASIEST of jobs when you have the tools.
On a trip to see my daughter in the hospital (about 50 miles)... every time I'd apply the brakes the front brake would make a hell of a noise... I looked at it. I had a dealer in-route look at it... nothing = though I did note grooving in the rotor. So I decided to replace the brake pads... shouldn't need it at that mileage, but...
When I set about removing the caliper I found the dealer's wrench had stripped out the caliper threading, so every time I applied the brake, the caliper twisted and metal to metal contact was made. I had to replace the caliper. I took the pieces to the dealer service dept. They asked me what I wanted them to do about it... I simply said RETRAIN your mechanics on torque procedures... have never had any mechanic work done there again....

[racemom91]

So, I took my 800 to the dealer to have the valves ran - routine maintenance, right?

Bike ran great when I took it in, but since I don't know how to do that myself I scheduled that along with checking all the rim spokes and the air suction valve.  Of course I'm super paranoid about letting anyone else work on my bike since their incompetence could potentially cost me my life, but my husband convinced me that the dealership in Ohio only has 1 mechanic, who is older, and it would be fine.  1 mechanic = 1 person to talk to and 1 person responsible for the work.  An older mechanic means lots of experience, not a kid fresh out of tech school........

Dealership called early this week said everything went great!  I waited to pick bike up until today, since it was sunny and 45' here in Indiana, thought I would ride it home....Thank goodness I didn't take a trailer over or I would not have noticed the very distinct "tick, tick, tick" noise that my bike NOW makes!  WTF?!  Obviously they are getting to do their work over, but now I'm scared to death that it still won't be right or that the chain they tensioned (without me requesting it) won't be done right, etc. and so on!

Just needed to vent.........and ask if anyone would recommend someone in NE Indiana or NW Ohio for future technical needs I may have?

Thanks for listening!  Aaargh!