Author Topic: Fazer Service (Read 4273 times)

frostman · « **on:** 17 December 2014, 01:02:23 am »

Hi
Not been on here for a while, passed my test in April 2014 went mad bought a fzs 1000 gen 1 and clocked up 5,000 miles over summer oh boy do i love the wolf in sheeps clothing. Yes i am a wuss bike has been sorn since middle of november and will remain so whilst roads and weather are bloody awefull.

Anyway bike has had one previous owner most of its service history and now has 23k on clock i know the main service is at 28k but lets be real its 12 years old and i was wondering what people think the major service would cost i am talking abot the one with valve clearances.

F

Anquetil · « **Reply #1 on:** 17 December 2014, 08:11:39 am »

Service is due at 40,000 kms, 24854 miles. Mine is due in 2015 and I have been told that it's going to be between £500 and £600.

fazed · « **Reply #2 on:** 17 December 2014, 12:08:40 pm »

I understand that the valve clearances at the first check at 24k miles often show that no change is necessary so if that's the case (and I do understand that this may not be a cast iron thing for all fazers) it's a dubious spend for a machine that in my case cost 3k when I bought it.......I guess that the key thing is you'll never know whether you need it until you have it done in which case you've spent it anyway - bummer!

old son · « **Reply #3 on:** 17 December 2014, 12:36:49 pm »

My Gen 1 is on 80k miles and never had a valve check.

fazed · « **Reply #4 on:** 17 December 2014, 12:40:35 pm »

Quote from: old son on 17 December 2014, 12:36:49 pm

My Gen 1 is on 80k miles and never had a valve check.

So how does it run/perform?

Tmation · « **Reply #5 on:** 17 December 2014, 12:59:29 pm »

As Fazed says 24 K miles is the big service.

What sort of history is with the bike, what has been done previously?

The manual tells you what to do, but.

If it was my bike and the previous owner couldn't provide any information, I would be changing the fork oil, brake fluid, coolant, clean or replace air filter, change spark plugs, change oil and filter, go through and clean all electrical connections, check and grease all the swinging arm and suspension bushes and bearing, check all the wheel bearings, clean all the calipers and brake pads, lubricate all control cables, strip, clean and lubricate the EXUP valve and check the valve clearances. Once that is all finished run the bike and balance the carbs, £500 - £600 easily at a dealers (who won't do half of it). There are smaller independent service places or guys working from home, go on advice from previous users.

You might find the rear shock is well past its best £80-£150 will see it rebuilt by a specialist

If your bike is off road for the winter, get a manual (Haynes is better than the Yam one if you are not a trained mechanic) and work your way through the jobs on evenings and weekends. You will learn loads about your bike and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself.

Oh BTW checking the valves is easy, pulling the cams to change the shims is not for the faint hearted.

Good luck

esetest · « **Reply #6 on:** 17 December 2014, 06:02:20 pm »

Get price just for a valve check , and do the rest of the servicing yourself .

PieEater · « **Reply #7 on:** 17 December 2014, 08:51:41 pm »

I'm in agreement with what Tmation has posted. It would be worthwhile doing the service items yourself, that way you know that they have been done and properly and you will learn a lot about your bike and how to look after it.

Most owners report that the valves are all within tolerances at the 25k service and I found this to be the case myself. As Tmation stated it's fairly easy to check these if you take your time and work methodically. If you follow the Haynes manual it will tell you that you need to remove the carbs, this is incorrect, you can remove the rocker cover and check the clearances with the carbs in place.

old son · « **Reply #8 on:** 18 December 2014, 08:06:51 am »

Quote from: fazed on 17 December 2014, 12:40:35 pm

Quote from: old son on 17 December 2014, 12:36:49 pm
My Gen 1 is on 80k miles and never had a valve check.

So how does it run/perform?

A slight ticking noise when first started, that goes after a few seconds and after that runs fantastic.

eddie · « **Reply #9 on:** 18 December 2014, 09:38:05 pm »

53k 1st valve check all in tolerance, new choke cable carb balance exup checked 340 quid and all the seals changed on coolent pipes ,new coolent

MEM62 · « **Reply #10 on:** 19 December 2014, 02:02:12 pm »

Quote from: fazed on 17 December 2014, 12:08:40 pm

I understand that the valve clearances at the first check at 24k miles often show that no change is necessary so if that's the case (and I do understand that this may not be a cast iron thing for all fazers) it's a dubious spend for a machine that in my case cost 3k when I bought it.......I guess that the key thing is you'll never know whether you need it until you have it done in which case you've spent it anyway - bummer!

I have always tried to separate the consideration of machine value and servicing costs. If your bike is a good'un then keep it so by looking after it. Besides, the point of servicing is to keep the bike running well so that it is safe and enjoyable to ride. Bikes will depreciate in value (or most will at least) with age but does that mean that it is any less of a bike. ie Would you only spend on servicing while there is a high residual value in the bike? No, it doesn't make sense.

fireblake · « **Reply #11 on:** 19 December 2014, 07:28:23 pm »

I had my valve check done at 28,000 and they were spot on. I was charged £70. Chuffed to bits and at that price I'll get them done at 48,000 or whatever the next time it's due

SkidT · « **Reply #12 on:** 20 December 2014, 08:27:18 am »

I had exactly the same dilemma years ago with the first valve clearance. Having researched plenty on this forum, I finally decided to grab the bull by the horns and have a go at checking them myself.

Dealers were wanting a small fortune and the general opinion was that like most on here, they knew they wouldn't need doing. Therefore it was felt that they probably wouldn't even bother looking, BUT would still charge as if they had.

As stated, get a Haynes manual, ignore the bit about taking the Carbs off and have a go.

It was by trying this that I embarked on my first tentative steps towards maintaining my own bikes and gradually building up my tool collection. I now do most of my own general maintenance, saving myself a fortune over the years.

I don't touch electrics and if I get stuck, then I bite the bullet and take it to my local bike mechanic and pay for him to sort it. If I'm able, I stay and watch and hopefully learn something in the process.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

fazed · « **Reply #13 on:** 20 December 2014, 12:49:12 pm »

Quote from: MEM62 on 19 December 2014, 02:02:12 pm

Quote from: fazed on 17 December 2014, 12:08:40 pm
I understand that the valve clearances at the first check at 24k miles often show that no change is necessary so if that's the case (and I do understand that this may not be a cast iron thing for all fazers) it's a dubious spend for a machine that in my case cost 3k when I bought it.......I guess that the key thing is you'll never know whether you need it until you have it done in which case you've spent it anyway - bummer!

I have always tried to separate the consideration of machine value and servicing costs. If your bike is a good'un then keep it so by looking after it. Besides, the point of servicing is to keep the bike running well so that it is safe and enjoyable to ride. Bikes will depreciate in value (or most will at least) with age but does that mean that it is any less of a bike. ie Would you only spend on servicing while there is a high residual value in the bike? No, it doesn't make sense.

My thinking is that if the bike is worth say 3k and this check will cost me 500 I might be better off selling it as paying 1/6th of its original value on 1 sevice doesn't seem economic in comparison toliquidating the value and buying something that doesn't (yet) need that level of expenditure - the 'economic man' in me coming out I think! Hoever the anecdotal evidence seems to say that as long as oil and filters are looked after the valves seem to look after themselves.......at 3k v 500 I think I might take the risk.

slappy · « **Reply #14 on:** 20 December 2014, 07:02:28 pm »

If you sell the bike and the buyer knows anything about fazers they will know it needs an expensive service, so instead of 3k you would probably get only 2.5k.

The Male Whale · « **Reply #15 on:** 21 December 2014, 09:19:48 am »

I agree that the valves rarely need adjusting.

A stamp in the book to say they have been done is a must though if you want a knowledgeable buyer to part with his coin.

To do a major service for us £200 (4 hours) plus the parts. Oil, filter, plugs, air filter, brake fluid and coolant.

May be a bit more if the Exup is focced and needs more than just the normal strip, clean and adjust. Many of them are.....

And we DO the work we bill for....

Whale

MEM62 · « **Reply #16 on:** 24 December 2014, 11:07:25 am »

My thinking is that if the bike is worth say 3k and this check will cost me 500 I might be better off selling it as paying 1/6th of its original value on 1 sevice doesn't seem economic in comparison toliquidating the value and buying something that doesn't (yet) need that level of expenditure - the 'economic man' in me coming out I think! Hoever the anecdotal evidence seems to say that as long as oil and filters are looked after the valves seem to look after themselves.......at 3k v 500 I think I might take the risk.
[/quote]

As a long term policy I am not sure this pans out. The additional losses on regularly buying and selling bikes based only on whether they need an expensive service will be added to the risk factor of buying a machine that well have unknown faults that could also be expensive. If you have decent bike that you know to be in good condition just bite the bullet and look after it. Even the effects of depreciation are reduced by longer term ownership. Its a win-win situation.

Falcon 269 · « **Reply #17 on:** 24 December 2014, 11:48:03 am »

I guess the questions you need to ask are:

How much do you like the Fazer?

What's the general condition of the bike?

If this service wasn't looming in your mind, how long do you think you'd be keeping the Fazer?

Could you/would you have a go at DIY servicing? Seriously, the Fazer is one of the easiest to work on and you could learn a lot to save yourself many hundreds of pounds in the years to come.

fazed · « **Reply #18 on:** 24 December 2014, 07:03:41 pm »

Yes I do the basic maintenance stuff myself (oil filters plugs etc) so it's the specific of what may be a 'wasted' spend of hundreds of pounds that irks me. Do I like the bike - yes I do and basically for an 02 it's in good shape and has low miles on it and it's been good to ride (second one I've had) I'm pleased with it and I know that the decision to buy or sell doesn't hinge on just this one issue but I was brought up not to waste money and paying hundreds to be told yes it's fine and doesn't need anything just p****s me off! I'll probably hang on to it for another 20k and take another view then......there that seems to have sorted it in my mind - thanks all for crystallising it in my mind
Merry Xmas & a prosperous and healthy new year to you all!

Falcon 269 · « **Reply #19 on:** 25 December 2014, 08:31:33 am »

It's a keeper, then. Good.

The chances of the valve clearances being out of spec are low, as has already been said. However, I would never counsel ignoring a major service item like that.

To check them yourself might take a few hours but you could take the opportunity to permanently remove the AIS while you're at it (it has to be removed to get the valve cover off) and actually measuring the clearances is pretty simple. Most likely the results will put your mind at rest for the next 24k miles and if all's well at 50k miles, odds are that they'll stay good for many thousands more.

Merry Xmas to you, too.