Do I have to take it to the dealer? Just kidding thats not my question...I have about 1200 mi on the bike now and I can't get my service done for another month. Should I give it an oil change before I take it in. Or is it safe to go around 1700 mi without it's first oil change? I'm putting around 500mi a month now or more. I'm starting to ride it all the time. I just don't want to throw away 100 bucks on an oil change if I don't have to.

Do I have to take it to the dealer? Just kidding thats not my question...I have about 1200 mi on the bike now and I can't get my service done for another month. Should I give it an oil change before I take it in. Or is it safe to go around 1700 mi without it's first oil change? I'm putting around 500mi a month now or more. I'm starting to ride it all the time. I just don't want to throw away 100 bucks on an oil change if I don't have to.

You know to change your own oil, even with something expensive like M1 or Harley Synth it's gonna cost you like an hour of your time and less than $50...

That said :shhhh don't tell anyone, but I once went 2k miles before the first change.

Still I'd probably do an oil change now if I were you.

Dozens of other paranoid people will now chime in to tell you how they changed their oil at 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 miles and their motor will last forever and yours is now trashed.

Oh, and why take it to the dealer at all - for $100 you can buy the oil, some spare gaskets, the filter AND a factory manual - then do it yourself.

Dozens more less paranoid people will echo that last sentiment.

Ride safe,

Kev

do it yourself. save some bucks and get rid of the paranoya at the same time.

Congrats on your new scoot. Do the maintenance when it's due. It won't hirt to wait but that starts you down the wrong road. I work on electro-mechanical equipment for a living and I take mine to the dealer because I'm lazy and would rather be riding my other scoot. Did all my own work the first 30 years.

I had the dealer do my 1k and 2.5k services because they was free. Then I found this site and do everything myself. I'm kinda sticking it to myself because I opted for the 5 year warranty, but eh, oh well.

I had the dealer do my 1k and 2.5k services because they was free.

NOTHING is free and "life is pain - anyone who tells you different is selling you something"

uhh, anyway, I mean - NOTHING is free - if you get a "free" service at the dealer, they hid the cost in the original purchase price.

Kev

NOTHING is free and "life is pain - anyone who tells you different is selling you something"

uhh, anyway, I mean - NOTHING is free - if you get a "free" service at the dealer, they hid the cost in the original purchase price.

Kev

Would you like a copy of my invoice? Besides MSRP, taxes, title and 5 year warranty, no mention of the service charges.

Is it that hard to believe a dealer is actually honest and appreciates their customers?

Would you like a copy of my invoice? Besides MSRP, taxes, title and 5 year warranty, no mention of the service charges.

Is it that hard to believe a dealer is actually honest and appreciates their customers?

You already said the MAGIC WORDS -

5 year warranty - that's a huge profit margin for the dealer.

So yes, like I said, you paid for it.

FYI - lots of dealers do things like that - upsell a warranty or some other money-maker and throw the service in "free."

You didn't mention, so I'll assume you didn't pay freight or prep?

any discount on parts?

Kev

I just had my 1K service done by a local shop. Plan on doing most stuff myself from now on, but thought it wise to take to a 'real motorcycle' shop for the first look-see to make sure everything was doing alright and I wouldn't miss anything. The dealer wanted $385 for the 1K, the local shop charged me $187. Still feels like a lot for basically an oil and tranny fluid change, but they did check everything and I feel better. I will be putting synthetic in when I change next time.

Now to score a service manual. Anyone know where to get one reasonably??

I had 1300 miles on mine before getting an oil change. Luckily for me I got my first oil change free.

The 1K service is a no brainer.
Do it yourself using the money you save to buy the factory manual and tools.
Now you know it's done right.
If it ain't, you just do it again.
And again until it is right.
Just like at the dealer.

All dealers are thiefs and charlotans just like all bikers deal in meth and are outlaws! If your dealership provides your bike with excellent service you're happy with, by all means utilize them. The first service is more than the oil change they'll do; they'll also perform several other inspections and adjustments which could prevent problems further on. The other thing is the warrantly: check with the dealership about doing the service yourself. Some just need receipts for the parts to honor it for DIY projects.

You know to change your own oil, even with something expensive like M1 or Harley Synth it's gonna cost you like an hour of your time and less than $50...

That said :shhhh don't tell anyone, but I once went 2k miles before the first change.

Still I'd probably do an oil change now if I were you.

Dozens of other paranoid people will now chime in to tell you how they changed their oil at 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 miles and their motor will last forever and yours is now trashed.

Oh, and why take it to the dealer at all - for $100 you can buy the oil, some spare gaskets, the filter AND a factory manual - then do it yourself.

Dozens more less paranoid people will echo that last sentiment.

Ride safe,

Kev

AGREED !! *( Does this make me Non Paranoid? I hopes so I was really getting scared !!..:wonderlan)

Would you like a copy of my invoice? Besides MSRP, taxes, title and 5 year warranty, no mention of the service charges.

Is it that hard to believe a dealer is actually honest and appreciates their customers?

:laugh:laugh Thats like saying "An Honest Lawyer" !!...:wonderlan

I changed it myself at 250, had Harley do it again at 500 when I brought it in for some other work, and they'll change it again at the 1k service. I'd go ahead and do a change yourself right now, or have them do it if you'd like to have it on record.

No, I'm not normally so paranoid with my oil.

Dealer did my first service a couple of days ago. I'm having some problems with the transmission, so I wanted to get it on record for the warranty. I have the service manual and plan to do my own work once the dealer squares away the tranny.

I rode mine out of the dealer and never looked back.
The first thing I bought for my bike, as with all of my vehicles, was the service manual.
It cost a little more than other service manuals I've bought but it paid for it's self several times over by now.
The golden rule is experience and comfort level. If you feel comfortable working on machines and you can be honest with yourself about when your in over your head then go for it. I always read the service manual procedure all the way through before making the decision of whether a particular job is worth doing myself but I think about the following check list first:

1. Will it require knowledge or skills that are over my head?
2. Will it require special tools that cost too much to make it worth it if I only do this job once or twice in a lifetime? (Example: machine shop equipment)
3. Am I willing to accept that I could screw this up and spend more than just taking it to the shop in the first place? (not the norm but possible on some jobs).

Once I get past the check list it's a win/win situation. If I successfully complete it I walk away with knowledge and experience. If I screw it up I walk away with knowledge and experience.

Dozens of other paranoid people will now chime in to tell you how they changed their oil at 10, 50, 100, 200, 500 miles and their motor will last forever and yours is now trashed.

:roflblack

Some days I login just to read your responses...