Motorcycle servicing and repair

Bike servicing follows a schedule like a car's, but the intervals are shorter and the list is different: chain and sprockets, brake fluid, valve clearances on many engines, and the tyres, which wear faster than a car's.

What motorcycle servicing means

Most independent bike shops will service any make.

What the job covers

Scheduled servicing and valve clearances
Chain, sprocket and brake work
Tyre fitting and wheel balancing
Carburettor and fuel-injection tuning
Winter storage preparation

When you might need it

The mileage or the date in the handbook has come round.
The chain is noisy, stiff in places, or the adjusters have run out of travel.
The bike has been stood over winter and needs checking before it goes back on the road.

What it costs, and what changes the price

Typically £90 to £350.

Interval size. A minor service is far less than one that includes valve clearances.
Engine layout, since some fairings and tanks have to come off to reach anything.
Chain and sprockets are usually replaced as a set.

How long it takes

A minor service is a couple of hours. A major one with valve clearances can be a full day.

Common questions

How often does a chain need adjusting?

Every few hundred miles is normal, and it takes minutes. A chain left loose wears the sprockets quickly.

Do I need a main dealer to keep the warranty?

No, on the same basis as cars: the schedule must be followed and the parts must match the specification.

Is winter storage preparation worth it?

Fresh oil, a charged battery and a treated chain cost little and prevent most of the problems that appear in spring.