2010 ZX6R. The wifes trackbike.

[weeksy]

Your bike is not about to spontaneously blow up cause the valve check is due in a bit.

In fact I'd not be at all surprised if the 15k check revealed none need doing.

But that doesn't mean we should just ignore servicing bikes. I get your point, but it needs stuff doing either way.

[Mr. Dazzle]

Sure...

But I have very little faith in dealers knowing what they're doing. In fact I have little faith in dealers doing anything at all for your £500

Unless it's someone you really really know and trust it's a waste of money IMO. Personally I'd just pay for the valve check and nothing else.

I get my car brakes etc changed by a dealer mostly cause I can't be arsed, but if I was genuinely concerned about everything being 100% I'd do it myself or find someone really good. I have no idea if you have the latter available.

[weeksy]

Sure...

But I have very little faith in dealers knowing what they're doing. In fact I have little faith in dealers doing anything at all for your £500

Unless it's someone you really really know and trust it's a waste of money IMO. Personally I'd just pay for the valve check and nothing else.

I get my car brakes etc changed by a dealer mostly cause I can't be arsed, but if I was genuinely concerned about everything being 100% I'd do it myself or find someone really good. I have no idea if you have the latter available.

Agreed, wasn't going to a dealer.

Was friendly "other" place. RPM Bikes in Northampton potentially.

Greenham Kawasaki wanted £830

[MingtheMerciless]

My ZX9R E1 needed a few done at its first valve check, which apparently was very unusual according to the dealer but I had track day'ed it four times which may have counted for it (again according to the dealer). Though it could just have been an outlier in the valve dept.

[Yorick]

Sure...

But I have very little faith in dealers knowing what they're doing. In fact I have little faith in dealers doing anything at all for your £500

Unless it's someone you really really know and trust it's a waste of money IMO. Personally I'd just pay for the valve check and nothing else.

I get my car brakes etc changed by a dealer mostly cause I can't be arsed, but if I was genuinely concerned about everything being 100% I'd do it myself or find someone really good. I have no idea if you have the latter available.

Agreed, wasn't going to a dealer.

Was friendly "other" place. RPM Bikes in Northampton potentially.

Greenham Kawasaki wanted £830

I had all my GSXRs done by D-Tech in Postcombe.

Ex-racer and ex Suzuki dealer man and more of an engineer that spannerman. Top bloke and I never paid more than about £150.

[Supermofo]

I'd get them done, but not until 15,000 miles. I can't remember hearing the last time a Jap bike blew up or had valve related issues. You've spent too long owning KTMs

[weeksy]

2020-09-07_03-13-02 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Yorick]

2020-09-07_03-13-02 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

Good body position. Relaxed. Looking where she wants to go.

[Beancounter]

It's done 2500 miles in our ownership which isn't excessive

And what's the worst that can happen if you don't get them done? [And I mean worst - could it go bang on track?]

IME, an exhaust valve can burn out reducing compression on that cylinder - can't remember if there was a bang as such but it was a then and now moment, no gradual notice of something getting worse..

I'd get them done, but not until 15,000 miles. I can't remember hearing the last time a Jap bike blew up or had valve related issues. You've spent too long owning KTMs

Ten years ago, my 1998 TDM850 mkII which had FDSH burned out an exhaust valve at 26,000 miles, despite the valve check having been done at 24,000 miles. I had only owned the bike for a few months so cannot comment on the period before my ownership except to say the paperwork was in order and I bought it off someone who came across as very genuine (a priest - not Makman). IIRC, all the exhaust valves were tight/out, inlets not so much.

[weeksy]

2020-09-13_05-23-38 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Skub]

Lots of bad vibes on the Yank forums about folk with exploding K&N oil filters. It hasn't happened me,but it did send me back to OE filters.

[KungFooBob]

Lots of bad vibes on the Yank forums about folk with exploding K&N oil filters. It hasn't happened me,but it did send me back to OE filters.

Yeah, they had a recall a few years back because the nut on the top would fall off and leave a gaping hole.

[mel]

Probably because lots of people used the nut to tighten it rather than its purpose to loosen it

[weeksy]

Exciting day... oil change. So a nice 3.5L of Castrol in there along with a new filter.

OK, so it wasn't that exciting... But my hands are dirty and smell like used engine oil, which is a nice thing.

[Supermofo]

smell like used engine oil, which is a nice thing.

It's strangely addictive isn't it.

[weeksy]

It seems tyres are our latest addiction. Another pair of 4 sessions used on track Sportsmart TT arrived yesterday for the ZX6R.

With the wife booking up several trackdays already for next year, we need to make sure we have resources.

In the loft space i've now got

2 pairs of Sportsmarts
1 pair of Dunlop 213GP
1 pair of Bridgestone S21 (new, for the XSR900)

[Mr. Dazzle]

Where do you get used tyres from?

[weeksy]

PErformance bikes forum.

There's a guy callled Marge who runs

https://www.trackbikehireuk.co.uk/

They came off his bikes.

Also from Mark Wilson at Rideinbiketyres in Reading.

I won't buy used unless i know where they come from and how much use they've had.

[Yorick]

I used to give them away

[weeksy]

I used to give them away

Even ones with less than 10 laps on ? That'd be silly wouldn't it. Sure when they're knackered they're binned or given away. But £320 tyres with less than 20 miles on them, they have a decent value.