1050XT 600m service

[stealthtech]

Hi all

Just reached the 600m mark and the spanner light duly popped on. Has anyone got experience what’s involved on the first (600m) service?

I always said that, with my bikes, despite running a car workshop, I’m more than happy to let my dealer have the new one, and have a great local independent for the other (I’m a believer  in stick to what you know). We are all here to make a living. Having said that, I suspect the first service will be more basic (Suzuki did a 1000m service on their cars for a while, but more emphasis was on re-torquing bolts than fluid changes). I assume there will be an oil/ filter change, so I would like to buy the parts from my dealer to do the job myself, it’s just that I don’t want to miss any other important or critical stuff.

Thanks in advance, any help would be appreciated!!!

Regards Martyn

[kwackboy]

Your 600 mile service would mainly consist of an oil and filter change following by what's called a nut and bolt check to see nothing has worked loose after its original PDI, While this is done, the other fluids would have an eye cast over them along with checking your chain tension and tyre pressures.

Not every dealer/independent does the same, in all honesty you'll probably pay your dealer an extortionate amount of money for a basic oil/filter change just so you can keep a warranty that you'll unlikely need.     

[stealthtech]

Thanks for that, it’s pretty much what I thought. I know with lots of vehicles, and Suzuki were early with this, with cars any garage can do the job as long as genuine parts are used.....that kept the warranty intact. I’m happy to do the first one, but will feel better about having a ‘proper’ bike service for the main ones, by a proper bike garage.

Thanks for the reply !!!

Regards Martyn

[Andy_J]

If you do the servicing, will it not invalidate your Suzuki warranty? 

[UK_Vstrom650]

The only thing to bear in mind is that where as legally you can take your car to any garage for a service and it not affect the warranty, this does not apply to motorbikes and generally they need to be dealer serviced.
The last time I looked, Suzuki do allow any bike garage to do the service and it maintain the warranty (the FAQs on the website even said you don't need to use genuine parts), however Triumph for example will invalidate your warranty if the servicing is by a non-dealer. The exception to Suzuki related to when they were offering a three-year warranty. They said the extra 1 year was only on provision of dealer servicing, otherwise you only had the standard two-year warranty.

[hill100]

The selling dealer charged £75. Next service due in a year or 7500 more miles. As the bike comes with a good 3 year warranty; its one of the reasons I bought new, and after owning and dealer servicing a Ducati, I think its good value at Suzuki

[stealthtech]

Hmm.....that’s some interesting points. It’s that nagging part of your brain asking “What if”? I assumed bikes would be the same as cars, but glad someone could advise me it’s not the case. Although I love the Japanese brands reliability, I wouldn’t want to be the unlucky one who blew it when I needed it most. Maybe the way to go is bite the bullet and just get it dealer serviced for the first three, then let my independent have it. Thanks to everyone for taking the time here!!! Great collective advice 

Regards Martyn

[porter]

 What I do is let the dealer do the 600 miler that way I'm covered for the first year. Then if nothing is wrong with the bike I do the rest myself and take the chance. The vstrom 1000 is an easy bike to work on, one of the reasons I bought it. And after Triumph refusing warranty claims on a fully dealer serviced bike I'm sure any maker will not cover warranty on a home or independent serviced machine.

[Tusker]

I had my 600 mile service on The Kwacker done by dealer for the same reason, after that I went independent for the next one. I had a read of Kawasaki terms and conditions on line and came to the conclusion that any qualified "Bike Mechanic / Technician working for a VAT paying business using OE parts was acceptable and of course a stamp in the book.

[stealthtech]

Thanks for the replies !!! I’m going to ring the dealer Saturday to get a quote and get it booked in. Will be interesting to see what’s involved. I’ll be sure to post up results of the experience!!!

Regards Martyn

[SimonW]

The other thing to consider I guess is whether main dealer vs home/3rd party dealer servicing have a bearing on the resale value.

[stealthtech]

Not too worried by this, Simon. I love the bike, so will probably keep it long enough for that to not be a major issue, for me personally.

[porter]

No bearing on mine at all. But it is 5 years old now and 33k miles so it worth what its worth really.  I've taken it round the dealers here this last few weeks and there all offering similar prices, 3-3.5k. The lack of service history seemed to make no difference.

[SimonW]

It's good to know that home and third party dealer servicing has no effect then.

@stelathtech - I bet you don't keep it! I said the same thing about each one of my Stroms - the original 650, the mk2 and now the 2014 1000. Each time I bought one and thought this is it, Suzuki brought out a newer model which caught my eye.... :-)

[stealthtech]

Hmmm, I never considered that  !!!

[stealthtech]

Just to update and close the thread. Had the 1050XT first service with the dealer today. Decided to go with dealer servicing for the first three years, while in warranty. I’m in agreement with kwackboy, as posted above, I think it will be extortionate for the first three, but it is conditional of the third year warranty, as mentioned, I will hopefully never need, (but you NEVER know 🤔). Treating this experiment as a yardstick for the future. Now £188.50 lighter.

Thanks for all the replies !!!

Regards Martyn

[V-Twin]

You really only need 600 first service
1 year service
2nd year service, as your 3rd year service will be then out of warranty.
So you could service it yourself on its 3rd birthday.

Quote " Now £188.50"  What for oil/filter 1 hour labour??

[STORMY]

That’s interesting, so on the 1050 a little spanner icon illuminates on the dash is that correct, so the next Q is surly if you DIY it how do you extinguish the icon - it would drive me nuts if I couldn’t turn it off

[kwackboy]

Now £188.50 lighter.

  ouch ..!

But ... If you're happy ... That's all that matters 

[stealthtech]

@V Twin, that’s how I see it, too.

Yes, the spanner light illuminated top left of the display, service required. Found a resource online that should (hopefully) put the bike into dealer mode so you can reset the service interval indicator. A straight choice was, I run a garage, service it myself with genuine parts, stamp the book, or main dealer. I chose the latter as an experiment. I can book it through our garage, so will at least get the VAT back. Having been dealer trained (Suzuki cars for 14yrs+) I do, at least, recognise the patter. It is a 1.7hr service, only parts are oil and filter, and sundries (squirt of grease etc etc), so I get that also. I’m going to see how things go for 3 years. It’s the first time I’ve had a brand new vehicle of any sort. If, as expected, and all things being equal, Jap stuff does what it does and is bullet proof, I would have serious doubts about the need to take this route if I buy another new bike. Probably an expensive experiment, but for me an experiment none the less. Just monitoring the situation  !!!