Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record

For a young bike, especially through the warranty period those magical
dealer stamps are the be all and end all. Don't be disheartened by a few
buyers turning away because you've got nothing to show them from official
dealers. Unfortunatly it's on a list of buyer guides to look for dealer
stamps and so on because it's an easy standard to set. Forget your
personal history with dealers...some buyers unlike you, don't have a clue
when it comes to mechanicals so that little rubber stamp means the world
to them.

All your clearance measurements mean nothing to the guy, it's like you're
speaking Japanese to a Saharan tribesman.

Another buyer will come along.
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

 >I was surprised when one prospective buyer wouldn't look at the bike because it didn't have a dealer service record (other than the first service).
That could be common.


 >I do all my own service and maintenance and keep a meticulous written log of all work done on my bikes.
But some dont.


 > I record detail such as valve clearance measurements and shim thickness for reference at later servicing. The bikes are over serviced in terms of engine oil replacement intervals and, in some
 >cases, oil quality above that specified.
Sounds good.


 >The last second hand bike I bought had a full service record (from a major NSW BMW dealer) but on examination of the QA paint blobs on various
 >fasteners it was apparent that the following had never been done: valve clearances; fork oil replacement; coolant replacement, and brake fluid
 >replacement (battery was also dry).
You sound suprised that SOME dealers dont do what they charge thru the
ass for.

 >My personal experience with dealers has not been satisfactory ( lost screws, scratches, test ride thrashing with a cold engine, and lack of certainty that the job was done in accordance with the maintenance schedule).
 >Is a dealer service record really worth anything?
fuckin oath. Specially when under the warranty period and while new.
Thats the most important time in a bikes life.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

"ST1100" <nospam.TakeThisOut@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c8elln$306f$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
\
 > Is a dealer service record really worth anything?
 > Cheers
 >

Not to me...
But then, I'm rather like you when it comes to servicing.
Despite many people having doubts about workshops and their level of
competence, a bike sells quicker if the paperwork is stamped.
Just a sad fact of life.
Personally I know better and have seen some great bikes that were
owner-maintained way beyond what a dealer-workshop could do.
As mentioned, then there's the dreaded warranty issue...
cheers
pete<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

if you serviced the bike yourself during the warranty then unless youre a
qualified mechanic, its a pretty stupid thing to do. doesnt matter how much
you know, no one has verified that you do (thats what tafe is for).

dealers are shithouse when it comes to work. everyone knows it. and everyone
also knows that when you find a good one, stick to it. however dealers are
the first point of call for manufacturers, especially when their are product
recalls or defects in the bike (which your local backyard mechanic may not
know about).

a good backyard or small mechanic is worth his weight in gold. AFTER the
warranty has expired.

"ST1100" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.com> wrote in message
news:c8elln$306f$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
 > I am in the process of selling my 2 year old bike, one owner, just out of
 > warrantee with 25,000km.
 > I was surprised when one prospective buyer wouldn't look at the bike
because
 > it didn't have a dealer service record (other than the first service).
 > I do all my own service and maintenance and keep a meticulous written log
of
 > all work done on my bikes. I record detail such as valve clearance
 > measurements and shim thickness for reference at later servicing. The
bikes
 > are over serviced in terms of engine oil replacement intervals and, in
some
 > cases, oil quality above that specified.
 > The last second hand bike I bought had a full service record (from a major
 > NSW BMW dealer) but on examination of the QA paint blobs on various
 > fasteners it was apparent that the following had never been done: valve
 > clearances; fork oil replacement; coolant replacement, and brake fluid
 > replacement (battery was also dry).
 > I personally, would only accept the probability that the oil has been
 > changed during a dealer service and that in some cases many items are not
 > checked.
 > My personal experience with dealers has not been satisfactory ( lost
screws,
 > scratches, test ride thrashing with a cold engine, and lack of certainty
 > that the job was done in accordance with the maintenance schedule).
 > Is a dealer service record really worth anything?
 > Cheers
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

----- Original Message -----
From: "sardo numspa" <sardo.DeleteThis@numspa.com>
Newsgroups: aus.motorcycles
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 8:26 PM
Subject: Re: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record


 > if you serviced the bike yourself during the warranty then unless youre a
 > qualified mechanic, its a pretty stupid thing to do. doesnt matter how
 > much
 > you know, no one has verified that you do (thats what tafe is for).

The only warranty repairs I have required were made without reference to the
service history.
However, I agree major items (like a blown engine) will be looked at very
closely.
During the warranty period, I have always done my own service (after the
first) with the idea if anything goes wrong I can hopefully catch up on the
dealer services, "a bit late", and not have much of a problem. Perhaps I
have been lucky to have had only minor warranty claims, but I must have
saved thousands of dollars on dealer servicing, with the added bonus of
knowing exactly what has been done and when.
It is not only the dealer side, I can also do "on condition" monitoring of
certain items. For example, a dealer might replace brake pads at a service
because they assess that they won't last until the next scheduled service.
I can monitor that item and may get thousands of km more out of them before
replacement is really necessary. If I have been doing heaps of short trips
I will do a much earlier oil change, if I have covered long distances
touring I will extend the oil change to closer to that recommended
 >
 > dealers are shithouse when it comes to work. everyone knows it. and
 > everyone
 > also knows that when you find a good one, stick to it. however dealers are
 > the first point of call for manufacturers, especially when their are
 > product
 > recalls or defects in the bike (which your local backyard mechanic may not
 > know about).

Product recalls and manufacturer known defects are usually notified to the
owner by the retailer.
These items are rectified irrespective of service history or warranty
period.

 >
 > a good backyard or small mechanic is worth his weight in gold. AFTER the
 > warranty has expired.

 >
 > "ST1100" <nospam.DeleteThis@nospam.com> wrote in message
 > news:c8elln$306f$1@otis.netspace.net.au...
  >> I am in the process of selling my 2 year old bike, one owner, just out of
  >> warrantee with 25,000km.
  >> I was surprised when one prospective buyer wouldn't look at the bike
 > because
  >> it didn't have a dealer service record (other than the first service).
  >> I do all my own service and maintenance and keep a meticulous written log
 > of
  >> all work done on my bikes. I record detail such as valve clearance
  >> measurements and shim thickness for reference at later servicing. The
 > bikes
  >> are over serviced in terms of engine oil replacement intervals and, in
 > some
  >> cases, oil quality above that specified.
  >> The last second hand bike I bought had a full service record (from a
  >> major
  >> NSW BMW dealer) but on examination of the QA paint blobs on various
  >> fasteners it was apparent that the following had never been done: valve
  >> clearances; fork oil replacement; coolant replacement, and brake fluid
  >> replacement (battery was also dry).
  >> I personally, would only accept the probability that the oil has been
  >> changed during a dealer service and that in some cases many items are not
  >> checked.
  >> My personal experience with dealers has not been satisfactory ( lost
 > screws,
  >> scratches, test ride thrashing with a cold engine, and lack of certainty
  >> that the job was done in accordance with the maintenance schedule).
  >> Is a dealer service record really worth anything?
  >> Cheers
  >>
  >>
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

"JustALaway" <justalaway RemoveThis @hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:9f7002b123f07f8c90da81a37e0f8c64@localhost.talkaboutmotorcycles.com...
 > For a young bike, especially through the warranty period those magical
 > dealer stamps are the be all and end all. Don't be disheartened by a few
 > buyers turning away because you've got nothing to show them from official
 > dealers. Unfortunatly it's on a list of buyer guides to look for dealer
 > stamps and so on because it's an easy standard to set. Forget your
 > personal history with dealers...some buyers unlike you, don't have a clue
 > when it comes to mechanicals so that little rubber stamp means the world
 > to them.
 >
 > All your clearance measurements mean nothing to the guy, it's like you're
 > speaking Japanese to a Saharan tribesman.
 >
 > Another buyer will come along.

I hadn't thought of it that way, you're right - it is just another toaster,
video, tv etc to be turned ON. If it doesn't go - just take to the mender!
Cheers<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

There is not a single item in the servicing schedule of my bike (SV650K3)
until 24,000km that needs more than the ability to use spanners, plug
spanner, oil-filter wrench, and eyesight. Clearances are done at 24,000 km,
which will be about 12 months from new.

The warranty stipulates that warranty will be observed as long as the
scheduled checks, changes, and inspections are done. It also specifically
states that servicing does not need to be done by a dealer - which is just
as well because I'd never take it back there after the slackness of the
1,000km 'service'.

--
Conehead
"fuck for a moment there i was i was repyling to myself , very scary"
corks, in aus.motocyclses


"sardo numspa" <sardo DeleteThis @numspa.com> wrote in message
news:40ab3690$1@duster.adelaide.on.net...
 > if you serviced the bike yourself during the warranty then unless youre a
 > qualified mechanic, its a pretty stupid thing to do. doesnt matter how
much
 > you know, no one has verified that you do (thats what tafe is for).
 >
 > dealers are shithouse when it comes to work. everyone knows it. and
everyone
 > also knows that when you find a good one, stick to it. however dealers are
 > the first point of call for manufacturers, especially when their are
product
 > recalls or defects in the bike (which your local backyard mechanic may not
 > know about).
 >
 > a good backyard or small mechanic is worth his weight in gold. AFTER the
 > warranty has expired.
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

conehead wrote:

 > The warranty stipulates that warranty will be observed as long as the
 > scheduled checks, changes, and inspections are done. It also specifically
 > states that servicing does not need to be done by a dealer - which is just
 > as well because I'd never take it back there after the slackness of the
 > 1,000km 'service'.

It might stipulate that the work does not need to be done by a Suzuki dealer..
but if it's like the Honda warranty, it'll state that the work must be
performed by a qualified mechanic.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

speaking of services, can anyone recommend a mechanic in canberra? i
have the mechanical aptitude of a 2 year old, well on a good day
anyway, so home service is out of the question. i have been going to
eurotune but i don't think there is anyone out there who would
recomemnd them
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

haveyouseenmyant.TakeThisOut@telstra.com (me) wrote in
news:d717b987.0405201757.1caf458e@posting.google.com:

 > speaking of services, can anyone recommend a mechanic in canberra? i
 > have the mechanical aptitude of a 2 year old, well on a good day
 > anyway, so home service is out of the question. i have been going to
 > eurotune but i don't think there is anyone out there who would
 > recomemnd them

You can say that again!

Talk to Bruce at Bruce's Motorcycle Repairs, Grimwade St Mitchell, 6241-
1175. He's busy as, but he might manage the time for an ordinary service,
if that's what you're talking about; helping out ten-thumbed toddlers is
his bread and butter after all

From all accounts Rick in Weston is good too, but probably busier, and I
don't know him.

Gary

--
Wealth without Work
Pleasure without Conscience
Science without Humanity
Knowledge without Character
Politics without Principle
Commerce without Morality
Worship without Sacrifice

The Seven Deadly Sins of M.K. Gandhi<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

"Gary Woodman" <up.TakeThisOut@your.nose> wrote:
 >
 > From all accounts Rick in Weston is good too, but probably busier, and I
 > don't know him.

If that smooth-running 70,000km '96 ZX6 I scored a few months back is any
indication, the man's a faken masternaut.<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record 

"Nev.." <idiot.RemoveThis@mindless.com> wrote in message
news:40ACD51A.4DB6406@mindless.com...
 > conehead wrote:
 >
  > > The warranty stipulates that warranty will be observed as long as the
  > > scheduled checks, changes, and inspections are done. It also
specifically
  > > states that servicing does not need to be done by a dealer - which is
just
  > > as well because I'd never take it back there after the slackness of the
  > > 1,000km 'service'.
 >
 > It might stipulate that the work does not need to be done by a Suzuki
dealer..
 > but if it's like the Honda warranty, it'll state that the work must be
 > performed by a qualified mechanic.
 >
 > Nev..
 > '03 ZX12R

Nup. Just that it be done.

--
Conehead
"fuck for a moment there i was i was repyling to myself , very scary"
corks, in aus.motocyclses<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Selling Second Hand and Dealer Service Record