4 stroke dirt bike servicing cost
Posted on May 8, 2008
Filed Under Maintenance |
I recently purchased a 2008 Honda CRF450R and after four hours of riding, took it back to the dealer for its first service. The mechanic at the dealership changes the oil and filter, check the valve clearances and check the tension of various part of the bike. I was charged $230 for this service and told that I would have to bring the bike back for servicing after every 5 hours of riding.
Well if this is true then it would cost me at least $60 an hour to ride my new thumper. This is not something I can afford to do so I asked around for some advice and if this was the norm. I was firstly directed to check my owners manual to see what it said. The manual states that the engine oil and filter should be changed and the valve clearances checked after every 15 hours. I have been sent a supplement to the owners manual that states the oil should be changed after every 7 hours of riding under race conditions.
The general advice I was given was that unless you are a pro rider wringing every last ounce of power out of your 450 and spending a lot of time in the upper rev range then your valves are going to need adjustment a lot less frequently than even 15 hours. Some had the valves checked after every 3 to 6 months it was also suggested that adjusting the valve clearances was only essential once the bike is hard to start or backfiring a lot. Do make sure you clean your air filter after every ride.
The majority of riders recommended doing the oil and filter changes yourself, make sure you have a torque wrench to re tighten anything you remove with the correct tension. Don’t be afraid to load your bike on the trailer and take it to your mechanic if you get stuck. Read your owners manual for instructions and don’t try anything you aren’t comfortable doing yourself. If you can, find someone who has experience doing the basic maintenance tasks you need to do to walk you through it the first time so you know what to look out for. My brother had the unpleasant experience of somebody at the service center putting an oil filter in back to front which resulted in a rebuild of the engine.
The are videos on youtube which show maintenance tasks, like changing the oil and filter. like the one below…
When it comes to adjusting the valve clearances shop around for the best price but make sure the mechanic you choose has some credibility.
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