What did you do to your bike today?

Double oil change day. Two bikes done.

First job , removed exhaust from GS125 as blowing again, after 20 years the hidden side is looking pretty bad. Wire brushed the loose rust off.

Patched holes and will paint tomorrow ready for work Monday night.

Second job, whilst exhaust off clean and re oil the winter crud from the rear brake switch and brake rod.

Before

After

Finally, Fit my new inlet rubbers to the Z500 head.

All fdne and replated clips fitted

Fairly minor thing compared with the above. but have just received a lighter plug/USB and lead, fired the bike up.. put the plug into the power socket. it lit up (success) and then plugged the phone in and it began to charge.

so, I can now keep the phone charged up while galumphing around the Alps. in 60 days time.

Also had an email and the top box I ordered should be with me quite soon, its en route from Bulgaria.

I rang the garage and arranged I will drop the bike down in the morning. New plan is to put it all back together again early in the morning, the drive it there.

Open the garage, looked at the bike, closed the garage :(

Took it for a 120 mile jolly round the North Staffs moors (A favourite)

Abbots Bromley, Alton, Oakamoor, Ashbourne, Winster, Darley Dale and Matlock (which was heaving - I didnt stop)

Roads round Alton were fantastic with the Theme Park shut.. its normally a place to avoid.

only place i did stop was at Abbots Bromley.. lovely little place

Broke another mirror , this is now the second in two years of ownership, barely even touched and the arm snapped, Ducati really need to start putting some decent quality mirrors on their bikes, or,novel concept,ones that fold!.

Engine bars arrived. Dragged the box to the garage. That was enough for today.

Dropped it in for its service at Kawasaki. On about 6700 miles or so I think but was due a service so just told them to do the 7500 mile service. Goodbye £300 that’s on top of the £150 tyre last week

Dropped it in for its service at Kawasaki. On about 6700 miles or so I think but was due a service so just told them to do the 7500 mile service. Goodbye £300 that’s on top of the £150 tyre last week

£300? Is it a valve job?

Just ordered Grip Puppies!

Been meaning to order them for the last year but kept forgetting!

Dropped it in for its service at Kawasaki. On about 6700 miles or so I think but was due a service so just told them to do the 7500 mile service. Goodbye £300 that’s on top of the £150 tyre last week

 

£300? Is it a valve job?

This is the UK where we get raped of our hard earned! £300 including a valve service

At least double that

Dropped it in for its service at Kawasaki. On about 6700 miles or so I think but was due a service so just told them to do the 7500 mile service. Goodbye £300 that’s on top of the £150 tyre last week

 

£300? Is it a valve job?

 

This is the UK where we get raped of our hard earned! £300 including a valve service

At least double that

Holy shit!

strewth that sort of money i would be thinking it would be well on the way for a fresh bike

Ducati quoted me £337 for a 2 year/9000 miles service. About what I expected.

Ducati quoted me £337 for a 2 year/9000 miles service. About what I expected.

what is included in this service

Ducati quoted me £337 for a 2 year/9000 miles service. About what I expected.

 

what is included in this service

Not sure but probably just oil and filters Plus brake and clutch fluids. As I remember valve clearance is on 9000 miles.

Christ I'll do it for you for 137 quid that's daylight robbery....

it costs a lot to get the official Ducati stamp on the logbook

it costs a lot to get the official Ducati stamp on the logbook

Yeah sounds like the Ducati ink for the stamp must be the most expensive thing in the world to manufacture and buy....

Open the garage, looked at the bike, closed the garage :(

Should have left it at this point.

Decided to see if I could pair it to the bike to see how much effort it was going to take.

Became clear I needed to start stripping bits of fairing off - at which point things began dropping from nowhere. Clearly, they were falling from somewhere, but it may as well have been from another dimension.

Then it struck me I’d be needing to remove four engine bolts - and I have no torque wrench or settings.

Took me an hour just to remove half a fairing’s gubbins and work out how to fix it back together - even then I now have a spare bolt from who knows where!

Toughest job all afternoon? Summoning up the courage to book it in and pay someone who knows what they’re doing.

Open the garage, looked at the bike, closed the garage :(

 

Should have left it at this point.

Decided to see if I could pair it to the bike to see how much effort it was going to take.

Became clear I needed to start stripping bits of fairing off - at which point things began dropping from nowhere. Clearly, they were falling from somewhere, but it may as well have been from another dimension.

Then it struck me I’d be needing to remove four engine bolts - and I have no torque wrench or settings.

Took me an hour just to remove half a fairing’s gubbins and work out how to fix it back together - even then I now have a spare bolt from who knows where!

Toughest job all afternoon? Summoning up the courage to book it in and pay someone who knows what they’re doing.

That’s the magic, I don’t have to order spares, enough to remove few screws/bolts and here we are after putting all back in place always some spares remain.

Ducati quoted me £337 for a 2 year/9000 miles service. About what I expected.

 

what is included in this service

 

Not sure but probably just oil and filters Plus brake and clutch fluids. As I remember valve clearance is on 9000 miles.

Valve clearance is at 18000 miles and charges for that service are the wrong side of £500. As you say you pay for the stamp. Once it's out of warranty there's a guy in Cheltenham who specialises in Italian bikes and charges considerably less than dealers. There's a reason I don't get my tyres via the dealer etc. They are not cheap. Love the bike though.

Dropped it in for its service at Kawasaki. On about 6700 miles or so I think but was due a service so just told them to do the 7500 mile service. Goodbye £300 that’s on top of the £150 tyre last week

 

£300? Is it a valve job?

 

This is the UK where we get raped of our hard earned! £300 including a valve service

At least double that

Haha nope was a ‘bigger’ service. Think it’s because they replace spark plugs and they’re a bit of a pain to access maybe. £294 all in. (This was a Kawasaki main dealer too hence structured pricing)

i love the modern term at these garages SERVICING AT MENU PRICES the robbing B******S