Sorry, this is a repost from another forum I frequent. But, I'd like to see what the folks here have to say.
Note, I am not referring to our GS bikes...I am referring to modern designs. While I know that our GS-es are very easy to work on (valves in one hour? Only here...) I am talking about modern sport bikes for the most part.
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I've worked on my friends Kawi ZX-6 and also on my GSX-R. I've noticed that suzuki has a few little "tricks" that make it easier to work on, such as the hinged gas tank, holes in the frame to important hard-to-access screws, throttle cable on the side of carbs instead of in middle, etc. Kawi seems not so nice in this respect. Note that these bikes are both pre-2000 so this is from a while ago. But how are the big four now-a-days as far as servicing? Are any dramatically different from the others?
I just changed the oil and flushed the cooling system on my 2000 GSX-R in under an hour. You don't actually have to remove the fairings to change the oil, but I went ahead seeing as I was flushing the cooling system anyway. The hinged gas tank is definitely a nice touch and so far everything seems very accesable for normal maintenance.
harley tc88 engines, ( any make, can have a tranny r&r done in under an hour, valves as well, etc etc etc
Oh yea, they can, however most harley owners dont know their allen wrench from a hole in the ground, and hence the dealers charge them 1 arm, 2 legs and most of their teeth.
Cool.
Srinath.
I worked on friends ZX6E and it's a PITA to service and work on ,don't know about the new ones though
OK I agree on the kawi vs suzuki thing. Just about part for part suzi was built to be taken apart and put back easier. Honda I'd almost say is worse than kawi. I have however only had 2 hondas. Kawi's I have had plenty of. Yamaha and suzuki are close IMHO ... though there the edge I'd give to suzuki still, but yamaha actuall built more bikes with "redemming qualities". Like a Maxim 700/750, suzuki's GS series was a freaking freight train compared to the maxim, the seca vs Bandit, again more power to the bandit and heck of a lot more cool accessories, however seca is lighter and lower for most of that weight and easier to work on, and a seca gets blown away by yamaha's own radian IMHO.
Anyway, Yamaha built more inspired bikes in the 80's and 90's.
Cool.
Srinath.
My Kawi is a pain in the arse, everything involves taking fairings off, the tank is not hinged so has to be lifted but to disconnect the fuel lines you need 2 people or a miricle, They arnt long enough to stand the tank at an angle you can pull them off so you need someone to pull them off while you hover the tank ideally. Some idiot designed the oil filter so it is encased by the header pipes. You try heating up your engine to loosen the oil and then get your hand between engine and header pipes to unscrew oil filer = no fun at all.
I must say though all these annoying things are like that becuase it is a tiny bike (physically) yet one of the fastest sportsbikes about.
But my all time favorite winner for most unservicable bike wins hands down without any competition. BMW. Any BMW. Even the GS's from the long way round series', if you want to do anything more than change your tyres your in for a long job.
BMW has invented a special tool for doing nearly everything, a computer system built into bikes which means you need to take it to a garage to get fault codes read. The bikes internals are fitted in so tight your into heating up spanners and making your own tools to unbolt things. My dad actually sold his BMW because he was so fed up of how difficult it was to work on. So many electrics, so many special tools needed, parts cost more than all your teeth, arms and legs put together and BMW just want you to take it into their garage where they charge an abject fortune for stuff like oil changes. This is all because they reckon BMW owners have more money than sense!
Ahh yes! Gotta love a machine that requires special tools. :icon_rolleyes:
That's why I like the GS. I can fix anything on it with a little toolbag, a roll of safety wire, and zip ties.
Quote from: GeeP on December 30, 2007, 12:31:57 AM
Ahh yes! Gotta love a machine that requires special tools. :icon_rolleyes:
That's why I like the GS. I can fix anything on it with a little toolbag, a roll of safety wire, and zip ties.
Exactly, you want a bike that can be fixed on the road with a basic set of essentials like you mention, and a bike that when more susbstantial work needs doing you still only need a relatively basic set of tools.
BMW bleh they probably make their tool set to work on their bikes.