So, for those keeping track, I just got my 2007 GS500F less than a week ago. I got it with just under 1200 miles on it. Now, the bike looks and feels fine to me but I have no idea what service has been done to it yet.

I do not have a DIY service manual (yet) as I'm trying to make sure that I get the right one, which doesn't seem to exist yet. The closest I've found on these pages and the interwebs, is this:
http://www.haynes.com/products/sfID1/8/sfID2/9/sfID3/77/productID/409
I'd like to use the Clymer but the newest one only goes up to 2002.


In any case, I'd like to get the initial service done since I don't know if it has been done yet. I know it's supposed to be done at 600 miles but my thought is, better late than never.
I don't want to wait to get a manual and find out that I don't have the tools to do the jobs or find that I'm incapable of doing them which will delay any more riding. I still plan on getting the manual and do what ever repairs/maintenance I think I can handle but I want to feel confident that the initial service is done and done right.

I went to a Suzuki dealer/service shop and asked how much it would be to have all that's listed here, done. The guy took a look at the list and estimated around $350.

Does this sound about right for parts and labor for this job? I have no idea. I don't mind shelling out the money if it's going to get done right and I'm not getting ripped off. I don't have much in the way of tools besides some basic essentials that I've gotten over the years of owning a house but that's about it.

Sounds like the normal highway robbery ...  ... as opposed to the extreme highway robbery ... where it costs 1500 bucks.
Cool.
Buddha.

Thats about right...  i believe the dealer got me around 315 or something here on the west coast in seattle.  Thats if they dont bs with you and tell you that your valve need adjusting.. then it will cost more..but from what i hear.. that should never happen during the first initial maintenance.

Quote from: poostik on November 18, 2008, 07:24:00 PM
So, for those keeping track, I just got my 2007 GS500F less than a week ago. I got it with just under 1200 miles on it. Now, the bike looks and feels fine to me but I have no idea what service has been done to it yet.

I do not have a DIY service manual (yet) as I'm trying to make sure that I get the right one, which doesn't seem to exist yet. The closest I've found on these pages and the interwebs, is this:
http://www.haynes.com/products/sfID1/8/sfID2/9/sfID3/77/productID/409
I'd like to use the Clymer but the newest one only goes up to 2002.


In any case, I'd like to get the initial service done since I don't know if it has been done yet. I know it's supposed to be done at 600 miles but my thought is, better late than never.
I don't want to wait to get a manual and find out that I don't have the tools to do the jobs or find that I'm incapable of doing them which will delay any more riding. I still plan on getting the manual and do what ever repairs/maintenance I think I can handle but I want to feel confident that the initial service is done and done right.

I went to a Suzuki dealer/service shop and asked how much it would be to have all that's listed here, done. The guy took a look at the list and estimated around $350.

Does this sound about right for parts and labor for this job? I have no idea. I don't mind shelling out the money if it's going to get done right and I'm not getting ripped off. I don't have much in the way of tools besides some basic essentials that I've gotten over the years of owning a house but that's about it.

lessie, $350, yep, sounds about right. i'd bet they estimated low, and you'll end up paying more like $400 -425 for an oil change. oh, and they'll test the suspension by jumping on it. and rev it to 11,000 rpm.

that's worth $400, right ?

you can do it yourself. get a copy of the rebuild manual, and follow the instructions. things you may need to do are:

adjust chain
adjust valves (maybe, not likely)
adjust idle (10 seconds for anyone with opposible thumbs)
check each and every nut/bolt on the bike ( a little longer, but you might find something else that needs attention)
tire pressure/tire condition (1 minute)

there, now go spend that $400 on some gooooood riding leathers. you've earned it !

(welcome to the forum)

My dealer's service manager estimated the initial service to be about $200.00 for going through the check list of things they are supposed to do.  That is an expensive oil and filter change, I said to her.  She said they went by the book and would do the whole list.  Before going in, I checked about everything myself, except for the valve clearances and I could not get the rear wheel assembly to break loose for proper tensioning and it was out of alignemnt.  I took a touch-up paint "pen" with clear-coat and marked the edge seams of several of the screws that had to be rmoved to do check the valves and chnge oil/filter.  I told them the rear axle would not slide to adjust the chain properly.  The final cost was $212.00.  The clear coat was cracked on every bolt marked.  The oil was new and the oil drain plug was dripping a bit.  The oil filter cover had been removed.  The rear axle was still frozen and the chain had not been aligned, although they said it had been.  I broke the rear axle free and aligned the chain/wheel myself and that will the last trip to the dealer for this bike.  I am surprised at myself for taking it that first time -- my Glodwing has never been in the shop and its 6 years old with high miles.

prs

i had my oil changed and carbs cleaned and it came to about ~$250.

the receipt they gave me billed the service at like $100/hr or something like that. craziness! 

i change my own oil for only the cost of oil and 15-30 mins of my time. 

i don't have a garage because of the location where i live, so i'm forced to go to the shop for any big projects. sad. 

thanks for all the feedback.

i just ordered the Haynes manual. I hope my opposable thumbs are in working order.

Beer and pizza ... there has to be a forum member who will do these for beer and pizza ... I know I will ... you're not by charlotte NC are you ...
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on November 19, 2008, 11:46:05 AM
Beer and pizza ... there has to be a forum member who will do these for beer and pizza ... I know I will ... you're not by charlotte NC are you ...
Cool.
Buddha.

I'd love to have this option.

As far as Charlotte, NC goes . . . Me and the misses have been looking at houses down there and raleigh (in that order).

Quote from: The Buddha on November 19, 2008, 11:46:05 AM
Beer and pizza ... there has to be a forum member who will do these for beer and pizza ... I know I will ... you're not by charlotte NC are you ...
Cool.
Buddha.

+1 

That's Buddha doing the work and me drinking the beer. 

Throw it in front of an old lady and sue her. Get a new bike and maintenance all for free.

Can't believe you got a bike... You wheelie it yet? I know that's all you wanted it for. Shoulda got a Hayabusa.

Yeah, ~$350 seems to be the rate in the NY/NJ area.  That's what I was quoted here on LI.

At least they washed and cleaned the whole bike too.   

Quote from: Malatesta on November 19, 2008, 05:10:48 PM
Yeah, ~$350 seems to be the rate in the NY/NJ area.  That's what I was quoted here on LI.

At least they washed and cleaned the whole bike too.   

I like it when they wash and clean my bike. I was dropping a very good looking lady friend off at the local dealer and she convinced them to wash my bike for free. It was awesome. I never seem to get around to washing my bike, I'm always busy either riding it or wrenching on it...

Quote from: Pigeonroost on November 19, 2008, 09:02:51 AM
My dealer's service manager estimated the initial service to be about $200.00 for going through the check list of things they are supposed to do.  That is an expensive oil and filter change, I said to her.  She said they went by the book and would do the whole list.  Before going in, I checked about everything myself, except for the valve clearances and I could not get the rear wheel assembly to break loose for proper tensioning and it was out of alignemnt.  I took a touch-up paint "pen" with clear-coat and marked the edge seams of several of the screws that had to be rmoved to do check the valves and chnge oil/filter.  I told them the rear axle would not slide to adjust the chain properly.  The final cost was $212.00.  The clear coat was cracked on every bolt marked.  The oil was new and the oil drain plug was dripping a bit.  The oil filter cover had been removed.  The rear axle was still frozen and the chain had not been aligned, although they said it had been.  I broke the rear axle free and aligned the chain/wheel myself and that will the last trip to the dealer for this bike.  I am surprised at myself for taking it that first time -- my Glodwing has never been in the shop and its 6 years old with high miles.

prs

i'm really surprised about the clear coat actually being broken on those marked bolts. did you point out that you marked the axle/nut and that THAT was the reason you wouldn't spend any more money at their shop ?

good for you, lesson learned, and you got a cheap valve adjustment.

the gstwins kit has a dvd with all the steps to do it well defined, for future reference.

welcome again, and enjoy that wing you have

Wow, when I got mine yes it was 3 yrs old, but only had 115 miles on it. First service cost me $164.00 @ my Suzuki dealership in town. And I bought the GS500F owner's manual from them to for $13.00....They changed my oil and filter, lubed and checked out my chain, tightened my clutch, checked brakes, etc.....and you paid $350...ouch, I never thought FL would be cheaper on anything.

Where at in Fl? Here in O-town it is about that!

Mary S.

Quote from: The Buddha on November 19, 2008, 11:46:05 AM
Beer and pizza ... there has to be a forum member who will do these for beer and pizza ... I know I will ... you're not by charlotte NC are you ...
Cool.
Buddha.

i sure as hell will, and i can do warranty work as well   

Quote from: ohgood on November 19, 2008, 05:40:07 PM


i'm really surprised about the clear coat actually being broken on those marked bolts. did you point out that you marked the axle/nut and that THAT was the reason you wouldn't spend any more money at their shop ?

good for you, lesson learned, and you got a cheap valve adjustment.

the gstwins kit has a dvd with all the steps to do it well defined, for future reference.

welcome again, and enjoy that wing you have

The clear coat was very inconspicious and I really thought I would catch them at charging for services not provided regarding the valve check in particular.  Its an idea I picked up from the GL1800 site a few years back.  So far as I could tell, the only thing they did not really fix was the stuck rear axle and they did make some attempt at that, but did not get it unstuck and did not get it straight (the right side would not slide foreward enough to get the tension correct AND get it aligned.)  I got the axle to slide its entire range that evening by loosening the nut and adjusters and then pushing the bike backward and slamming on the rear brake -- took a couple or a few slams to break it free -- then hunky-dori.  Yep, I got off cheap and they did not do too badly either -- but I prefer to do the work myself (the Gs is actually my daughter's bike).

prs

Quote from: warpspeedtigger on November 19, 2008, 09:55:52 PM
Wow, when I got mine yes it was 3 yrs old, but only had 115 miles on it. First service cost me $164.00 @ my Suzuki dealership in town. And I bought the GS500F owner's manual from them to for $13.00....They changed my oil and filter, lubed and checked out my chain, tightened my clutch, checked brakes, etc.....and you paid $350...ouch, I never thought FL would be cheaper on anything.

Well. I didn't pay them (at least not yet). I haven't decided yet to bring it there and that was just the estimate they gave. I think a big part of that price is probably the valve check. I bet the price would be 1/2 the quote, if I wasn't asking for that.
I'm waiting on the manual and I'm gonna see about doing what I can, myself.

And NJ? Everything is priced high here. It's redunkulous.

down on the farm when they put the girl "horsie" and the boy "horsie" (or girl-cow & boy-cow) together for reproduction purposes they call it "servicing"
hmmmmmmmm.
anyone else making this connection?