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Thanks to everyone who answered my question about the battery. Had a new battery fitted and it's much better. I can't leave the Optimate on all the time so maybe that has something to do with it. Also only ride at weekends and had a long layoff last summer (a long story, but builders had blocked me in with scaffolding while I was on holiday and no way to get it out).

Just had a major service done - I usually do the minor ones meself. It included a shim check and all were perfect (18,000 miles), and I got a printout of the expected and actual clearances. So I was pretty pleased. And it felt good on the way home.

Rode home in 'orrible conditions yesterday so decided to give the bike a good clean today and noticed what seemed like two bits of crud on the right fork that I couldn't make out without me glasses. Picked them with my finger nail and they turned out to be flakes of the fork body that just came away. They're only little (about 4 or 5 mm across) but the fork now looks unsightly on an otherwise pristine bike.

The fork oil was changed as part of the service and I wonder if they clamped them in a vice without protection. I can't see this being stone chips cause I went pretty slowly home and they were perfect before the service.

Don't suppose I can prove anything - grand total of zero legs to stand on!!!

First of all - sorry to hear that. You could talk to them about that, wouldn't harm. I think.

Sorry to ask a stupid question but is there any service you could trust? I mean really? I need to check the shims but there are so many horror (maybe not horror, more like a thriller ;) ) stories around... It just pushes me to ride away of dealers... I've been robbed by services before

I agree completely. I find it very stressful trying to decide who to trust with my bikes. The folks I went to for the last service come highly recommended by a good friend who wouldn't take his 916 anywhere else. They specialise in all things two-wheeled Italian and do seem to know what they're talking about.

The major service I had done before - about two years ago - was done by a dealer who vanished off the face of the earth within a week of getting it done. And I had trusted them. Mind you, all that means is they weren't businessmen, just motorcycle enthusiasts.

I do enjoy doing my own servicing but like a 'professional' to look it over occasionally to make sure I'm not missing anything important. But...

FJ,

Are you happy to name the dealer on here?

I will once I've been to see them about it and decide whether they are good guys or bad guys. Either way, I'll make it clear. One chip is on the side of the fork leg and the other is slightly behind so no way are they stone chips.

We'll see what they say.