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!!!
Major Service & Battery
Moderators: Aladinsaneuk, MartDude, D-Rider, Moderators
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
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...
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...
- Yellowduck
- Despatch Rider
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