Any service done whether by the dealer or an indy is only as good as the mechanic doing it. There are good and bad mechanics with both. Believe it or not there are over 35 check points to be done in the first 1K service and the reason to check them all is because as we all know the factory does miss some things on these bikes and this is the time to find them. My dealer mechanic found a missing cotter pin on my rear brake master cylinder pin during the first service (my first 2 services were free, part of the deal). Confidence in who is doing the work is very important. By the way, I do all my own service work (everything).

 

Exactly right Dave, confidence is the key.......I guess when you haven't had any work done at the dealer it is sort of a crapshoot

 

Do you mean the Neck Bearing?

 

Check your sales contract, I know that in California or at least my dealer, the first 1000 mile service had to be done by them. It was in my contract. It was good that I did go there because they found blemishes in the chrome on both cylinder head covers, replaced both under factory warranty. But yeah trust is a big part of letting someone else working on your scoot. I have a great relationship with my dealer, and have found that taking my bike to indys in my area hasn't saved me enough money to warrant going back to them. Either i have been screwed or someone I know has been screwed by them.. So I pay the little extra, when I can't do it myself, and let my dealer do the work. So far so good.

 

The neck bearing is easy. There is a grease fitting on the neck.

 

Yes it is just fill it till it comes out top and bottom. Then take little pieces of rag and clean up the mess. Takes a little time but not hard at all. I do it all myself and get satisfaction that the guy working on it (me) uses a torque wrench on everything.

 

Bingo- For the money even the indy is charging you can buy a decent craftsman torque wrench and the service manual. The actual 1000 mile service is a cakewalk and spending an hour in the garage checking the torque on every nut and bolt you can reach is a great way to get to know your bike while making sure it is as safe as possible. I have enough to worry about while riding. The last thing I want is to be second guessing whether or not a mechanic took shortcuts in order to make book time on my bike. NOBODY cares about your bike and safety as much as YOU.