East of England Garage Recommendations

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
Hi All, I am coming up on 60,000 miles and need to find a garage for the service. I was originally looking into doing it myself, but after much research I concluded that I don't have the time, tools, or space to complete the job. Could someone recommend a garage to carry out the work? What is you opinion of using a Yamaha dealer? I assume it will cost quite a bit more. I am willing to travel a far distance for a great mechanic.
Appreciate the help.
Morgan
 

Boris

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2013
Messages
2,051
Location
midlands. UK
Bit of a way from you, but Yamaha dealer Alf England in Bedworth are the only shop I’d let do any serious work on my bike. Have used them, did what I asked, for the price they quoted, in the time they advised. Nothing was left loose, in the wrong place or in a condition I was unhappy with. I will use them for valve clearances later this year.

Note - It’s been 5 years since I’ve used them (do most stuff myself).
 

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
Bit of a way from you, but Yamaha dealer Alf England in Bedworth are the only shop I’d let do any serious work on my bike. Have used them, did what I asked, for the price they quoted, in the time they advised. Nothing was left loose, in the wrong place or in a condition I was unhappy with. I will use them for valve clearances later this year.

Note - It’s been 5 years since I’ve used them (do most stuff myself).
Thanks! They are a bit far, but a solid place is worth traveling for. I’ll see if I get any closer recommendations before calling.
 

Squibb

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Joined
Aug 10, 2014
Messages
1,064
Location
Bedford, UK
Webbs, Peterborough are probably the most accessible from Cambridge.

Whilst a little further afield, I use Flitwick Motorcycles (Steve Linsdell) - Yamaha solus these days, they have looked after me well for over 30 years
 

Saint rob

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Joined
May 26, 2019
Messages
327
Location
Northwest UK
I had no complaints about Tinklers in Norwich, they did a good service and everything I asked them to do on my 1st S10 before I collected it. Judging by the subsequent work I had done over the last 2 1/2 years after purchase, it also had obviously been meticulously serviced by them from new.
 

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
Webbs, Peterborough are probably the most accessible from Cambridge.

Whilst a little further afield, I use Flitwick Motorcycles (Steve Linsdell) - Yamaha solus these days, they have looked after me well for over 30 years
Thanks for the reply. I had a less than stellar experience with Webbs the last time I went there. I’ll ring up flitwick and ask for a quote. Thanks!
 

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
I had no complaints about Tinklers in Norwich, they did a good service and everything I asked them to do on my 1st S10 before I collected it. Judging by the subsequent work I had done over the last 2 1/2 years after purchase, it also had obviously been meticulously serviced by them from new.
Thanks. I’ll see what they quote me for the service. Appreciate the reply.
 

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
How’d you get on?
Well, I called around to a few of the shops recommended. Most would not give me a quote over the phone and wanted to see the bike, along with the service records. I did get one quote for more than £1000. I decided to fight down my fear and tackle the valve adjustment myself. I have been going slowly using video, this forum, and the service manual. Yesterday I got the new shims in place and measured all the valve clearances. They are all in spec now. I have to get it all put back together today. The gasket on the rocker cover has been giving me a lot of grief as there is just so little space to maneuver the cover back into place.
I see now why the labor costs were so high, it is not a complicated job, but takes a fair bit of time to get to the parts that need adjusting/replacing.
 

Treeman

Member
Joined
Jul 11, 2022
Messages
90
Location
Holywell.Flintshire.Wales.UK.
I'm surprised a low revving engine like this needs re shimming at 60.000 miles.I know of a Honda ST1300 that needed one valve shimming at 128.000 miles.Were the valve clearances on yours slack or tight?
 

Morgan

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
64
Location
Cambridge, UK
All the intake valves were in spec. Three of the exhaust were out, all too tight. One was in spec but at the bottom end of the spec. I reshimmed all the valves so they were at the top end of the spec.
 
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