My mate got a set of those Givi panniers very cheaply at a classic bike show autojumble. they were white and had Greek police logos on, they had been used in one of the Jason Bourne movies judging by the writing inside. It was only when he got home he realised he had two left handed ones. They still work thankfully.Also fitted the givi pannier frames the wife bought me for xmas, and added the grab handles bought off here and brought home from the US by my son-in-law.View attachment 87953
I’ll only use a pair of wee 20ltr panniers, unless I happen upon something nicer in time. But these are fine for now should I need extra capacity.
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Once its out of warranty….absolutely. But I’m torn between doing everything to maintain the warranty, or the minimum that would hopefully still protect me should the worse happen for about 8months till it runs out.ebay for all your service needs:
4l 10w/40 oil £25 or less
Oil filter - Mahle OC575 is £9.09
80w90 gear oil £10 for a litre lasts quite a few final drive changes
Ford DOT4 brake fluid is about £2.50 for .25l or £5 for 0.5l
Drain plug crush washers last years - you don't need to change them.
Dad owned a garage all my childhood, cut my teeth on nuts and bolts. I’m also a Gas Engineer/Plumber by trade. So No issues whatsoever doing it myself. It’s just about keeping the last bit of warranty, just incase. But with the XTs legendary reliability is it a worry worth worrying about?I’d buy the service kit, which includes the crush washers for both sump plugs, and do it myself. Would also do as Squibb says and change the FD oil as well.
Not sure how handy you are with home maintenance, but both are very straightforward and easy.
I’m guessing you’re near to the town of Flitwick, which is where my service kits come from via the post.
I’ve not really taken against them, I wouldn’t have used them if I had. I think I have every right to not be happy at what a basic service cost and the lack of honesty. I’ve known them for over 20yrs. I use to use them from late 99 when I had a Thundercat. They serviced that 3 or 4 times for me. No real issues back then apart from one additional job they had to do which I believe they conned me on. I had a scotoiler on the Cat, and after one ride I cleaned the bike and used some Jizer to remove the excess chain lube from around the back of the bike, accidentally getting some on the chain. My mistake, but it killed the chain in no time at all. The bike was only 8/9 months old and had only done about 7000 miles. I booked it in for them to replace the chain. The then workshop manager insisted it would need a front sprocket even though it had only done pretty low miles. When I collected it I asked if they’d had to do the sprocket, to which he produced a totally shagged, badly hooked sprocket from under the counter. I was very surprised but accepted it and paid. A few years and Two bikes later I was riding a Blackbird which I took from 7000 to about 40,000 miles, again fitted with a scotoiler. At that mileage, and with a big european trip planned I changed the chain and sprockets. The front sprocket that came off looked new, I could have just swapped the chain. So I absolutely knew then, the sprocket they showed me wasn’t mine, it was the standard one they kept under the counter to use whenever they felt they could get away with it. So yes, I agree, if we want them around to provide a service we do have to support them, but I don’t see why I should support businesses that deliberately con their customers. I’ll only use them when I have too.Flitwick Motorcycles are respected Yamaha Solus dealers @Boris , run by ex IoM racer & tuner Steve Linsdell & his family. I've been using them for over 30 years & have no complaints. For some reason, the OP has taken against them; his prerogative of course.
The simple fact is that, if you want the benefit of having a local bike shop, then the folk running the show have to be able to make a living. Buy everything on-line & these guys go out of business. Choices we will all be needing to make over the next few years, as the retail market adapts to a post pandemic World - use it or lose it, as they say.
Yes, I remember that well! Honda insisted on a solus dealership and it cost JT’s a fortune and then Honda pulled the plug!The local Yamaha dealer in Swansea (also Suzuki) had a Honda presence for years, Honda insisted on them upgrading the premises which they did costing thousands but Honda then insisted they had to have 2 sales staff at all times which they couldn't commit to so they pulled the plug.
I had my services there while the bike was under warranty but far too expensive to carry on with, I just do them myself now.
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