Liquids change options.

[Kyryll]

Hello,everyone. I need an advise of more experienced comrades. I have a 2014 Valkyrie with 6k on the clock and according to the manual breaks, clutch and cooling fluids have to be replaced. I see no issues doing all the change myself but my concern is - wouldn't it be better to have a dealer paper for such work  which make the bike look better in eyes of potential buyer in the future and i will not mess anything up. From another side dealer wants 44.99 per disc + 44.99 for clutch + 99.99 for coolant flush, which is way too expensive for such work. What would you recommend ? Thanks in advance.

[ledany]

Change your dealer, or do it yourself (keep the bills of the fluids). 

[Crabballs]

Change your dealer, or do it yourself (keep the bills of the fluids). 

Totally agree!  Do the work yourself as you know it will be done correctly.  If you're not familiar on how to do the work just research, ask questions, and take time to think prior to making any moves.  Buy a service manual so you have procedures and specs at your fingertips.  It's amazing how easy it is to work on these bikes.   Save receipts and make a log book for all maintenance and repairs.

[Robert]

When someone comes to take a look at the bike do you really think they are going to care about dealer papers if they have a nice shiny Valkyrie sitting in front of them running smoothly and running well? If you can do the work yourself, do it, with the quality of work at the dealers I would say most would be happy to see a owner maintained bike as long as all things seem to be in order.

On my buds new F6B that was supposed to have the selling dealer check the bike over the tire pressure was at 23 psi. He rode home like that, so I dont think the paper will mean much in any case. I would say most know that the dealer is not great. I would also say if you are worried a warranty would be a great thing to set most minds at ease. Since the bike comes with a 3 or 4 year warranty and you can extend it another 3 years it may be something to think about. The money you save by doing the work for yourself could go for the extension of the warranty. I doubt you will ever use it but the peace of mind to a buyer may make the price acceptable.

[Jess from VA]

If I roll up looking at a used bike, I'm more impressed with a guy that did all his own work (and his bike) than one who took it to the dealer, plus I know what hacks mostly work at dealers.

You know it's not going to be good when you roll into a dealer and the service manager walks out and says..... what the heck is that, an old Yamaha of some kind?

[Kyryll]

Thank you everyone for the feedback.

[goldstar903]

Hello,everyone. I need an advise of more experienced comrades. I have a 2014 Valkyrie with 6k on the clock and according to the manual breaks, clutch and cooling fluids have to be replaced. I see no issues doing all the change myself but my concern is - wouldn't it be better to have a dealer paper for such work  which make the bike look better in eyes of potential buyer in the future and i will not mess anything up. From another side dealer wants 44.99 per disc + 44.99 for clutch + 99.99 for coolant flush, which is way too expensive for such work. What would you recommend ? Thanks in advance.

According to my Service Manual, Brake and Clutch fluids are changed at 12,000 miles, Coolant changed at 24,000 miles! You have a ways to go!!   

[Kyryll]

All of those liquids has a note next to it (in manual book) to change every 2 years if mileage not there yet.

[goldstar903]

It's your bike, your call. I have ~10,000 miles on my bike and I inspected my fluids and determined that they were not contaminated thus necessitating change. Like I said, your bike, your call.     

[Robert]

I have 21k on my bike and there is not one fluid that I have not changed and that goes for the coolant also. I put water wetter in and diluted the antifreeze down to 10% with distilled water. I changed the oil very frequently and that goes for the rear oil also, which I changed to synthetic and put in a Moly additive. Brake fluid flush was done on the front but not the rear.

[goldstar903]

I would imagine that most intelligent riders would have changed their fluids prior to 21,000 miles.                     Like I said, "Your bike, your call."   

[brew1brew]

seems to me that you are doing things a bit early. Here is the maint schedule from the 2014 Valkyrie maint manual. every 12k on the break and clutch fluid and every 24k on the coolant.

[goldstar903]

seems to me that you are doing things a bit early. Here is the maint schedule from the 2014 Valkyrie maint manual. every 12k on the break and clutch fluid and every 24k on the coolant.

My point exactly, but I can see Roberts point in that it certainly won't hurt changing fluids earlier. At 21,000 miles he would have certainly changed his clutch and brake fluid. With that said, clutch and brake fluid is notorious for collecting moisture. This certainly would cause a need for early change. But, like I said, your bike, your call. Just don't become complacent with maintenance intervals.

[Robert]

Sometimes I change it because I put in a better fluid, brake fluid I go to 5.1, oil of course is synthetic and coolant I have already described that and rear oil is full synthetic with a moly additive. I am particular in how I maintain my bike or any of my vehicles. Yes you can keep the stock changes but I do find differences so I decided to do it sooner. OH I have already changed the plugs to fine wire platinum also.

Technically the service listed is for normal service, but here in Florida and some other places in the US the normal weather and use falls into a category of severe service. In that designation the changes are much more frequent. It does not cost much, takes little time and you know what you have that is my reasons.

[goldstar903]

Here is a nice little article addressing sometimes overlooked maintenance. 

http://www.motorcycle.com/top10/top-10-overlooked-maintenance-items.html

[Robert]

Here is a nice little article addressing sometimes overlooked maintenance. 

http://www.motorcycle.com/top10/top-10-overlooked-maintenance-items.html

I got a goldstar on maintenance, no pun intended  good article.

But I seem to have missed one point, could someone tell me how to lubricate the chain.  ???

[ledany]

Ha ha 

Incredible ! Bikes are not cars !
So you have to take care of the thing, inspect regularly, listen, tight screws, grease, polish, enjoy etc.
Less than a horse because you don't talk to your bike  ???, more than a kitchen stool  

[Bill Havins]

Ha ha 

Incredible ! Bikes are not cars !
So you have to take care of the thing, inspect regularly, listen, tight screws, grease, polish, enjoy etc.
Less than a horse because you don't talk to your bike  ???, more than a kitchen stool  

I talk to my bike, Ledany. 

And every time I fall off of my kitchen stool I talk to it, too  But I will admit, what I say is not very kind.

Bill

[Kyryll]

seems to me that you are doing things a bit early. Here is the maint schedule from the 2014 Valkyrie maint manual. every 12k on the break and clutch fluid and every 24k on the coolant.

My concern is NOTE 5 infront of each liquid. By miles yes, it is way to early but by time honda said to replace.