Standard Service Schedule

[Nortoon_imp]

Oh, so this is confession time . . . When I buy a new bike, I carefully transcribe all the maintenance requirements into a table with check boxes for each mileage interval and maintain this table in Word format. I print the table each time a maintenance interval comes up, then check off each item and annotate as needed when I do the work. Since I have (currently) six motorcycles, it's important to me to document everything. I cannot possibly remember when I changed final drive oil on one of the BMWs . . .

Since I am a retired engineer who worked extensively in technical writing, I also revise each maintenance sheet as appropriate and give each one a revision level and date.

Now I've come clean . . .

I'm worse than you. I created an Excel database which not only contains the maintenance schedule, but it records each time I have maintenance performed (description, mileage, date, cost). So it not only tracks maintenance history, but it alerts me to the next required maintenance based on the manufacturer's recommended mileage or date intervals. It also tracks mileage history so I can view how much I'm using each vehicle and also determine maintenance cost per mile over the life of the vehicle.

I did that for the 3 years I rode my CB500XA. I was surprized how little I paid for each happy kilometer I rode. But was annoyed when I traded it in, and found that 3 years of insurance cost almost as much as the net cost of the bike. I am a senior citizen with 27 years of accident free riding experience.

[LongRanger_imp]

Yep. That's why I don't buy full coverage (comp and collision).

I've owned my K1200RS since new and have maintained it by the book. The total cost of maintenance, including tires and routine servicing that I perform myself, has exceeded the cost of the bike, and it wasn't an inexpensive bike! But you're right, add the cost of insurance and it makes for a very expensive toy!

[Cormanus]

Got a 'page not found' on Cormanus's first link posted above.

My bad, EmptySea. Should work now.

[peterbaron]

Oh, so this is confession time . . . When I buy a new bike, I carefully transcribe all the maintenance requirements into a table with check boxes for each mileage interval and maintain this table in Word format. I print the table each time a maintenance interval comes up, then check off each item and annotate as needed when I do the work. Since I have (currently) six motorcycles, it's important to me to document everything. I cannot possibly remember when I changed final drive oil on one of the BMWs . . .

Since I am a retired engineer who worked extensively in technical writing, I also revise each maintenance sheet as appropriate and give each one a revision level and date.

Now I've come clean . . .

I'm worse than you. I created an Excel database which not only contains the maintenance schedule, but it records each time I have maintenance performed (description, mileage, date, cost). So it not only tracks maintenance history, but it alerts me to the next required maintenance based on the manufacturer's recommended mileage or date intervals. It also tracks mileage history so I can view how much I'm using each vehicle and also determine maintenance cost per mile over the life of the vehicle.

I did that for the 3 years I rode my CB500XA. I was surprized how little I paid for each happy kilometer I rode. But was annoyed when I traded it in, and found that 3 years of insurance cost almost as much as the net cost of the bike. I am a senior citizen with 27 years of accident free riding experience.

Nortoon Wrote
... But was annoyed when I traded it in, and found that 3 years of insurance cost almost as much as the net cost of the bike. I am a senior citizen with 27 years of accident free riding experience.
+1 , cuz Ontario bike insurance RIPS OFF ALL OF US
My friend in Australia can stop insuring his bike in "winter times"...but Cormanus will have more precise details about bike insurance there, when he wakes up Monday morning, please

pb

[Cormanus]

In Australia, broadly speaking, all vehicles are required by law to carry Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance which is collected by state governments as part of the annual registration fee. It covers injury to people for which you may be responsible. It is also the majority of the cost of my annual registration.

The rest is up to the individual driver. If you want to self-insure you can, or you can insure fully or partially. The costs vary from state to state, presumably based on the level of risk. I say this because Pterodactyl and I got quite different quotes for comprehensive insurance from the same company. I assume the difference was based on the fact we live in different states and cities, although we are different ages.

To give you an idea of cost, my annual registration is A$485 of which A$309 is CTP. Comprehensive insurance on the CB costs me $231 a year. I'll review the comprehensive insurance this year and maybe move to third party property only. I'm not sure I might not self insure my bike.

[peterbaron]

In Australia, broadly speaking, all vehicles are required by law to carry Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance which is collected by state governments as part of the annual registration fee. It covers injury to people for which you may be responsible. It is also the majority of the cost of my annual registration.

The rest is up to the individual driver. If you want to self-insure you can, or you can insure fully or partially. The costs vary from state to state, presumably based on the level of risk. I say this because Pterodactyl and I got quite different quotes for comprehensive insurance from the same company. I assume the difference was based on the fact we live in different states and cities, although we are different ages.

To give you an idea of cost, my annual registration is A$485 of which A$309 is CTP. Comprehensive insurance on the CB costs me $231 a year. I'll review the comprehensive insurance this year and maybe move to third party property only. I'm not sure I might not self insure my bike.

Thanks and good morning

pb

[Nortoon_imp]

Oh, so this is confession time . . . When I buy a new bike, I carefully transcribe all the maintenance requirements into a table with check boxes for each mileage interval and maintain this table in Word format. I print the table each time a maintenance interval comes up, then check off each item and annotate as needed when I do the work. Since I have (currently) six motorcycles, it's important to me to document everything. I cannot possibly remember when I changed final drive oil on one of the BMWs . . .

Since I am a retired engineer who worked extensively in technical writing, I also revise each maintenance sheet as appropriate and give each one a revision level and date.

Now I've come clean . . .

I'm worse than you. I created an Excel database which not only contains the maintenance schedule, but it records each time I have maintenance performed (description, mileage, date, cost). So it not only tracks maintenance history, but it alerts me to the next required maintenance based on the manufacturer's recommended mileage or date intervals. It also tracks mileage history so I can view how much I'm using each vehicle and also determine maintenance cost per mile over the life of the vehicle.

I did that for the 3 years I rode my CB500XA. I was surprized how little I paid for each happy kilometer I rode. But was annoyed when I traded it in, and found that 3 years of insurance cost almost as much as the net cost of the bike. I am a senior citizen with 27 years of accident free riding experience.

Nortoon Wrote
... But was annoyed when I traded it in, and found that 3 years of insurance cost almost as much as the net cost of the bike. I am a senior citizen with 27 years of accident free riding experience.
+1 , cuz Ontario bike insurance RIPS OFF ALL OF US
My friend in Australia can stop insuring his bike in "winter times"...but Cormanus will have more precise details about bike insurance there, when he wakes up Monday morning, please

pb

We use to be able to do that. But I knew bikers who rode during the off months without paying for it. So now the cost is for the year, even though we only ride for 6 months.

Quoting the cost as a monthly payment also makes it seem cheaper. It's something like offering people cars for so much a week.

[the Ferret]

We used to be able to buy what they termed "winter lay-up" here at a reduced premium. Covered 3 months. Dec, Jan and Feb I think. The bikes were still covered for fire and theft but not for collision and stuff. Since I've always ridden year round I never bought it and don't think the premium drop was much less anyway.

My insurance agent always told me, if you can afford to walk away from a total loss, without financial hardship, you could afford liability only.

[peterbaron]

Needless to say , in North America + more we all are over insured..
...my insurance charges me for a driver who is NOT insured = ABSURD, but got to pay...sorry for drifting away from Standard Service Schedule

pb