Despite looking for a lightweight Supermoto to complement my Panigale, I’ve bought a 2011 Multistrada 1200S (*because I could, right*). 37000 miles, excellent nick, full luggage, lotsa nice accessories. But Service history gap 2016-2020 2020 (last) annual service advised belts and chain/sprockets required. So Advice required: Pay dealer to do service, belts and sprockets (c. £870) Or DIY? Extra info. I’m competent in spannering, have a mains impact gun, big socket and long bar, and have done Ducati belts before. I reckon I could save the £400+ Labour charges if I did it. But it wouldn’t go down as a “proper” service, albeit the history has a gap anyway. At 3 score years and 10, do I want to take my new acquisition to bits in winter in my shed with no heat? Especially as SWIMBO was disappointed at my buying my third bike. (“You said it was a bargain!”) Opinions welcome, abuse and condescension not so much.
Good choice, I’ve recently acquired a 2010 S, Sport. For me, the answer is a no brainer. Before retirement, I put together a spreadsheet of known outgoings against my pension income and came to the conclusion, my free time is more important than worrying about the cost of paying someone else to service my bikes. Is there a recommended independent near you ? Or you could get your dealer to do the hard parts and do the easy parts yourself. Service history on a bike that age and mileage, having already missed some, isn’t going to matter IMO. Andy
I do my own chain and sprockets, and you could do the same. It's not a service item as such so won't help with the service gap you mentioned. As for belts, I get them changed by the dealer when the desmo service gets done, and the service book gets a stamp. But if you are confident and competent you can do the belts yourself too. It'd more important that they are in fine fettle than getting an official stamp in your book. Keep the receipts and you have a record if required.
Little Devil heater £90ish will turn the shed into a sauna if you like. A bike with 37K miles & 10 years old, service history not so important as sales price imo. Besides are you going to sell anytime soon?
Difficult one to answer... It depends when do you intend to sell it... If within 1 year, then it might worth to have a Ducati stamp in the book. In 5 years, it is going to be a 16 years old bike with probably 50k miles on the clock, as long as it will have a proper service before sale no one would care who changed the belts ages before. (Especially considering the lack of history) If competent enough I would do the work myself and save the £500. Personally, I would rather choose a bike that had been looked after by a competent owner even if it doesn't have a complete service book. (at the end of the day I am buying based on condition not some stamps in a book)
Addendum: if I can’t get the rear wheel nut loose, the problem will have probably resolved itself! Hopefully Mr Clarke’s impact driver will rise to the challenge.
Impact driver is the way to go. Be careful when doing the nut back up - mark the position of the nut with a couple of paint dots before undoing, and tighten back up with the long bar to that point. If your impact driver is like mine it doesn't have a torque setting.
Think for me it would be piece of mind for a dealer to do it , if you can afford it . If not shiver in the shed , spend a bit on a heater , time and your close to the saving , sort of . But if you like messing and feel confident , carry on a saving is a saving . To add at least you know that the bike is up to spec .
I did the easy parts myself, chain, sprockets, rear eccentric and air filter. I'm paying a dealer to do the belts, plugs and anything that would test my patience, need specialist tools or I feel would be better handled by someone with experience.
Chain and sprockets not a hard job with the correct tools. Did them on my 1260 last weekend. You just need rattle gun (I have the mains Clarke like you), f-off big torque wrench and a chain riveting tool. I also used an angle grinder to cut off the old chain by using it to remove the heads of the old rivets on the soft link and using a thin drift to push it out. Or just use a hacksaw. Belts, valves and other scheduled service items that require special tools probably best to get a dealer or reputable independent to do unless you have a decent workshop.
I did the chain and sporckets on my Enduro last year. Paid a bit extra to buy a DID riveting tool, but I can do them all myself from now on. Took me longer than it should have, but I'll be quicker next time. Not done belts on a 4V engine, but if it's anything like a 2V engine it's easy. Just line up the timing marks, then once the new belts are on turn the engine over by hand a few times (take the plugs out, put the bike in gear and rotate the rear wheel) to satisfy yourself it's all ok. I believe you can use a guitar tuning app to listen to the "twang" of the belt, to get the tension right. Someone else can chime in on that one! I'll not do valve clearances - that's a level of fiddly I'm not prepared to embark on!
You could always YouTube yourself doing the belts etc and record it here for historical viewing and prospective buyers
Lots of options. Wait for M&S to go on winter servicing rates. Try independants VTS in Consett or DIT in Sunderland. Do it yourself. I have a full shop manual if you need one.
Absolutely. Keep the old belts, chain and sprockets. In the back of the service book put a note. Time date mileage and place of your competent service.
OK. I *may* give in and do the whole service myself over the winter. What’s the feeling on fitting a different sprocket carrier ? JT, Renthal etc.? I’m not intending to swap rear sprockets around a lot. It’s obviously cheaper to simply replace like with like (no separate carrier)
Slight thread hijack but anyone recommend a decent chain tool? I’ve got a cheap machine mart job buts it’s a bit shit and I need a new chain on my bike!
