Service suggestions

I have a 2013 ST-S, just under 10,000 miles, 3.5 years old.

I've done the normal oil/trans filters/oil changes myself and have done an alignment, brake pads and rear tire change myself. Also have flushed the brake fluid myself.

Thinking if I should have it serviced for things I'm missing?

Plugs I could probably do myself if required already?


I've read a little about rear wheel bearings going bad, should I have that checked and then re-aligned?

Coolant flush?

Anything else of importance I should have checked on a low mileage bike?

:popcorn:

Change the coolant. You can probably do that yourself also. The owners manual calls for that every 2 years. I did mine at 4 and it was definitely shot. One caveat tho I have never heard anybody here mention this.On the 998s and maybe the 1330s but don't know about them the drain plug tap is not braised into the radiator only a press fit. My dealer told me that they have had a few come out when removing the plug. To fix this they have had to remove the radiator and and go to a radiator shop to have it properly brazed in place. They remove the bottom hose to drain the coolant.
Now as I have said I have not heard of anyone on here say anything about this and there are a lot of do it yourselfers and I am sure that more then one has replaced their coolant,so maybe it is only a problem with the mechanic at my dealership,but still forewarned and all that.

Your owners manual has a list of what they feel should be done. Do what you feel comfortable with and tell the dealer just what you want done...:thumbup:

I changed my rear bearings when I did my first rear tire change, on my '08 GS, at 11,000 miles. I think the first ones were the ones having the problem, but I think you are good to go. I would suggest the next time you change the rear tire, to check your three bearings for any wear. You shouldn't have to have a new alignment when changing the rear tire, if you remove the belt and dont move the adjusters. Changing plugs are not that hard. ( I need to change my break fluid, so I may be getting in touch with you for some pointers.)
Good luck

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pegasus1300

Change the coolant.
On the 998s and maybe the 1330s but don't know about them the drain plug tap is not braised into the radiator only a press fit. My dealer told me that they have had a few come out when removing the plug. To fix this they have had to remove the radiator and and go to a radiator shop to have it properly brazed in place. They remove the bottom hose to drain the coolant.
Now as I have said I have not heard of anyone on here say anything about this and there are a lot of do it yourselfers and I am sure that more then one has replaced their coolant,so maybe it is only a problem with the mechanic at my dealership,but still forewarned and all that.

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:agree: When changing the coolant, just remove the lower hose. I've heard of all too many drain plugs breaking off.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pegasus1300

Change the coolant. You can probably do that yourself also. The owners manual calls for that every 2 years. I did mine at 4 and it was definitely shot. One caveat tho I have never heard anybody here mention this.On the 998s and maybe the 1330s but don't know about them the drain plug tap is not braised into the radiator only a press fit. My dealer told me that they have had a few come out when removing the plug. To fix this they have had to remove the radiator and and go to a radiator shop to have it properly brazed in place. They remove the bottom hose to drain the coolant.
Now as I have said I have not heard of anyone on here say anything about this and there are a lot of do it yourselfers and I am sure that more then one has replaced their coolant,so maybe it is only a problem with the mechanic at my dealership,but still forewarned and all that.

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Wow, thanks for the tip!

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Originally Posted by Chupaca

Your owners manual has a list of what they feel should be done. Do what you feel comfortable with and tell the dealer just what you want done...:thumbup:

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I know they throw in lots of stuff, I'll look again at it but was worried more about what others found important. :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by Big Arm

:agree: When changing the coolant, just remove the lower hose. I've heard of all too many drain plugs breaking off.

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Yeah, that sounds like a big ordeal to fix too. :yikes:

Don't waste your time or money on valve checks. They are recommended at 14K intervals. The dealers charge $800 extra. I actually did two. One at 14K on one and one at 28K on the other. Neither needed adjusting. $1,600 out the door. I am not planning on doing it on my 2011 until at least 50K. I know there are some dealers out there that charge for the service and don't even turn a screwdriver in the process. DIY--will save you money, but I don't think it is a worthy issue. :thumbup:

Thanks :thumbup:



It will take me a long time to get to 14,000 miles lol

Coolant change...
Brake fluid change
Rear wheel bearings at every other tire change: they should easily last 20,000 or more miles. :thumbup:

(Don't forget the headlight fluid! :D)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Coolant change...
Brake fluid change
Rear wheel bearings at every other tire change: they should easily last 20,000 or more miles. :thumbup:

(Don't forget the headlight fluid! :D)

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Okay, I've found some blinker fluid, but been searching for days and can't find any headlight fluid. :banghead:

Grabbed a few parts from Bajaron's. :thumbup:

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Originally Posted by SNOOPY

Okay, I've found some blinker fluid, but been searching for days and can't find any headlight fluid. :banghead:

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Try EBay... :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SNOOPY

Okay, I've found some blinker fluid, but been searching for days and can't find any headlight fluid. :banghead:

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Many years ago, my dad sent my blond sister to the friendly parts store for a "left handed pipe wrench." Joke was on him though when they sold her one and she brought it home. Parts guy said he laughed and laughed as he gave it to her.

Same sister that that put rocks on fence posts to remember which way to turn on a country road. My brother and I had fun moving them to get her lost. Painted one red and gave it to her for Christmas one year.

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Originally Posted by Bob Denman

Try EBay... :D

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Checked on E-bay, currently out of stock and on back order :DDale

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Originally Posted by Rawhide kid

Many years ago, my dad sent my blond sister to the friendly parts store for a "left handed pipe wrench." Joke was on him though when they sold her one and she brought it home. Parts guy said he laughed and laughed as he gave it to her.

Same sister that that put rocks on fence posts to remember which way to turn on a country road. My brother and I had fun moving them to get her lost. Painted one red and gave it to her for Christmas one year.

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:D

Maaany years ago now, I was behind the counter in a hardware store when a painter on a local job sent his new, straight outta school gofer kid down to get 'a can of striped paint for a barber's pole' (that gives you an idea of how long ago it was, doesn't it!!) :shocked:

I duly & very carefully mixed up a can of paint & sent him off, telling him not to shake it much or he'd mix up all the stripes; only to have him bring it back 20 minutes later to tell me his boss was as mad as a cut snake about it & that he 'wanted his money back, cos this paint isn't striped!' :mad: :gaah:

Sooo, I opened the can, took a quick look inside, put the lid back on & handed it back to him, telling him to take it back & tell his boss that he couldn't have his money refunded since he was the fool who'd put the paint on the pole with the 'inside' showing instead of the stripes!! :shocked: :shocked:

Boss came in later, still laughing over it, to say 'well played!' Gofer kid was never caught out again - he's now a pretty damn good Master Painter, & if he sees me on the street, he still always shakes his head & says "bloody can of striped paint for a Barber's pole!" :thumbup:

Did the antifreeze change, spark plugs and wires and a brake fluid flush over the weekend.

All very easy. :thumbup:


Saw the notes about disconnecting the bottom rad hose instead of the drain plug because people were breaking radiators...I put a wrench on mine and tapped the handle a couple times just to see if it would break/open easy...and it did with no issue. :yes:


And think the plugs and wires even cleared up some low speed sputtering I had.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pegasus1300

Change the coolant. You can probably do that yourself also. The owners manual calls for that every 2 years. I did mine at 4 and it was definitely shot. One caveat tho I have never heard anybody here mention this.On the 998s and maybe the 1330s but don't know about them the drain plug tap is not braised into the radiator only a press fit. My dealer told me that they have had a few come out when removing the plug. To fix this they have had to remove the radiator and and go to a radiator shop to have it properly brazed in place. They remove the bottom hose to drain the coolant.
Now as I have said I have not heard of anyone on here say anything about this and there are a lot of do it yourselfers and I am sure that more then one has replaced their coolant,so maybe it is only a problem with the mechanic at my dealership,but still forewarned and all that.

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:agree: I got lucky (so to say)fyi my thermostat had developed a leak still under warranty with only 25k miles & my shop was able to do the coolant flush at the time of repair was just within the window of replacement timeframe. Was advised not to try the plug but rather remove the lower hose. Only problem there is the Otiker clamps (crimp on) that I had no tools or knowledge of. 998 also fyi:thumbup: