600 mile service

[mjtools]

When I picked up my 2020 RTL last Friday, was told that the first service recommended by dealer is 600 miles. I immediately questioned the salesman as to why since owners manual clearly states 3000 miles. His response is "that is what we recommend". Is there an actual service to be performed at the 600 mile interval? I wish to keep my ryde in the best running condition and plan to do most services myself, following all requirements to keep warranty intact. Any information is appreciated. TIA Matthew

[Ex-Rocket]

Sounds like the dealership is wanting more of your money. First service is at 3000 miles on all 1330 engines

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Sounds like the dealership is wanting more of your money. First service is at 3000 miles on all 1330 engines

..... This appears to be the FIRST sign of a less than honorable dealer .... be forewarned things will probably get worse in the future ...... good luck .... Mike

[JayBros]

Step 1: Ask the dealership to show you the written BRP recommendation that your first service is 600 miles. Step 2: find another dealership.

[SportsterDoc]

Around 1,000 miles is a good time to check over fasteners, especially battery cables.

[Pirate looks at --]

Just another dealer that wants to charge additional money that you do not need to pay. Now if the dealer says the service is free, go for it!

[Mikey]

We have seen this kind of post in the past, and I say that if that dealership wants to change the oil and give the bike a once over a 600 miles they may have had a issue in the past and feel better about doing this for what they feel a good reason! It's just oil and a couple filters, and we all know that when they build these motors there's a lot of small filings that some times don't get washed out before assembly! All you need is one of those pieces of metal to rest in the wrong spot and there go's a nice motor! I bought a new tractor last year, they said to change the fluids at 25 hrs of use, then 500 hrs after that. Well when I dumped the tyranny fluid and took the filter out I say why they said 25, there was a crap load of fillings and caulk and crap in there I couldn't believe my eye's, thank god there was a magnet in that screen catching that crap! So like I said, for a little oil and couple filters is a no brainer in my book!

[LongIsland]

I agree that the first service is at 3000 miles on the 1330 engines, but I don't agree that a dealer who recommends the service sooner, in this case, at 600 miles is necessarily a bad dealer you should run from. To the dealers' credit he stated that is their recommendation, which one may follow or not. In either case your warranty is still valid.
I liken this to the car dealer I use for service. They recommend an oil change at 5000 miles, the owners' manual states "“Change Engine Oil Soon” will display on your dashboard when it is time to change your engine oil and filter." This does not make me want to find another dealer, I make my decisions based on what the manufacturer requirements are to stay in compliance with the warranty. If I want to change the oil sooner on any of my vehicles that is my decision.

[ARtraveler]

Another card on the pile for no 600 mile service. That is a carry over from the days of the 998 twin cylinder engine.

Another card on the pile for a red flag on the dealer. Either very greedy or very stupid. Either way...buyer beware.

[Chasinsparks]

Why would he not recommend a 600 mile service, that is and easy couple hundred dishonest dollars. Go by the manual, the engineers say 3000 miles.

[Bottomline2000]

That's a good waste of 5qts of oil and filter.. see you in 3k miles..enjoy the ryde!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

What I said above had more to do with what the Dealer was claiming ..... that said, when I bought my new 2014 RT in Ill., I drove it home judiciously, about 1400 miles , and immediately changed the oil and filter. Because I did myself it only cost me $35.00 or so. .... Why did I do it ???? .... because as someone above pointed out that the first Oil change is going to have the most DEBRIS in it, metallic and other things ....... jmho .... Mike

[Pennyrick]

When I picked up my 2020 RTL last Friday, was told that the first service recommended by dealer is 600 miles. I immediately questioned the salesman as to why since owners manual clearly states 3000 miles. His response is "that is what we recommend". Is there an actual service to be performed at the 600 mile interval? I wish to keep my ryde in the best running condition and plan to do most services myself, following all requirements to keep warranty intact. Any information is appreciated. TIA Matthew

When my wife picked up her 2020 RTL, the service manager told her she would see her back at 600 miles for the first service.

I called the manager to check because I saw a posting on here that first service was due at 3,000 miles. The manager noted that 3,000 was correct but that since we had a service agreement, she would feel more comfortable at 600-1,000 miles in view of the comments posted above. Since no cost was involved, we agreed to bring it in at our convenience. I like the fact that the dealer appears to be proactive rather than reactive.

[JayBros]

If you don't mind sharing, What was the cost of the service agreement?

[Pennyrick]

If you don't mind sharing, What was the cost of the service agreement?

The five year agreement covers all factory recommended servicing excluding any warranty items at a cost of $1,400 covering six visits. With dealer hourly rate of $90.00 in the Atlanta market area, I think that less than $300 a year is a bargain but I haven’t gone through the manual to figure out, how many service intervals are recommended over five years.

[SuperG]

The five year agreement covers all factory recommended servicing excluding any warranty items at a cost of $1,400 covering six visits. With dealer hourly rate of $90.00 in the Atlanta market area, I think that less than $300 a year is a bargain but I haven’t gone through the manual to figure out, how many service intervals are recommended over five years.

It's what I have also - prepaid maintenance. I also got the extended warranty. Since I bought my 2018 as a left-over in 2019, I'm good till 2024. My thinking is enjoy it fully for the first five years, and start doing my own maintenance once the warranty expires. I'm basically keeping my RTL stock - the only farkles on it are KOTT grills as the environment out west here is quite the biblical plague of grasshoppers...

[JayBros]

If my simple math is correct and you run the Spyder 9,300 miles between oil changes, which you can easily do with the 1330 ACE engine, you can get 47,100 miles out of the six allowed services which will include the 28K service that will be an expensive one. If you don't plan to keep the bike through 47K but still make the six service visits in the contract, which you must do if you don't run the Spyder more than 9,300/year, then you're paying the dealership for services the Spyder did not need if it was ridden more. With GA weather you should be able to ride year round and roll up the miles. Good luck!

[Pennyrick]

If my simple math is correct and you run the Spyder 9,300 miles between oil changes, which you can easily do with the 1330 ACE engine, you can get 47,100 miles out of the six allowed services which will include the 28K service that will be an expensive one. If you don't plan to keep the bike through 47K but still make the six service visits in the contract, which you must do if you don't run the Spyder more than 9,300/year, then you're paying the dealership for services the Spyder did not need if it was ridden more. With GA weather you should be able to ride year round and roll up the miles. Good luck!

The agreement is fully transferable and can be sold with the Spyder. We doubt Penny will drive 9,300 a year but at age 77 you never know. She has already gone through three previous Spyders and has beaten terminal cancer so anything is possible.

[JayBros]

I'm 79 and this pandemic has really clobbered my annual mileage. I was averaging 12,585 through my first five years but I fear my 2020 long tour is going into the crapper thanks to Covid-19.

[Mikey]

Ya this covid crap has really put a pin in our balloon!!

[bikerbillone]

Chinese Wuhan Virus sucks! My dealer says, 3K miles, I'm going with that, not that I have a problem with 300 miles, just that the cost seems prohibitive at $90/hour.

[ulflyer]

I'm 79 and this pandemic has really clobbered my annual mileage. I was averaging 12,585 through my first five years but I fear my 2020 long tour is going into the crapper thanks to Covid-19.

Jay, greetings. So good to see you still hoofing along on the RT. At 85, I'm still driving the Slingshot a bit , but sitting at home so much has made me think about other things I "need".... like a Can Am of some sort. Hope to pick up a lightly used F3T Saturday about 150 miles away. Problem is, while I will have insurance on it, a signed title and BOS, I won't have a tag. According to online info...and you know how accurate that is.....I'm allowed up to 3 days to drive it straight home without a tag. I hope that is still true, as it was about 20 years ago when I bought a car out of state. May have to go to Lic Tag office in Lexington and see what they say, providing the lines are not too long. Don't like to be in confined spaces these days. Otherwise will have to take a chance. A buddy of mine is riding with me in the Slingshot to get it; he's a long time RT rider and we plan on alternating to make it more fun.

[Copperman]

just that the cost seems prohibitive at $90/hour.

$90.00 an hour is a bargain!