Normal maintenance on a SW

I've heard the Burgman needs the valves checked and maybe adjusted every 4k miles and it can get expensive for those who don't do any of their own service.

How often does the SW need service and how expensive is it when it's done at the dealer?

Dealer to dealer price will vary.All depends on how much you ride it.$$$
Belt every 16-20k.Probably 2 rear tire per belt,1 front.3 oil changes per belt.
The search on this site works great.Good scoots IMO.

Hi LBD. I think my manual says adjust valves every 16K. As these are shimmed it does cost something. Be certain of your mechanic as this isn't a job for the new guy.  After the job is complete, if your scoot sounds like a beer can with gravel being shaken you will know the mechanic didn't have a clue. 

Says to check.Adjust if needed.

I and many others don't even bother with valve clearance checks or adjustments. Checking is relatively easy, adjustment is a very different matter. To adjust the clearance, the timing chain must come off and both camshafts must be removed. In addition to having the correct replacement shims (sold as a kit), you need a micrometer and need to know how to use it. Reassembly of the valve train requires precision and following the service manual to the letter. Most mechanics HATE valve adjustments, as they are not paid enough for this stressful job. It's too easy to drop a shim or bucket down into the crankcase, and then you're really screwed. I know of at least 6 Silverwings with over 50k miles that have never had a check or adjustment, and they run just fine.

If you're anal and need to go by the book, you're looking at many hours of shop labour to adjust valves. Unless you're watching, you should mark the valve cover nuts with a scribe and see if they've actually been removed after paying for even a clearance check. A lot of tupperware has to come off the front end just to check the valves.

LDB wrote:

I've heard the Burgman needs the valves checked and maybe adjusted every 4k miles and it can get expensive for those who don't do any of their own service.

How often does the SW need service and how expensive is it when it's done at the dealer?

I think the Burgman that may need valves checked every 4k miles is the pre 2007 Burgman 400.  In 2007 they redesigned the 400 so the engine isn't needing the maintenance the pre 2007 400 does.  For the SWing I don't think too many have their valves adjusted.  I had mine for 34,000 miles and it still rode great.  The only expenses really are the belt changes, oil changes, and tire changes.

I had a Majesty before the SWing and they have the best valve checks at 26,000 miles. Also, the pre 2007 Burgman 400 seemed to use oil for some reason. But there is a couple of sites you should go to:

www.majestyusa.com
www.burgmanusa.com

You can get good info at these sites. I thought the Majesty was a very smooth and comfortable bike like the SWing. But the SWing is a much more powerful twin with a frame mounted engine.

I'm not mechanical at all so I won't even be doing my own oil changes. I was just curious if there's a lot to do. I figure on just a few k miles per year so I may be one of those oil change every fall prior to mostly putting it away for the winter people. At 16k intervals I'd probably get 3 years per belt and tires maybe every other year. Sounds like a not very expensive overall cost of operation.

If you only are going to put a few thousands miles a year on it the SWing would be a pretty inexpensive bike to own.  Do the oil change like you said in your post and tires last about 10,000 miles and the belt is 16,000 miles.  Do people put bikes away in Texas?  I didn't know it got that cold there.

Well, it would likely get too cool to suit me for a few months although there might be the odd day sprinkled in when I'd ride.

If you do not ride big miles---SilverWing simple---learn to do oil changes. Use Honda dealer, they may know the SilverWing.

Then not being ridden often...think dead battery?

I bought my 08 Wing from my sister in FL near Pensacola. She, and my other two sisters have lived there for years and have been acclimated to FL weather. All three were born and raised up here in MN but now when it gets down to around 50 degrees they bundle up in heavier coats and are freezing their butts off.

When my son and I went down there the last week of March and the early mornings were around 45 degrees. We'd be outside in our shorts and T-shirts and they'd be bundled up so I can see where anyone who lives down South would "freeze" when the temps get down a bit. They are used to the hot and humid. Up here we are used to watching the snow melt waiting for 50 degrees. The forecast for the next few days calls for temps in the 70's which means it's going to be HOT for a while. LOL

I'm not complaining tho. I've been waiting for weather like this ever since I got my Wing running and have had a few rides on it so far. It's early in the season and I plan on taking full advantage of it this year. It's been a few years since I've been on two wheels, as I've written in previous posts, and I plan on making up my lack of mileage.