The Garage - Anglesey Motorcycles

Motorcycle servicing: What are the different options?

There are various service options available when it comes to motorcycle servicing.

You can opt for a full motorbike service, an interim service, and in some cases, a major motorbike service.

Read on to find out about what each motorbike service option includes.

What does a motorcycle service include?

What constitutes a full service when it comes to motorcycle servicing can vary a little from garage to garage, but in general a full motorcycle service should pinpoint and address any issues that may affect the safe operation of your machine.

The motorcycle full service checklist should incorporate:

Engine checks

Chassis & brake checks

Road test

With motorcycle servicing, a full service will include a road test to ensure the motorbike is running as expected.

Full service vs interim service: What's the difference?

Garages also offer ‘interim checks’, which go into less detail than motorbike full services, but still ensure the vital components of your motorbike are working as they should be.

As the name suggests, an interim motorbike service should keep your bike in good condition between full services.

The interim motorbike service will very likely include an oil and oil filter change, as well as checks to key bike parts including:

An interim service should also include a road test.

What is a major motorbike service?

Some garages may offer a ‘major service’, which is a full service plus a very detailed inspection and servicing of your motorbike’s components. For example, a major motorbike service might include removing and cleaning brake callipers and flushing the hydraulic system.

Such a comprehensive service will pick up any potential problems early on - making future MOTs a breeze, and helping to make your ride safer.

To establish the motorbike services that your chosen garage offers, contact them for details of their motorcycle service price list.

How much is a motorbike service? - How much is a full service for a motorbike?

The cost of a full motorbike service depends on the size of your engine and the specific pricing of your chosen garage.

Motorcycle servicing costs at an independent garage may be less than motorcycle services costs at a garage which is part of a nationwide or regional chain, because the latter has larger operating costs for things like marketing and city centre business rates. And unlike some small garages, chains will need to pay VAT.

Here is a rough idea of what you might expect to pay for a motorbike service:

Motorbike repair costs

If the service highlights that you need any motorbike repair work carried out, which is not included in the service plan, the motorbike repair costs will be in addition to the motorbike service charge.

When it comes to motorbike servicing, a mechanic should be looking at your motorcycle every six months or so - which equates to every 2,500-4000 miles.

Defects on a motorcycle have the potential to be extremely dangerous, so keeping to a regular maintenance schedule for your bike is paramount.

How long does it take to service a bike?

A motorbike service can take anywhere between 45 minutes to a day, depending on the issues discovered during the service.

Generally, you would be looking at an average of around 2 hours for a motorbike service.  

Remember to factor in that the point at which the garage will start work on your motorbike will depend on how many other jobs that they have booked in for that day.

it’s best to find out when the garage think that your motorbike may be ready by.

Can I service my own motorbike?

Whilst it is advisable to instruct a professional to undertake a full service of your motorbike, there are some basic motorbike maintenance tasks that you can complete yourself.

These might include:

How do I find out about motorcycle servicing availability near me?

The quickest and simplest way to find motorcycle servicing providers and where to service your motorbike is to search on the internet.

There are also numerous motorbike website forums where it may be possible to seek recommendations for a garage offering motorcycle servicing near you.

MOTs: What are common defects?

Lights and reflectors: During an MOT nearly two in five defects - and half of all major defects - relate to lamps and reflectors. Your lamps will need to be in good working order, securely fitted, the right colour, and angled in the correct direction.

Steering and suspension: Problems with steering and suspension are also common: this encompasses forks, handlebars, grips, mountings, head bearings, swinging arm, shock absorbers, and damping effect.

Tyres and wheels: Around a tenth of defects relate to tyres, while only 1% concern wheels. Any issue with a tyre is very serious, and historically in MOT scenarios 37% of tyre issues are deemed ‘dangerous’. Tyres must be securely fitted and of the correct type, while tread depth must be 1mm+ on motorbikes over 50cc. The condition of the valves and the wheel bearings must also be satisfactory.

Braking: Brake issues account for just under one in five MOT defects, with around a third of these classed as “dangerous”. Brake hoses, disc brakes, pads shoes and ABS warning lights (if present) must all be in good working order.

Which is more thorough, an MOT or a full motorbike service?

An MOT does not cover the engine, clutch or gearbox, so a full motorbike service is the most thorough series of checks your machine can undergo.