First bike, what should I do?

[mellis95]

I just bought my first bike yesterday. It is a 2000 Yamaha V Star Classic 1100. It seems to be in great shape and rides great. However, I don't have any service records for it, so don't know how long it has been since any type of service has been performed. What would you all recommend that I do as far as maintenance? Are there certain things I should get done immediately, just to be sure, or would it be okay to just start doing maintenance from the starting mileage of when I bought the bike (35,900 miles).... (i.e. check/adjust valves 6,000 miles from now, etc.) I just need to figure out where to start.

Thanks,

Matt

[VermilionX]

why not just have it tuned up?

that's a lot of miles on it already anyway.

a friend of mine bought a used R6 and he had it tuned up just to make sure.

[ZooTech]

I don't have any service records for it, so don't know how long it has been since any type of service has been performed.

Well, there ya go. Check and/or change everything within reason. You need to start from a point of knowing what's been done and start a routine from there.

[storysunfolding]

+1

Oil, filters (air, oil), fluids (brake), check for the wear on the pads, check the tires, Was the 2000 shafty? If so change that oil too.

[Bachstrad37]

If you care at all about this bike, you have to set a reference point since none was set for you. Knowing the previous owner will give you an idea, but not a guarantee.

Do the oil motor oil first. It's the most important and easiest to do.

Then I'd do the air filter.

Then the sparkplugs and check the sparkplug cables.

Next would be the brake fluids and pads.

Also, check for cracking in any of the rubber parts (tires, hoses, seals, etc.). Make sure you document it somewhere. I kept everything in my owner's manual.

[CNF2002]

Check the air filter and plugs. If they are extremely dirty or obviously in dire need of replacement, its more likely that the previous owner did little maintenance outside of oil changes. If the air filter and plugs are newish, the owner was probably more attentive.

[mellis95]

Okay, the oil looks and smells brand new and the air filter isn't brand new, but it is in really good shape. All of the fluids are full and it runs great. I think I will take it in to have the valves checked and have them do a general tune up. I haven't checked the spark plugs yet because it is getting dark outside. It is a shaft drive and there is no noticeable oil anywhere around the shaft. The only place I found a bit of oil is where the exhaust goes into the head. There is a very small amount of oil burned on the exhaust. I know this is common to see on older cars, but is it okay on a bike? I will have the shop check that too, I just want to make sure I know what I am talking about so the shop won't have any chance to rip me off. (I have bad luck with mechanics....)

Thanks for the advice.

Also, if I maintain this bike well, how many miles can I expect to put on it before I have to "retire" it? The instructor for my MSF course had a BMW that was over 20 years old and it still runs great. How would a newer Yamaha compare?

Matt

[ofblong]

I dont care how the oil "smells" or looks. You just bought it you shouldnt take any chances that it "smells" or "looks" new and just replace it. Oil costs next to nothing and is the easiest thing to replace while also being one of the most important. I would still change the oil and filter.

[Gnarlyroad]

Not having any records when I bought my 650 nighthawk I bought a service manual and checked everything on the maintenance schedule(serviceintervals). Almost fifty items.That way I learned about the bike and what shape it was in. Then I took it in for a minor tune up. Sync the carbs, adjust the valves etc.

[storysunfolding]

check them all