Kawasaki Motorcycle Forums banner

8000 miles Service on 2011 Kawi 650R... what's done?

5K views 17 replies 7 participants last post by  junkelist 
#1 ·
Hello,

Sorry if its a repeat question, but I tried searching for this topic, but didn't find any information on it.

Hence, asking about what's done in a 8000 miles service/maintenance schedule for a 2011 Kawi 650R?

My dealer gave me some 'BS" sounding list (mainly cleaning and inspecting stuff, engine oil change was only actual work I heard in that list) and said it's going to be around $400-$450 + taxes as applicable.

Thanks,
Rider.
 
#2 ·
#9 ·
everything is a check except the spark plugs. should've been replaced. But you kinda do need everything checked at 8k.
lol, no...

If bike is running strange then take the time to check spark plugs as well, but I hightly doubt they will go bad after 8000 miles. Mine still looked great at 13,600 miles.

The service manual says to change the plugs at 7.5 k.

noone in the right mind should go through the trouble of removing a spark plug to check it and not spend 7 bucks (more or less) to replace it.

so "yes" Thanks.
here's how i based my response.

The guy is going to dealer to service... so basically the rape happens when the manual says "replace" you're facked.

the dealer will charge you. for whatever it says and if you question it, they will pull the book out and go "see"

NOW had he said... "I'm looking through the manual, what SHOULD I do" THEN I would totally agree with you... take em out... clean em... use them for a bit more.

That would be like if you or me walked into a shop and looked at the bill and went "SPARK PLUG?!" what the.... lol :grin2:
yep, most people run the plugs until 50-80K and take em out only to realize they still look good as new (well, more or less). They're iridium too making them last much longer.

A lot of the things in the user manual have simply been copy/pasted from previous years for god-knows-how-long. They really should update the manuals with proper information when they refresh the models/engines. If only...


Thanks for the manual. So, for 8k miles, it says replace Spark-plug. What is your opinion/experience to replace it at 8k miles... is it waster of money?

Also, I do my own oil changes, so can I (technically) ask them not to do it during the 8K servicing?
 
#4 ·
lol, no...

I changed my tires at 14,000km (8700 miles), chain and sprocket at 22,000km (13,600 miles) and regular oil/filter change every 5,000km and that's it. My 2013 650 looked pristine and ran like new when I traded it in at 24,500km (15,200 miles)

Check tire pressure, tire wear, chain and sprocket wear, do your regular maintenance. Change your engine air filter if you see that it is excessively dirty. If bike is running strange then take the time to check spark plugs as well, but I hightly doubt they will go bad after 8000 miles. Mine still looked great at 13,600 miles. All depends how you ride I guess. These machines are very reliable and quite low maintenance. Most of Kawasaki's maintenance schedule is a 'check' and not a 'change' so use your own discretion OR bring it to a professional.
 
#11 ·
So I checked my manual and the periodic maintenance table indicates spark plug inspection every 12, 24 and 36 thousand kms.


Couldn't find any prompts to replace the plugs after a certain amount of kms/miles at first glance.


Furthermore, the NGK site is stating an average life of 60 and even 160 thousand kms for iridium plugs depending on type:


Type Service Life Benefits:
Nickel Alloy 20,000 - 40,000 kmsStandard style of spark Plug


Nickel Alloy
(V-Groove) 20,000 - 40,000 kms Improved ignitability due to sparking at periphery of the electrode


Platinum 0.8 mm dia. 100,000 kms Long service life and even better ignitability due to a small diameter centre electrode


Iridium 0.8 mm dia. 160,000 kms Extremely long service life. Same level of ignitability 0.8 mm dia.


Platinum Iridium IX 0.6 mm dia.60,000 kms Long service life. Same as 0.8 mm dia. of Platinum and extremely good ignitability characteristics. (Better than 0.8 mm dia. platinum or 0.8 mm dia. iridium)


I am in favour of changing parts for maintenance reasons instead of waiting for them to malfunction but is there any reason not to change the plugs every 60.000kms or more?


The only thing I can think of right now is low quality fuel :Hmmmm:


Is it a case of who is listening to whom in the end?
 
#13 ·
The service schedule for all Kwaks is plug replacement every 7.5K miles

You definitely don't need to replace them, unless you're worried about warranty!
 
#14 ·
Well... my motorcycle is over four years old and even out of extended warranty that I had purchased when I bought the bike brand new.

So, still will it be an issue?

The bike runs perfectly fine... hence wondering if changing the sparkplug is necessary.... yes, future is always uncertain.
 
#18 ·
its worth getting the plugs done because it usually highlights if there is corrosion on the stick coils which is a known issue on this bike (due to the location and water ingress), if the stick coils are corroded its 100% worth changing them because they can get stuck and be a massive hassle to remove.

Im talking from experience as I took my 08 er6f (ninja 650) in for service and the mechanic changed the plugs and suggested new stick coils. I stupidly was being a cheapskate and didnt go for it. The next service came up and the mechanic had to remove the rocker cover and all sorts to get the, now stuck, coils out which ended up costing more in the long run!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top