Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi all, I have a question about the servicing of my '95 ZX6R... which now has 63,000km on the clock.

One mechanic told me that I should have it serviced every 6,000km, alternating major and minor services. Someone else told me the same interval but every third or fourth should be major...

How often do I need to have a 'major' service?

I am completely mechanically clueless so don't even really know the difference between the two.

Thanks for your help!

every twelve thou should be a major usually so your mechanic's spot on

however, if you can't be bothered ($$$ reasons) you can just do a few minors, and then a major.

so either way i wouldnt stress.

I do the minors myself, very easy and save a quite a few dollars for riding gear
I am sure someone will be kind enough to show you how, basically oil and oil filter change, use a good quality oil. Worth knowing, also gets you familiar with basic pre-ride checks of your bike. Majors as mentioned is right.

It all depends on how you ride the bike. If it's on the track a lot, or almost always worked hard it may need the oil changed every 6,000k.

I do a lot of Ks but am relatively gentle with the bike, so often service every 10 and major every other one. Minor services are often a change oil and check everything else. Majors vary dependant on the number of Ks, but much stuff is missed/ignored by shoddy mechanics. Owners manual will have a service schedule and jobs that need to be done at what intervals.

Mel wrote:How often do I need to have a 'major' service?

I am completely mechanically clueless so don't even really know the difference between the two.

For all intents and purposes:
Minor service = oil and oil filter change, air filter wash and reoil, carb balance. Takes a couple of hours if you stop for heaps of smoke breaks
Major service = as above, plus valve clearance check and sparkplug change. Takes between 3 hours (if the valve clearances are in spec), and a week (if the valve clearances are out and the shop doesn't have shims in stock).

On my own ZX6, the valve clearances needed adjustment once, when the bike had 10,500km on it. Every time I've gone digging around under the cam cover since, it's been to go, "Yup, still within spec... yup, still within spec... yup, still within spec..."

i dont let the oil go more than 5K, my mechanic reported that all is well inside at the last (113K) major service. no markings on the cam lobes and all looked very nice indeedy

his quote was "your bike is a rolling advertisement for regular oil changes"

i do the major every 10K, its easier to remember

Cool, thanks for all your answers!

I do a lot of k's but I think I am pretty gentle with it... I think I will stick with what the mechanic said... I had a major service done shortly after I bought it, about 11,000km ago now and apparently everything was out and it hadn't been looked at in ages. That was at Bruce's in Mitchell... I was pretty happy with his service. Guess I'll book her in again in the very near future

Cheers!
Mel.

Mel wrote:.....That was at Bruce's in Mitchell... I was pretty happy with his service. Guess I'll book her in again in the very near future

Cheers!
Mel.

He is a great mechanic mate, he will look after you, and make sure your bike is running well. I have known Bruce since he started his apprenticeship at R & J Genge (Suzuki dealers) in 1982. He knows his stuff !!

The valve clearance's should only need checking every 20,000km , around every 3rd service.

surely theres more to a minor service than just oil,filter, air filter....??


do u guys who home service ur bikes do shit like lube/adjust cables (clutch, brakes) ...check brake pads, change brake fluid/coolant.....

or do u just do stuff as its needed??

reason i ask is i ussually do minor service (oil, filter,clean air filter) every 6,000km and get shop to do full service every 2nd (12k) service....

my plugs are every 24k .....

Major service every 2nd (12k) service on 95 ZX6R for Valve adjustment check