My 955i Speed Triple which I acquired this April is 13 years old yet only boasts just over 7k mileage. I know this big service with valve check & adjust is at 12k but would you check these now given the age of the bike or wait until 12k comes along whenever that may be? It's not a worry to me either way as I've done this on many in-line fours with bucket/ shims so am happy to do this. I'll be doing the oil and filter over winter along with striping the rear hub. Fork oil, brake fluid and shock linkage already done but was also thinking of changing the fuel filter, good idea or leave it? Thanks
For me Shamus when I get a new to me bike, I want to learn as much as I can about her, as soon as poss. So my view is to give the bike a full, really full check-over/service. I don't really follow the mfrs schedule too closely as, in general, I want to do a lot more, more often, than the mfr/dealer. So for your question, you sound like a bloke who knows his way around bikes so I would say definitely do the valve check now - if only to confirm their condition and to set a benchmark.
My Adventurer was a similar age but with only about 4K on the clock, the valve clearances were within limits when checked at that mileage. Good idea to change fluids annually and also air/fuel filters regularly, your fuel filter may be contaminated with fuel residues or gum despite the low mileage, so I would change it, if only to eliminate it when fault findings any snags.
I was kind of leaning that way mainly for piece of mind as I generally went into the valves every couple of years (6k) of my previous Kwak ZX's. A lot of the time the clearances where within tolerance but I would push them out to the widest specified gap whilst in there. Are the shims 7.48mm or 9.5mm?
Whilst I agree with th big lad ref getting to know your particular animal, there are only certain elements of the servicing schedule that deteriorate with age. The valve shims only wear when the engine is running, whereas engine oil and other liquids deteriorate with age as well as usage. So if you are watching the pennies, I think 7k is way too early to worry about the shims, but if you are going to do it all yourself anyway, getting to know the bike and the piece of mind having it all done gives, the time spent doing it is time well spent I think. ATB Bob
I bought my 2006 Daytona this year and had 11,345 miles on the clock. Had the 12K services done and all the shims/valves were spot on and no adjustments were needed. Only the throttle balancing needed a tweak on the 3rd cylinder.
