I was just sitting here drinking my coffee and wondering how many miles folks have got? I am just shy of 4,000 and about to perform oil change #2. How many miles do you have and what services have you done? Just curious. I encourage a post of the ODO reading for the truly hardcore high- milers.
I've done a few now. 16,647 miles... 26,791 km Valves checked (by dealer) after 20,000km. Dealer services at 1k, 10k, 20k. Plenty of oil changes & handful of air filters. One coolant change. New chain at 18,000km. What? Picture proof?
I only have around 1800 miles, but I will put it off to 12,000 miles as well, unless I start hearing here that folks are finding them way out. I believe these engines have had 6000 mile call outs from the beginning, which was what a lot of bikes had back then. I can’t think of another modern, water cooled, shim/bucket bike engine that is still that low. I think the 6000 mile call out is simply German pride/stubbornness. The BMW 650's still have that call out. Perhaps changing it would be admitting they were wrong. FWIW, I bought a KTM 640 once that the original owner had no idea that it needed regular valve clearance checks/adjustments. It had almost 10,000 on it. That bikes specs I recall were for checks @ 600 miles and then every 3000 miles. It was slightly tight on the exhaust side when it had its first ever check & adjustment near 10K. So Chuffa, were any adjustments made? If so do you know at what service and how far out it was?
I have 1700 miles and did plan on checking at 6k but I am very interested in what every one finds out. If it is proven at 6k that is way over kill then I will wait until 12k. I have done alot more oil changes than most though to get all the metal shavings out quickly. I did 20, 50, 300, and 1200 mile conventional oil&filter changes. At 1200 miles I went to full synthetic from now on.
Chuffa, Do you know how they did the checks? Did they drop the engine? Disassemble the rear and remove/move the tank? Riding again, Since you have done so many oil changes I am surprised you have not checked the valves twice already.
I bought the bike as a hobby.The break in procedure I choose to do is why I changed the oil so many times. I have not checked the valves because I do not have the bike off the road long enough lol. Although from what I have read into it, leaving the motor in place and separating the back bone seems the way to go. Personally I do not want to tear that far into the bike yet but I have re torque just about every nut on the bike since I got it. I do appreciate Chuffa putting so many miles on his bike is very helpful. I am averaging about 1200 miles a month.
I have 5,800ish miles on mine and had the valves done at 5,200 miles. Wish I had waited to 12,000 at least. Pissed away $400. Valves were within spec. I will have it checked at 12,000-14,000 and insist that it be adjusted to right on spec, regardless if it is technically in spec but on the othe outer limits. (Or I'll do it myself if I have a second bike again by then). Then I won't bother with it until I get symptoms like hard starting or weird noises. But that is just me, you have to do you. I mean that is assuming I don't just trade her in on a ktm duke 690 this winter. Don't get me wrong I love the bike, but I ride mostly street and sometimes I feel like I'm sitting on a money pit/impossible to get parts time bomb that is beyond my income level/wrenching ability/patience. Sometimes I feel like I would be better off with a 690 and a 250-450cc jap dual sport. Then again I haven't ridden my bike in a week and sometimes forget how just plain awesome she is on the back country Pennsylvania roads, and my opinion would probably be different if I wasn't currently on a riding dry spell. But my opinion wouldn't differ about the vavle check. Personally I will still wait until 10,000-12,000 miles intervals. If you call around to some of the guys in the US who have been dealing with these bike a lot they will probably tell you the same thing. But it's a risk I suppose.
5800 on Strada, 3800 on Terra. Waiting 'til 12k unless there's some symptom prior to that points at valves.
I've got about 6300 miles in 2.5 months. 2 oil changes so far and that's it as I'll wait on the valves but I really need to replace the rear tire.
10k miles..several oil changes..new rear tire @ 8500 new chain around 9k. I run a booster plug. The bike does great. I also run a 15 tooth sprocket..love the mid range performance. Mileage didn't take much a hit either. I split time on the Strada with 3 other bikes. It's become a favorite..(r1200GS) triumph street triple r & Aprilia Tuono. I just like the way a single jingles! Oh and I might do the valves @20k...I am undecided.
Also at 10k, valves adjusted @7K and way off, though i don't recollect to what value, but do know it was accessed via rear sub frame, air box, throttle body. Between that and the Moss last week, runs pretty good!
