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[Richard230]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing performed on my 2018 Zero S, with Power Tank, at my retail dealer's service department. My invoice showed total labor being billed at 1.75 hours.  The invoice listed 38 (mostly chassis) items that were to be inspected and were checked off. While "Commissioning" was not mentioned, the following items, relative to the power train, were performed:  "Adjust Encoder timing using zero diagnostic software";  "Check zeroserviceportal.com for all applicable service bulletins or campaigns" and "With the latest Zero Diagnostics utility, found on zeroserviceportal.com, run the 'check firmware versions' and update as necessary".  Labor charge was the only item billed and it totaled $201.  This included a 10% discount given to customers who bought their bike at the shop. 

On the way back home, my Zero ran perfectly and even though it is likely Zero's slowest model, being kind of heavy with the added power tank and the "S" motor, it still leaped from 60 mph to 85 mph up a 6% freeway grade in just seconds - before I backed off as I was closing on slower traffic so quickly.     Fast enough for me. 

[calamarichris]

Many ICE motorcyclists I know regard this as a bs stealership tax, but I can attest to the importance of that first service.
Before taking my last two new bikes in for that first service, I loosened one motormount bolt and set the rear wheel slightly askew with the chain-tension axle adjusters, and let about 10PSI out of a tire. Both times, all of my traps were found and corrected.
I still like to do the initial service myself after they're done--remove all of the fasteners and apply the correct level threadlock, carefully Honda Spray* and clean every surface and get everything perfect. I'm not a dealership mechanic, but I do like working on my own bikes. It's a satisfying feeling to roll down the road knowing you have perfected every valve clearance, every spoke tensioned, and every fastener tightened to the correct torque by your own hand.

*And in case it hasn't already been mentioned in this forum, Honda's polish spray is great, great stuff for keeping your steed shiny, pretty and protected. I gave up on Honda motorcycles after my abysmal experience with the VTR1000F Superhawk, but still slink sheepishly into the dealership for Honda spray every few months.

[evdjerome]

Richard - I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with your 2018. I follow them with great interest. I'm sure others do too. Look forward to your future reports.

[Richard230]

One other comment is that the check list I was given specified that the tension of the drive belt should be between 20 and 30 Kg and the belt tension received a check mark on the list.  I might add that I specifically asked that the belt tension be checked and adjusted as necessary as it seemed to tight to me.  I just checked the tension of my belt and, according to my cheap Gates belt tension tester, the tension is 50 Kg. (The 2018 Zero owner's manual says that the correct belt tension, tested with the Gates belt tension tester, should be between 25 and 76.5 Kg.)  So I guess the tension is OK and the specification on the check list is likely for the previous Zero models with the thinner belt width.   

[TheGap]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing performed on my 2018 Zero S, [...]  Labor charge was the only item billed and it totaled $201.  [...]

My dealer did the 100km and 7000km servicing for free on my 2017SR ... I'm not complaining 

[heroto]

Not zero specific, but this rider has seen many posts on other forums in favor of the dealer first tune up. If/when my first zero (ever) arrives, I'll pay the money gladly for the first service for the peace of mind.

[MostlyBonkers]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing performed on my 2018 Zero S, [...]  Labor charge was the only item billed and it totaled $201.  [...]

My dealer did the 100km and 7000km servicing for free on my 2017SR ... I'm not complaining 

That's more like it! I refused an initial service on mine, quoted at around £70.  One of the key reasons to go electric is to avoid stealerships as much as possible. They're there to fix things under warranty as far as I'm concerned. I'll buy my tyres and brakes from people that don't rip me off.

[Richard230]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing performed on my 2018 Zero S, [...]  Labor charge was the only item billed and it totaled $201.  [...]

My dealer did the 100km and 7000km servicing for free on my 2017SR ... I'm not complaining 

That's more like it! I refused an initial service on mine, quoted at around £70.  One of the key reasons to go electric is to avoid stealerships as much as possible. They're there to fix things under warranty as far as I'm concerned. I'll buy my tyres and brakes from people that don't rip me off.

The hard part is finding a shop like that.  They are becoming fewer and fewer as they are driven out of business by ever higher taxes and burdensome regulations.   

[Fran K]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing...."Check zeroserviceportal.com for all applicable service bulletins or campaigns"......

Does this mean they charge over $100 an  hour to look for updates during the warranty period?  The whole charging to look for stuff is a bit scarry to me.  In all honesty I only have had a new pick up truck at the dealer for the first service and there was no charge at all.  I also have been at competitive motorcycle events and witnessed service managers get into bragging contest as to how they figure out the most expensive way to make out the bill.

[JaimeC]

Nobody works for free.  If they do, they don't eat.  An hour spent looking for issues that aren't found is still an hour out of the technician's time and he should be paid for that.  I don't mind going to the dealer for service because I want them to stay in business and be there when I need them.

Mail order and internet businesses are nice BUT if you need a part you're still looking at a minimum of 24 hour turn around (if you're willing to pay the premium in shipping charges).  If you need a part RIGHT NOW you want a dealer... you don't want to sit on the side of the road while you wait for the order you just placed on your smartphone to deliver the part you need to get back on your trip.

My two cents.

[Fran K]

Nobody works for free.  If they do, they don't eat.  An hour spent looking for issues that aren't found is still an hour out of the technician's time and he should be paid for that.  I don't mind going to the dealer for service because I want them to stay in business and be there when I need them.

....

That logic works better with heavy equipment than motorcycles.  I notice you and Richard230 both put BMW bikes in the bottom of youir post perhapa that is called a signature.  I had a BMW dealer in Beverley Ma, I believe Freeman cycles, then they closed so I had one in Merimac NH, Second wind BMW, they merged into something else and now the new entity that does not even carry BMW.  Max BMW seems to have swallowed up most if not all of the closer places that likewise have changed Names and storefront addresses over the last 20 or 30 years.  I happened to stop in at MAX bmw lately and told them I wanted an electric bike with spoke wheels actually the guy I spoke to said something to the effect they had been a Zero dealer, I doubt at that location, but dropped the brand.

I bought a KTM freeride, obviously not the class of bike most folks have on here.  To me reading between the lines of the manual it does not make sense to take it to the dealer for routine service.  Every thing they list it seems, even air in the tires and spoke adjustments calls for removing the battery.  Like I noted above the service manager may view his job to piece together the bill in the most expensive way possible.  It calls for changing the engine bearings every 100 hours (they do this on their ice bikes, two cycle ones a bit shorter and 4 cycle a bit longer)  If it breaks I would part it out or use the suspention on something and never buy another ktm. 

[Richard230]

Yesterday I had the initial 600-mile servicing...."Check zeroserviceportal.com for all applicable service bulletins or campaigns"......

Does this mean they charge over $100 an  hour to look for updates during the warranty period?  The whole charging to look for stuff is a bit scarry to me.  In all honesty I only have had a new pick up truck at the dealer for the first service and there was no charge at all.  I also have been at competitive motorcycle events and witnessed service managers get into bragging contest as to how they figure out the most expensive way to make out the bill.

It looks that way.  I guess 25 years of buying BMW (bring more wallet) motorcycles has got me trained.   

[MrDude_1]

*And in case it hasn't already been mentioned in this forum, Honda's polish spray is great, great stuff for keeping your steed shiny, pretty and protected. I gave up on Honda motorcycles after my abysmal experience with the VTR1000F Superhawk, but still slink sheepishly into the dealership for Honda spray every few months.

And it smells amazingly good.

[Richard230]

*And in case it hasn't already been mentioned in this forum, Honda's polish spray is great, great stuff for keeping your steed shiny, pretty and protected. I gave up on Honda motorcycles after my abysmal experience with the VTR1000F Superhawk, but still slink sheepishly into the dealership for Honda spray every few months.

And it smells amazingly good.

My Zero dealer sells that stuff (which I have been using for about 30 years, although I believe that the formula keeps changing along with government pollution regulations) and it seems to work just fine on my Zero.  However, it is at its best when cutting chain oil on a rear wheel, but that is something that I don't seem to deal with much anymore.