How Often Should You Get Your Motorcycle Serviced?

Servicing your bike is an essential part of regular motorcycle maintenance work that one has to go through.

So, how often should you get your motorcycle serviced? What is the frequency of motorcycle servicing?

For motorcycle servicing, it is best to refer to the owner’s manual to find the recommended servicing frequency. As a general thumb rule, it is advised to service the motorcycle for every 3000 miles (or 5000 kilometres) of distance traveled.

If your motorcycle is new, the first servicing should be done after travelling 500 miles (or 800 kilometres).

Different manufacturers have different frequency of motorcycle servicing mentioned in their owner’s manual. Each of these recommendation is described in detail in the next section.

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Motorcycle Servicing Frequency For Different Manufacturers

The motorcycle servicing frequency varies from one bike manufacturer to the another.

It is best to refer to the owner’s manual to find the recommended servicing frequency.

Different manufacturers have different frequency of motorcycle servicing mentioned in their owner’s manual. The distance to be traveled for every servicing varies from 2500 miles (or 4000 kilometres) to 6000 miles (or 10,000 kilometres).

As a general thumb rule, it is advised to service the motorcycle for every 3000 miles (or 5000 kilometres) traveled.

While this is an average approximation, we have collected the motorcycle servicing frequency for different manufacturers as mentioned in their owner manuals.

The bike manufacturers we have collected data from the manual are – Harley Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Triumph.

Harley Davidson – Every 2500 miles (or 4000 km)

Among the bike manuals we surveyed, Harley Davidson motorcycles have the servicing frequency for the lowest distance traveled.

A Harley Davidson motorcycle should be taken for servicing for every 2500 miles (or 4000 kilometres) traveled.

Among other motorcycle models, Harley Davidson recommends a much higher servicing frequency and for shorter distance traveled. This is actually a good thing, since a more frequent servicing also translates to better maintenance and keeping the bike in a good working condition.

Also, for the first servicing after you have bought a new bike, the motorcycle should be serviced once you have covered a distance of 500 miles (or 800 kilometres).

Honda – Every 4000 miles (or 6400 km)

The servicing frequency for Honda is lower than Harley Davidson since it recommends the servicing after a slightly longer distance traveled.

A Honda motorcycle should be serviced for every 4000 miles (or 6400 kilometres) of distance traveled.

While this is slightly higher than the average distance of 3000 miles or 5000 kilometres we have recommended, Honda models are known for their durability. Servicing the bike anywhere between 3000 miles to 4000 miles should be perfectly fine for these motorcycles.

For the Honda bike’s first servicing, the motorcycle should have traveled a distance of 600 miles (or 1000 kilometres).

Yamaha – Every 4000 miles (or 6000 km)

Yamaha motorcycle models have the same servicing frequency of Honda models, except that they have limit on time as well along with the distance traveled by the motorcycle.

A Yamaha bike should be taken for servicing for every 4000 miles (or 6000 kilometres) traveled, or every 6 months, whichever comes first.

While the 6-month period interval can be confusing, especially if you have traveled very low distance in the last 6 months, it should be treated as a guideline or thumb rule rather than a strict rule to be adhered.

Also, for the first servicing after you have bought a new bike, the motorcycle should be serviced once you have covered a distance of 600 miles (or 1000 kilometres).

Kawasaki – Every 3800 miles (or 6000 km)

Kawasaki motorcycle models have servicing frequency almost same as that of Honda and Yamaha motorcycle models.

A Kawasaki motorcycle should be serviced for every 3800 miles (or 6000 kilometres) of distance traveled.

While this is slightly higher than the average distance of 3000 miles or 5000 kilometres we have recommended, it is still around the same distance figures. Servicing the bike anywhere between 3000 miles to 3800 miles should be perfectly fine for these Kawasaki motorcycle models.

For the bike’s first servicing, the motorcycle should have traveled a distance of 600 miles (or 1000 kilometres).

Triumph – Every 6000 miles (or 10,000 km)

The servicing period is the longest for a Triumph motorcycle compared to the other manufacturers we have surveyed.

A Triumph bike should be taken for servicing for every 6000 miles (or 10,000 kilometres) traveled.

This figure of servicing every 6000 miles or 10,000 kilometres is much higher than our recommended 3000 miles or 10,000 kilometres servicing frequency. Still, one can choose to service at either after traveling 3000 miles for higher maintenance or at 6000 miles distance for economical servicing.

Also, for the first servicing after you have bought a new bike, the motorcycle should be serviced once you have covered a distance of 500 miles (or 800 kilometres).

Summary Of Servicing Frequency For Different Manufacturers

Here is the summarized version of the recommend distance travel after which bike servicing is required for these different motorcycle manufacturers.

Motorcycle	Servicing Frequency For Every –
Harley Davidson	2500 miles (or 4000 Kilometres)
Honda	4000 miles (or 6400 Kilometres)
Yamaha	4000 miles (or 6000 Kilometres) or 6 months
Kawasaki	3800 miles (or 6000 Kilometres)
Triumph	6000 miles (or 10,000 Kilometres)

First Motorcycle Servicing Is Much Earlier

The first motorcycle servicing is the one when you take your new bike for the service after you have bought it recently.

If your motorcycle is new, the first servicing should be done after travelling a distance of 500 miles or 800 kilometres.

All motorcycle manufacturers also recommend that the first motorcycle servicing should be done between 500 miles (800 kilometres) to 600 miles (1000 kilometres) of distance traveled.

While Honda, Yamaha, and Kawasaki bike manuals recommend the first servicing after traveling 500 miles (800 kilometres), Triumph and Harley Davidson manuals recommend the servicing once you have traveled a distance of 600 miles (1000 kilometres).

What Entails Motorcycle Servicing

Most people assume servicing their motorcycle simply means engine oil change, greasing, cleaning the air filter, and bike washing.

But this is absolutely not what servicing is only about.

Look at servicing as a preventive maintenance of your motorcycle, examining almost all the bike components to ensure they are in the right working conditions.

A proper motorcycle servicing includes – engine oil and filter change, cleaning air filter, clutch adjustment, lubricating chain, brake pad and cable adjustment, topping up brake fluid and checking for leaks, checking electric accessories and wiring, inspecting tire pressure and threads, front fork adjustment, checking ignition system, cooling system, and many more inspections and adjustments.

For a detailed checklist of things, check out our post on things to be done on motorcycle servicing.