Having been up and down twice in the last 2 weeks from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai, first week on 250cc, and second on BM650, I thought a journey to the Yamaha big bike centre in Khorat made more sense for my 6,000km or 10,000 km service.
The Yamaha big bikes here in Thailand are made to Californian specs, the service intervals for California and the USA is based on 4,000mile intervals. For everywhere else in the world for the same models it is every 6,000 miles. As this is not California I have decided to take the middle road and aim for 5,000 mile intervals. Nice and easy 5,10,15 etc.
I phoned Khorat, who manage a little English, and told them I was coming in Monday (today), they said they would get a Yamaha service tech guy to come up from Bangkok as they did not have experience with the FJR.
So a sunny 185km to Khorat this morning, with a quick call first at the friendly immigration office for a 90day report and off to Sibsima motor company, conveniently sited right on the No 2 highway.
After being taken out for food by Noi, the helpful sales guy on the back of an R6, (pillion may be more suited to 40kg Thai ladies than 6ft Farangs), while waiting for Chaowarid to arrive.
He turned out to be a young man, but very competent, thorough and it was a pleasure watching him laying out the excellent Yamaha tool set, including 2 electronic torque wrenches which were used on retightening most fixings. As I was slightly increasing the Californian service interval, I asked him to also change the oil filter and the rear shaft drive oil, not in the 4,000 service,list he was happy to do that. The whole service was done proffessionally with great care for cleanliness, no short cuts taken.
He had an English service manual for the bike and had actually taken the trouble to write the torque and other settings in his little black book to save time.
The staff at Sibsima were very hospitable with continuous water, coffee etc and had no problem me staying in the workshop for the service. 2 of the service staff also stayed and watched, and assisted.
Total service cost only 1,380 Baht, that was mainly for 4litres of Yamaha lube oil and the filter and rear shaft oil. The service took nearly 3 hours and he was working fast all that time. Bikes may be expensive in Thailand, but you cannot complain about service cost.
Yamaha also invited me to join them on a ride to Sakhon Nakhon, this weekend, the home of new FZ1 owner Jim who will be able to join us.
So thanks to Chaowarid and the Sibsima staff for bringing him up.
I am really happy that Yamaha are doing there best to provide service backup here in Isaarn.
Incindently the showroom has the whole Thailand released range of 6 Yamaha big bikes in stock.
The Yamaha big bikes here in Thailand are made to Californian specs, the service intervals for California and the USA is based on 4,000mile intervals. For everywhere else in the world for the same models it is every 6,000 miles. As this is not California I have decided to take the middle road and aim for 5,000 mile intervals. Nice and easy 5,10,15 etc.
I phoned Khorat, who manage a little English, and told them I was coming in Monday (today), they said they would get a Yamaha service tech guy to come up from Bangkok as they did not have experience with the FJR.
So a sunny 185km to Khorat this morning, with a quick call first at the friendly immigration office for a 90day report and off to Sibsima motor company, conveniently sited right on the No 2 highway.
After being taken out for food by Noi, the helpful sales guy on the back of an R6, (pillion may be more suited to 40kg Thai ladies than 6ft Farangs), while waiting for Chaowarid to arrive.
He turned out to be a young man, but very competent, thorough and it was a pleasure watching him laying out the excellent Yamaha tool set, including 2 electronic torque wrenches which were used on retightening most fixings. As I was slightly increasing the Californian service interval, I asked him to also change the oil filter and the rear shaft drive oil, not in the 4,000 service,list he was happy to do that. The whole service was done proffessionally with great care for cleanliness, no short cuts taken.
He had an English service manual for the bike and had actually taken the trouble to write the torque and other settings in his little black book to save time.
The staff at Sibsima were very hospitable with continuous water, coffee etc and had no problem me staying in the workshop for the service. 2 of the service staff also stayed and watched, and assisted.
Total service cost only 1,380 Baht, that was mainly for 4litres of Yamaha lube oil and the filter and rear shaft oil. The service took nearly 3 hours and he was working fast all that time. Bikes may be expensive in Thailand, but you cannot complain about service cost.
Yamaha also invited me to join them on a ride to Sakhon Nakhon, this weekend, the home of new FZ1 owner Jim who will be able to join us.
So thanks to Chaowarid and the Sibsima staff for bringing him up.
I am really happy that Yamaha are doing there best to provide service backup here in Isaarn.
Incindently the showroom has the whole Thailand released range of 6 Yamaha big bikes in stock.