I chose to perform the break in service at 550 miles instead of the recommended 600 miles. In truth, I haven’t been as gentle on the TW as I probably should have been, so I figured an early service might give me some good moto karma down the line. The valve check is really easy, and it turned out mine were exactly in spec. I had ordered the Motion Pro valve adjustment tool and was a little disappointed not to be able to put it to the test. But not that disappointed.
The engine oil and filter were somewhat shocking. There was a lot metal floating around in there, and I found myself wondering if it was really oil that I was draining. Maybe I just felt better for having done the service, but it really felt like the bike was happier with some new fluid. The shifting, while still somewhat clunky by modern standards, is greatly improved.
People will tell you that this is an and easy service to perform and they are not wrong. Unless there’s a glaring issue, you should do it yourself and feel good about a job well done. Check out our Maintenance Page for helpful links.
