riding style influence valve adjustment interval?

[pb3]

hi gang,

has there been a determination as to riding style/ mileage proportional to the valves needing adjustment? 95% of my riding is highway speeds, and i'm at 73xx miles on my '09.

is the general concensus for this manner of riding finding valves out of adjustment earlier, or later than 7500?

tia,
parker

[want1sobad]

by no means am i advocating this, but i have 23k on mine and valve adjustment hasn't been done. i ride 400-500 miles a week - runs like champ.

[kkim]

I would say the manufacturer based their recommendation (actually their guidelines on what it takes to honor their warranty) based on information they have seen collectively from their engineering team on what it takes to properly maintain the engine. That you question it has most likely been taken into account when they were setting the maintenance interval.

I would highly recommend you follow their guidelines, unless you feel like paying for repairs that may be caused by your delay in having certain maintenance items performed.

[TenaciousD]

Originally Posted by pb3

is the general concensus for this manner of riding finding valves out of adjustment earlier, or later than 7500?

I don't think there is a general consensus on this, and my gut feeling is that your riding style or habits will have a negligible effect.

So if you're looking for an excuse to put off doing the valve adjustment you're barking up the wrong tree.
7500 miles is the maintenance interval for the valves. It's up to you whether you follow the schedule or not.

[kkim]

Originally Posted by want1sobad

by no means am i advocating this, but i have 23k on mine and valve adjustment hasn't been done. i ride 400-500 miles a week - runs like champ.

I'm pretty sure your valves are out of spec at this point, but hey... it's your bike (money$$$).

[bdavison]

Lets make this clear....

For 08's and later, the manufacturer recommended valve adjustment is at 7500 miles. OP hasnt even reached that point yet.

The 08 and earlier ones were a piece of cake to adjust because its just a wrench adjustment instead of a shim. While it was a ton easier, it needed to be done more frequently, and was much more likely to need an adjustment.

[HKr1]

No time like the present

[kkim]

Originally Posted by bdavison

For 08's and later, the manufacturer recommended valve adjustment is at 7500 miles. OP hasnt even reached that point yet.

he's less than 200 miles from the interval... IMHO, that's close enough if he wants it done.

there have been some that have done it before that interval and found it out of spec and some that have waited a few thousand past that interval and were still within specs... what drives it???

however, if you go longer than the interval and have problems they can trace back to not having the valves done at the specified intervals, you'll be out of luck if you file a warranty claim.

http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=11321&

[bdavison]

If its an 09....its already out of warranty most likely...unless he purchased some extended warranty or something.

[kkim]

good point, but I wanted the info out there for others that may read this thread and think it's "okay" to forgo the valve adjustment for "convenience".

[DaBlue1]

I have a 2009 which I bought new and I too ride at interstate speeds alot. However my rpms have been reduced by sprocket changes. I run a 15/42 set up and change oil frequently. I had my 1st valve inspection at a little over 11,000 miles by the dealer and no adjustment was needed and everything was still well within spec. the bike has a little over 14k now. I think you will find varying opinion and scenarios about when and why to have the valves done. if your bike was used I would follow Kawasaki recommendations as you may not know how the previous owner rode or maintained the bike.

[bob706]

Originally Posted by want1sobad

by no means am i advocating this, but i have 23k on mine and valve adjustment hasn't been done. i ride 400-500 miles a week - runs like champ.

You got a Yamaha sticker somewhere on your bike?

[ninja250]

Never trust your crooked dealers to measure your valves.
Every single time I hear somebody come back from a valve inspection on every website, they all say the dealer said they were in spec.

No freakin way will I believe that.

I ride hard (into the ground quite literally sometimes) and my valves were all well out of spec at the first interval.

I suggest you get on it... and be very careful whom you trust to do it.

[ninja250]

Think of motorcycles like a helicopter.
One little washer or bolt goes while you're on it and you're dead meat.
Preventative maintenance.

[bdavison]

Id agree with following the manufacturers recommended intervals for checking...but at the same time...if you go 7600 miles its not going to blow up.

Most of the time the valves get tighter...this actually results in a little more top end, and it starts idling crappy. Keep going, and it will mushroom the valve head and wear out the valve seats.....eventually...it will just close off all together. Temps go up on the valve....it starts to melt....and then it either breaks off, or bends. Youll notice the loss of power at that point.

[adri99an]

My valves need checking as well...I'm at 9700 mi....just waiting on my "mechanic" to get some time You know who you are!

[ninja250]

She-hit,
You need to bring "Blue Two Shoes" to the garage.

Actually you just missed out I just moved again and need to set up the garage again! I moved further now!

I can't carry all the tools for a valve job on the ninja 250. she's not powerful enough. j/k girls.

[sixer]

closer for me tho NIN =)