1500 Classic 1st Oil Change & Saddlebag Question

[dannyg]

Purchased a new 2007 1500 Classic last fall. I purchased it late in the season and its in the garage for the winter with only 250 miles on her. My question is... I kinda have to take it to the dealer at 500-600 miles for them to honor the warranty. I know its early but.... When it warms up in spring here do you think it will be ok to run the bike for another 200 - 300 miles with the oil that been sitting in her over the winter ? Im thinking maybe I should change the oil before I run it and then take it to the dealer when it hits the 600 mile mark. Im not sure if oil thats been sitting in the bike over the winter would cause a problem. I havent started it or anything so Im not worried about a moisture problem.

2nd ..
I know there has been a ton of postings about saddlebags and the most popular are the Leatherlykes. I do like them but I kinda worried about there not being any support on the bottoms. I have read a few complaints about them wearing out around the mounting holes from a lot of higway riding. I know I can always buy mounts or make a bracket and secure them better on the bottom. Im wondering if anyone has any alternative bags. I cant remember but I ran across a site that another 1500 owner showed his semi-hard bags where they actually slid up on a saddlebag bracket and it had a lip that was kinda built into the back of the bag. Any ideas or can someone post or recommend a cheaper soft bag thats pretty secure ? Not throw overs, but a nice soft bag that looks good.

Thank You for being patient with a newbie

[bluestringer]

Originally Posted by dannyg

Purchased a new 2007 1500 Classic last fall. I purchased it late in the season and its in the garage for the winter with only 250 miles on her. My question is... I kinda have to take it to the dealer at 500-600 miles for them to honor the warranty. I know its early but.... When it warms up in spring here do you think it will be ok to run the bike for another 200 - 300 miles with the oil that been sitting in her over the winter ? Im thinking maybe I should change the oil before I run it and then take it to the dealer when it hits the 600 mile mark. Im not sure if oil thats been sitting in the bike over the winter would cause a problem. I havent started it or anything so Im not worried about a moisture problem.

2nd ..
I know there has been a ton of postings about saddlebags and the most popular are the Leatherlykes. I do like them but I kinda worried about there not being any support on the bottoms. I have read a few complaints about them wearing out around the mounting holes from a lot of higway riding. I know I can always buy mounts or make a bracket and secure them better on the bottom. Im wondering if anyone has any alternative bags. I cant remember but I ran across a site that another 1500 owner showed his semi-hard bags where they actually slid up on a saddlebag bracket and it had a lip that was kinda built into the back of the bag. Any ideas or can someone post or recommend a cheaper soft bag thats pretty secure ? Not throw overs, but a nice soft bag that looks good.

Thank You for being patient with a newbie

Why would you have to take it back to the dealer for the 600 service to honor the warranty? If the dealer told you that, he is feeding you BS. You can do the service yourself and it will not affect the warranty. Just keep records of everything.

I have the Leatherlykes and ride plenty of highway miles. No problems with them.

[dannyg]

Thanks bluestringer,
I know, dealers try to scare people into having to take the bike to them or they say the warranty will be void. I did notice you have V&H Longshots listed as your pipes on your 1500. Before the month is over I will get either the Longshots or the Shortshots.

Did you have to use a Power Comander or does it run fine with just the V&H pipes alone ?

Thanks

[Classic]

You don't need a power commander unless you go to a more free flowing airbox. If you aren't yet you may as well get familiar with Gadget's web site especially where it concerns marbling:

Gadget's Fixit Page For Kawasaki Nomad & Classic Modification Maintenance & Repair

[Utah Motorcyclist]

I've had my leatherlyke on my bike for 9.5K miles without any problems at all. I think they are great!

[Th33nforcer]

Originally Posted by dannyg

Purchased a new 2007 1500 Classic last fall. I purchased it late in the season and its in the garage for the winter with only 250 miles on her. My question is... I kinda have to take it to the dealer at 500-600 miles for them to honor the warranty.

Change your own oil before you start it...take your time and look her over. Get to know it well...then if you have any questions, if you still want to take your bike to the dealer for the 600 mile service, then you can get your questions answered...

...if we don't answer them first. In all honesty...I trust the guys here more than I would ever trust a dealer. Now if you aren't mechanically inclined, the dealer might be your best bet.

[RichLockyer]

+1

In the US, consumers are protected from dealer BS.

Get them to put it in writing and take it to the DA... it is a violation of federal law.

[dannyg]

Thanks everyone,
It's settled, 1st Oil Change Myself, Leatherlyke Bags, and the V&H longshots. Im Mechanically Inclined and love to read so should be no problem getting into the bike myself a little.

[rbentnail]

Originally Posted by dannyg

Thanks everyone,
It's settled, 1st Oil Change Myself, Leatherlyke Bags, and the V&H longshots. Im Mechanically Inclined and love to read so should be no problem getting into the bike myself a little.

Don't forget to pull the oil screen while changing the oil the first few times. I found bits and pieces the first 3 times or so. Just my .02 but I'd wait on changing the oil until I got more miles on it.

[Jerrysea]

I also have the leatherlyke bags. No problems with the bottoms or the area where they are mounted.

[CarGuy]

The Magnuson Moss act prohibits dealers/manufacturers from requiring service performed at their dealership to maintain warranty coverage unless the service is provided free of charge. Here's a copy of the segment...

"a) Section 102(c) prohibits tying arrangements that condition coverage under a written warranty on the consumer's use of an article or service identified by brand, trade, or corporate name unless that article or service is provided without charge to the consumer.
(b) Under a limited warranty that provides only for replacement of defective parts and no portion of labor charges, section 102(c) prohibits a condition that the consumer use only service (labor) identified by the warrantor to install the replacement parts. A warrantor or his designated representative may not provide parts under the warranty in a manner which impedes or precludes the choice by the consumer of the person or business to perform necessary labor to install such parts.
(c) No warrantor may condition the continued validity of a warranty on the use of only authorized repair service and/or authorized replacement parts for non-warranty service and maintenance. For example, provisions such as, "This warranty is void if service is performance by anyone other than an authorized 'ABC' dealer and all replacement parts must be genuine 'ABC' parts," and the like, are prohibited where the service or parts are not covered by the warranty. These provisions violate the Act in two ways. First, they violate the section 102(c) ban against tying arrangements. Second, such provisions are deceptive under section 110 of the Act, because a warrantor cannot, as a matter of law, avoid liability under a written warranty where a defect is unrelated to the use by a consumer of "unauthorized" articles or service. This does not preclude a warrantor from expressly excluding liability for defects or damage caused by such "unauthorized" articles or service; nor does it preclude the warrantor from denying liability where the warrantor can demonstrate that the defect or damage was so caused."

This doesn't remove the responsibility of doing it, nor proving it was done. Make sure you keep records if you do it yourself or have someone else do it. Keep a small notepad with dates, receipts for the oil, etc. and mileage.

[rbentnail]

Originally Posted by CarGuy

......Make sure you keep records if you do it yourself or have someone else do it. Keep a small notepad with dates, receipts for the oil, etc. and mileage.

Very good advice. I keep a small notebook with the bike to log dates, mileage, oil and filter type, tire changes, etc. Everything I do or have done gets logged in. The only receipts I keep are for additions, mods, etc. so they go with the bike when traded/sold and for extra add-on insurance value on my policy. Over all the years I've never had anyone doubt the notebook stats for any vehicle and ask for additional receipts.

[woodswoman]

Dannyg, if it were my bike, I would change the oil myself in the spring, rather than waiting. It's cheap insurance, as I like to say.

More than an oil change is involved in the 600-mile service, so you may decide to take it to the dealer for that. (Perhaps not the same dealer, eh?) Depends on how comfortable you are around the garage.

For any maintenance you perform yourself, do indeed keep good records and your receipts, as CarGuy and rebentnail suggest. That is *very* good advice. If you ever have to make a warranty claim on a bike you fully maintain yourself, it may be important for you to produce those records showing that you did what Kawi suggested, when Kawi suggested you do it.