Servicing

At Vision Motorcycles we take servicing very seriously and will not cut corners.

We know from looking at bikes that have come in to us, having been previously serviced elsewhere, that this philosophy is not universal in the industry.

When we work on bikes we take digital photographs during process. This enables us to show the customer any problems we have found but also proves that we have done what we say we have done. Have you ever wondered how much of what you have paid for has actually been done? Motorcycles are inherently dangerous so it is imperitive that the bike you're riding is in perfect mechanical order.

what's in your sump?

We only use top quality products as safety is our number one priority.

Brakes

How often do you have them properly serviced? You don't need me to tell you the potential consequences of a failure.

We see so many bikes come in with brakes that have clearly been neglected for years, with owners who are blissfully unaware of how dangerous they are. "It passed it's MOT, can't be that bad" The current minimum braking efficiency to pass an MOT test, is no where near good enough for a modern motorcycle.

Brake fluid is hydroscopic, which means that it absorbs water molecules. This is good as it stops a build up of water in parts of the system, but when too much is in the fluid then it becomes a serious safety issue. When too much water is in the fluid then there are corrosion issues and also problems with the compressibilty of the fluid. Brake fluid is cheap and for a professional, simple to change.

Brake calipers are out in all weathers and are constantly bombarded with grit and water. To continue working to the manufacturers efficiency the working parts need to be kept clean and clear of corrosion. The rubber seals need to be changed from time to time and fitted proberly with the correct lubricant.

standard brake hose from a BMW motorcycle

Almost all bikes leave the factories with cheap standard brake hoses because they're cheap and they're fine for a few years, but break down and stretch as time goes on leaving sub-standard braking. They are also prone to splitting. The fittings are usually cadmium plated mild steel so are prone to corrosion. We would advise any one with a bike over two years old to have stainless steel braided lines fitted. We supply and fit HEL Performance lines as they are made to very high standards and are supplied with a lifetime warranty.

This is why we only use HEL Performance stainless steel brake lines

Suspension

This is another often neglected part of the motorcycle. Leaking fork seals, loose headstock bearings, wheel bearings etc are usually picked up at the annual MOT test. What isn't is aged fork oil, and corroded linkages on rear monochock systems. Bikes with defective rear shock absorbers often scrape though an MOT, but that doesn't mean the bike is going to handle as well on the road as it could.

Engine Oils

There is so much nonsense talked about engine oils, with myriad old wives tales.

The bottom line is that the stuff is relatively cheap and is of paramount importance to the longevity of your engine. It is not only a lubricant, but is also used to collect all the rubbish found in the engine like carbon etc. It can only hold so much filth which is one of the reasons it has to be changed regularly. Most motorcycle engines are particularly hard on oils as they not only rev much faster than cars but often have the gear box milling the oil and also the clutch. The most wear occurs in a cold engine for the first 30 seconds and this really separates the men from the boys in oil terms.

We mostly use Rock Oil Guardian semi-syththetic oil which has been developed to give maximum protection, with rapid circulation at cold start and complete protection at high temperatures even in the most extreme of environments. This has been achieved by using the very latest technology in synthetics and additives to guard against wear whilst reducing deposits.

We NEVER change oil without changing the oil filter.

Carburettors

We use the latest electronic vacuum measurment system to syncronise carburettors which not only gives an accurate balance but will also give a diagnostic indication, in it's dynamic mode, as to whether the inlet and exhaust valves are sealing properly, without going to the expense of stripping the engine.

We also have an ultrasonic cleaning bath for cleaning carburettors, which is the only way to properly clean all the fine drillings etc.

MotoGuzzi carbs - before and after ultrasonic cleaning