Main dealer servicing vs independent: your motorcycle warranty

Original Article - 05/03/2024
Additional reporting - Ben Purvis, May '25

With all the excitement of buying a new bike – usually after months of deliberation followed by wrangling over prices and mulling over the options list – the warranty could easily be something that fades into the background. After all, for many years manufacturers have largely matched each other in terms of warranty length and coverage and it’s something that you’ll be hoping you’ll never need to use.

That’s changing, though, as warranties are rapidly becoming a hot new battleground for manufacturers keen to get your business. The result? A new bike bought in 2025 might well have a substantially longer or more comprehensive warranty than one purchased in 2024.

Looking forward, it’s going to become a consideration not only for new bike customers but those in the market for used models as well, as the increased length of the coverage offered by some manufacturers means second or even third owners might still find they’re protected.

But with the new deals comes another layer of complication. What happens if you service the bike yourself, or use an independent rather than a franchised dealer to do the work? What if you’re the second owner and the original buyer missed a service? There are no one-size-fits-all answers to those questions, with each manufacturer adopting its own position.

What new warranty deals are being offered in 2025?

In the last few months multiple manufacturers have revealed new warranty deals to tempt customers into the showrooms. Here are the main ones: 

Honda

Back in April 2025 Honda announced a warranty extension scheme for its road-going motorcycle models by adding a service-activated warranty on top of the standard two-year warranty that each bike comes with.

Under the scheme, when the first two years is up, the warranty will be automatically extended by 12 months if the customer has kept up with servicing as required in the bike’s schedule and uses official, authorised Honda dealers and parts to do so. A year later, if the service schedule is still being maintained to the same standard, it’s extended by another 12 months. That can continue for up to four years after the initial two-year warranty period, for a total potential warranty of six years.

Given that length, Honda has importantly added transferability to the warranty extension, so it’s tied to the bike rather than the owner. That will make it significantly more important, in years to come, for buyers of second-hand Hondas up to six years old to make sure that the bike has been correctly serviced by previous owners to ensure the warranty is still active. 

Suzuki

Just one day after Honda announced its warranty extension of up to six years, Suzuki revealed an even more substantial deal – going one higher, like Spın̈al Tap’s Nigel Tufnel, with a total potential coverage of seven years.

That’s largely because Suzuki’s standard warranty was already a year longer, at three years, than Honda’s two, but Suzuki has also been more generous with the terms for its extended deal, which runs up to a total of seven years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Like the Honda warranty extension, Suzuki’s is activated when the bike reaches the end of its manufacturer warranty (three years in Suzuki’s case) by booking the bike in at an official Suzuki dealer for its next scheduled service. After that service, the warranty is active until the next service on the schedule, so if you keep getting the book stamped at the right time by an official dealer, the warranty can run to its full seven-year potential.

However, Suzuki has added a tempting element for used bike customers, saying that even if the warranty has expired on the bike they’re buying, and it has a gap in the service history, the warranty extension can be reactivated by putting it through a ‘Health Check’ at an official dealer (and, of course, a service to get it back on schedule). In that instance, the Service Activated Warranty will resume 30 days after the service has been completed.

Again, the key to the Service Activated Warranty is the use of official dealers and parts, helping to keep customers withing the franchised dealer network for servicing. While those dealers might be more expensive than doing a service yourself or having an unfranchised mechanic do the work, the benefit of getting a longer warranty from the deal will outweigh that cost for many riders. 

Yamaha

Yamaha hasn’t added service-activated warranty extensions, but the company did make a major change at the end of 2024 when it introduced a three-year warranty for all its road-going 2025 models to replace the previous two-year coverage. 

Kawasaki

Kawasaki’s “2+2” warranty means that customers buying a new bike from an authorised dealer get an extra two years of coverage on top of the standard two-year warranty. 

KTM

Back in February KTM upped the warranty on its road-going twin-cylinder bikes, powered by the LC8c (parallel twin) and LC8 (V-twin) engines, to four years – applying it not only to 2025 models but also 2023 and 2024 machines. The provisos are that the bikes must be bought new from authorised dealers, and that the servicing needs to be done on schedule and at authorised dealers. 

MV Agusta

MV Agusta already had a four-year warranty in place and for 2025 has introduced a five-year warranty on selected models including the Enduro Veloce, F3 Competizione and all the bikes in the celebratory Ottantesimo collection.

The deal is also being extended to cover customers who bought the Enduro Veloce and LXP Orioli in 2024. 

Indian

While Indian’s standard warranty is two years, the company’s bigger bikes – the Springfield, Chieftain, Roadmaster, Challenger and Pursuit – all now have a five-year warranty, with the standard two-year deal bolstered by an additional three years of coverage for the engine, transmission and electronics. 

Royal Enfield

While Royal Enfield isn’t joining the fray when it comes to extending the warranty period of its bikes – they have long had three-year warranties, even when most rivals had two years of coverage – in 2024 the company introduced its ‘Borderless Warranty’ to ensure that all its bikes are covered in all countries, regardless of where they were bought and registered.

Although the deal specifically points out that personal imports won’t be covered, it means that riders on globe-trotting tours will be able to rely on warranty coverage even when they’re away from their home country, using any of the 3000-plus Royal Enfield dealers scattered though more than 70 different countries around the world.

Do you need to use a franchised dealer to maintain your motorcycle’s warranty?

In the UK there’s legislation – The Competition Act 1998 (Motor Vehicle Agreements Block Exemption) (No. 2) Order 2023 – that specifically prevents car companies from forcing owners to use franchised dealers for servicing in order to maintain their warranties and must allow the use of aftermarket parts provided they’re up to the correct standards. But it defines a motor vehicle as being a self-propelled vehicle intended for use on public roads and having three or more road wheels so conventional motorcycles are not covered even though the likes of the Yamaha Niken, Piaggo MP3 or Harley-Davidson Freewheeler are thanks to their wheel-count.

That means motorcycle manufacturers have more freedom than car makers to decide the terms imposed on their warranties and whether or not riders are forced to use main dealer serving and official branded parts during those services.

New motorcycles typically come with a three-year warranty and many riders buying new will likely have any servicing and repair work carried out by a franchised main dealer anyway. Buyers of ‘Approved Used’ bikes from main dealers might also do the same, and the fact is that in many cases it’s rarely as expensive as you might think, plus the idea of looking after your dealer so they look after you certainly rings true for a large proportion of riders. Franchised dealers also have access to the latest tools and diagnostic kit that can be valuable in maintaining your bike to the highest – and safest – levels.

However, some buyers might not live anywhere near a franchised dealer, they might be using the bike in remote or overseas locations, or they might simply prefer to use their own trusted mechanic. If that’s you, the best bet is to check specifically with your bike’s manufacturer whether the warranty will be impacted, and if they do allow independent servicing, make sure you keep meticulous records of when the services are done and the components and fluids that are used for those services so you can prove they’re done to at least the same standard as you’d get at a main dealer.

Below, we've summarised the positions of the leading brands regarding independent servicing.

Please note that these quotes are correct at the time of writing, and that it’s recommended that if you do intend to use an independent workshop when servicing your motorcycle, you should check with the manufacturer regarding your warranty.

BMW Motorrad: If servicing has been carried out by a non-BMW Authorised Retailer then the Retailer reserves the right to reject any claim where it is felt that the cause of the defect is due to the use of a non-genuine BMW part or inadequate servicing or repair by the non-approved Retailer."

In short, that means you can use a non-authorised dealer, or do servicing yourself, provided you’re meticulous about using the correct servicing procedures, guidelines, intervals and parts specifications, including things like fluids and oils.  

Ducati: Ducati did not directly respond to our request for comment, but the company’s website states:  “The warranty will be forfeited if the bike is repaired or overhauled by an unauthorised workshop, or if non-original parts are used; the warranty does not cover damage resulting from accidents, overloading and improper or negligent use, and does not apply to motorcycles used in sporting competitions of any type; motorcycles which are rented out are particularly subject to wear and damage as use and maintenance may not always be performed in accordance with the instructions in the Service Booklet.”

Harley-Davidson: “Customers are not required to have their bike serviced by an authorised Harley-Davidson dealer or service provider to maintain their warranty coverage. Additionally, so long as customers have parts and accessories of similar specifications and quality as original Harley-Davidson parts and accessories installed on their motorcycle, their warranty remains valid and in effect.

 “Harley‐Davidson may, however, deny warranty claims in circumstances where customers have not regularly serviced their motorcycle; or where parts or accessories have been installed incorrectly by a non-authorised repairer and this has resulted in damage or defects to the motorcycle. 

“Customers can be confident that that if they use original Harley-Davidson parts and accessories, they can assume that the safety and reliability of their vehicle is assured.”

Honda Motorcycles: “It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure that all required maintenance is performed at Honda specified intervals and all consumables used meet Honda’s engineering specifications. Failure to do so could invalidate warranty coverage on the parts affected. Evidence may therefore be required of correct servicing and parts used when a warranty claim is processed. If an issue is deemed to be due to lack of maintenance or poor servicing we reserve the right to reject any warranty claim on the part concerned.”

Indian: Indian said it takes “a very similar approach to most manufacturers in that use of an official dealer isn't required for regular maintenance as long as parts and consumables used are of an equivalent quality/performance. However, major maintenance/repairs should be conducted by an authorised dealer or other qualified dealer.”

The firm’s owners’ manuals expand on the position, saying:
“Any replacement part that is equivalent in performance and durability may be used in the performance of any maintenance or repairs. However, INDIAN MOTORCYCLE is not liable for these parts. The owner is responsible for the performance of all required maintenance. Such maintenance may be performed at a service establishment or by any individual.”
“Inspect, clean, lubricate, adjust and replace parts as necessary. When inspection reveals the need for replacement parts, use genuine INDIAN MOTORCYCLE parts available from your dealer”
“Use of non-recommended lubricants and components can result in damage to the motorcycle. Damage resulting from the use of non-recommended products is not covered by warranty.”
“MAJOR MAINTENANCE Major repairs typically require technical skills and specially designed tools. Emission system service requires special tools and training and should be performed by your dealer. See the INDIAN MOTORCYCLE Service Manual or an authorized INDIAN MOTORCYCLE dealer or other qualified dealer.”
“This warranty excludes damages or failures resulting from: improper lubrication; improper engine timing; improper fuel; surface imperfections caused by external stress, heat, cold or contamination; operator error or abuse; improper component alignment, tension, adjustment or altitude compensation; snow, water, dirt or other foreign substance ingestion/contamination; improper maintenance; modified components; use of aftermarket or unapproved components, accessories, or attachments; unauthorized repairs; or repairs made after the warranty period expires or by an unauthorized repair centre.”

Kawasaki: “We can confirm authorised dealers have access to the very latest manufacturer product training, workshop manuals, technical information, diagnostic systems, and specialised tools which are all necessary in maintaining Kawasaki products. Naturally, for an owner of our products to receive the highest level of service available from Kawasaki, we strongly recommend the use of an authorised dealer.

“We understand some owners may wish to use an independent dealer or carry out certain work themselves. However, in the unlikely event an issue arises with a machine, Kawasaki cannot accept responsibility or cover a repair under warranty if incorrect or incomplete maintenance work is found to be the cause, or a contributory factor towards a failure. We would however cover any failure that is a clear manufacturing defect and is unrelated to any service or maintenance work undertaken.

“Therefore, the use of an independent dealer will not invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty providing all maintenance on the machine is completed in accordance with Kawasaki's service guidelines and only Genuine Kawasaki replacement parts are used.”

KTM: “All of the Pierer Mobility brands (KTM, Husqvarna Motorcycles, GASGAS, MV Agusta and CFMOTO) offer clear guidance as to our warranty policy. Information is available on our website, in owner’s manuals and, of course, at Authorised Dealers. As an example, on the KTM website it is stated that “Professional servicing and inspections by Authorised KTM dealers must be carried out to maintain the right to claim under warranty.”

“We invest considerable resource in Authorised Dealer technical training, so when a customer has their motorcycle serviced at the specified interval at an Authorised dealer they are getting factory trained technicians working on their machine according to the defined service schedule using genuine parts, specified fluids, the correct tools, our diagnostic software, official settings, to set job times and in an environment that is immersed in each brand to ensure that the service is performed correctly – all at competitive rates. The service is logged on our systems meaning that any future owner can see all the work performed on the machine if they take it to an Authorised dealer. As a manufacturer we measure and report on all service and repair work in our dealer networks to ensure the highest levels of service to the customer. Once a service is performed, the owner can be reassured not only in the quality of the work undertaken but this then activates 12 months of European breakdown cover through our SARA scheme (Service Activated Recovery Assistance), so long as the motorcycle meets certain requirements (is not older than 8 years or has completed more than 37,500/50,000 miles single/two cylinder).

“To clarify, this refers to warranty work, but if any motorcycle is subject to a safety recall, then the remedying work and parts supply will be completed, free of charge, by an Authorised dealer regardless of the motorcycle’s service history.

“This investment and confidence in the Authorised Dealer network means that if any warranty work needs to be completed on a bike with full service history then we know the level to which it has been serviced, who has worked on it, the correct use of genuine parts, the use of correct torque settings (for example), that it is up to date with software, and the dealer may have advised on an area of the bike that required further work or replacement. All of these parameters, and more, contribute to a motorcycle’s health and in these circumstances we want to complete any warranty work as quickly as possible so that the owner can continue riding and enjoying their motorcycle.”

 Piaggio Group (Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, Piaggio, Vespa): Piaggio doesn’t require servicing work to be done by a main dealer. The firm explained: “The warranty coverage does not expire if the customer can prove that all maintenance work has been carried out within the specified time and with original spare parts.”

The company’s official terms for the warranty cover this in more detail, saying:

Regarding the Vehicle servicing obligations, the Customer will be entitled to use the Commercial Warranty on condition that:

(i) he has respected and punctually complied with the servicing schedule set out in the User and Maintenance Manual since the date of registration or purchase of the Vehicle;

(ii) he can provide evidence of compliance with the servicing schedule and therefore exact observance of km/monthly intervals and performance of the services. specifically indicated for each Vehicle model in the User and Maintenance Manual. The Piaggio Network is in possession of this information and is able to confirm compliance with the servicing schedule. The Piaggio Network also has access to a computerised management system of Vehicle warranties to which the relevant servicing records are added as time goes on. In the work is performed by third parties not in the Piaggio Network -which must in any case be suitably trained and have the necessary equipment in accordance with Piaggio standards and specifications then the Customer must demonstrate correct and timely adherence to the Vehicle servicing schedule by: (a) submitting all summary documentation of work performed by the third party (invoices/tax receipts, detailing the work carried out); (b) providing evidence of the use of original parts or parts with equivalent quality to Piaggio originals.

Royal Enfield: Continuous improvements related to the motorcycle & servicing are being done in Royal Enfield to deliver the best value to customers. We state that our network of Authorized Dealers is equipped with advanced technicians with the latest training, specialized tools, and top-notch diagnostic systems to provide the finest quality level of service. Also, customers can get an update on their motorcycles if there are any continuous recall/campaign/software updates. Therefore, it is advised to have the servicing of your motorcycle in Royal Enfield Authorized Dealers.

Suzuki:   For the basic three-year warranty, Suzuki told us: “If serviced using the Suzuki schedule and Suzuki equivalent quality parts, then warranty isn’t affected. If not, warranty is affected in relation to service parts. For example, if incorrect quality oil is used during a service and the engine fails, the warranty is affected. But, if incorrect quality oil is used during a service and a TFT combination meter fails [for example], it will still be rectified under warranty.

“If a customer has used the correct oil and Suzuki genuine parts, then we would consider [the motorcycle to be] under warranty. However, in this instance the customer would need to provide evidence of a service invoice to show genuine parts and oil were used.”

However, the company’s new service-activated warranty requires main dealer servicing, as we explained earlier in this article. Suzuki describes it like this:

The Service Activated Warranty is offered once the motorcycle reaches the end of its manufacturer warranty period of three years and is booked in for its next scheduled service within the Suzuki Dealer network. This warranty then stays in place until the next qualifying service. It is then simply renewed again, up to a maximum vehicle age of seven years or 70,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Service Activated Warranty is offered to customers completely free of charge.

All major components are covered, and should the machine be sold between services and within the seven-year qualifying period, the warranty will simply be transferred to the new owner.

The Service Activity Warranty can also be enjoyed by owners of second-hand machines, even if any original warranty has expired and if there is a gap in the service history. Providing the new owner has their motorcycle serviced at a Suzuki dealership and goes through a Suzuki Motorcycle Health Check in the first instance, it will benefit from a fresh, one-year warranty.

For these customers, the Service Activated Warranty will begin 30 days from the date the authorised Suzuki Dealer service has been completed. 

Triumph: Triumph did not reply directly to a request for information, but the company’s website says: “You can maintain maximum protection under warranty by ensuring your motorcycle is serviced in accordance with the recommendations of the scheduled maintenance chart in the owner’s handbook. The appropriate service record is stamped by your authorised Triumph dealer, so make sure that whenever service, repair or warranty work is undertaken the motorcycle service handbook must be made available to your Triumph Dealer.”

Meanwhile, the company’s warranty terms include the following line: “The motorcycle must have been serviced as detailed in the manufacturers service maintenance schedule, at the intervals specified in the Owner’s Handbook and the service log completed accordingly.”

Yamaha: Yamaha’s position is: “An owner is perfectly entitled to have their machine serviced by an independent (or by themselves even – since most owners’ manuals describe maintenance procedures and the recommended schedule), so long as it is maintained in accordance with the manufacturer recommendations and genuine parts are used. In the event of a claim, we would of course request evidence that the maintenance has been carried out according to the recommendations, since this is the responsibility of the owner in honouring the warranty T&Cs. In this case, a simple ‘stamp in a book’ is not really sufficient, which is why we always advise customers to make sure that they receive an itemised invoice and supporting documentation for any work carried out, whether that be for routine servicing or repair work, authorised dealer or independent – it’s peace of mind for them in respect of what they are paying for (since it generally goes into and comes back out of the workshop looking the same), but also in the event that they need to rely on the warranty.

“If self-maintaining, an owner has to be even more diligent with how they keep their records, since they typically won’t have DMS systems to produce the evidence or anybody to fall back on if something goes wrong.

“Lastly, it’s a common misconception that authorised dealers are always more expensive. Of course there are always going to be exceptions to the rule (based on quality and location), but owners, especially outside of the warranty period, need to consider just how ‘comprehensive’ the servicing is for the perceived value (or to put it another way, ‘cheaper’ price) they are getting. Whilst [we] can’t speak for other brands, our network of dealers are independent businesses operating the Yamaha franchise, so they set their own labour rates based on their business – they’re not dictated by Yamaha – so the assumption is not always true and it’s always worth owners actually doing a like for like comparison (in respect of cost and what they get for the outlay), since they may find the difference is not as big as they thought.”

Conclusion

There’s no hard-and-fast rule, then, as to whether you must use a main dealer to maintain your warranty coverage – brands have their own policies on the issue and it varies from company to company.

Where there’s additional warranty coverage, as with Honda and Suzuki’s service-activated warranty extensions, it’s logical that these are promotions intended to encourage riders to have their bikes serviced at franchised dealers so there can be no complaint about the requirement to use official dealers to activate those offers.

For most new bike buyers using an official dealer for servicing while the warranty is still active is a logical move. Not only does it ensure that any warranty claims should be a smooth process, but it’s going to maximise the resale value of the bike and won’t necessarily be vastly more expensive than using an independent garage to do the same job.

If you are intent on self-serving or using an independent garage, either through preference or necessity, we’d suggest checking with your bike’s manufacturer or the warranty terms in your owner’s manual or purchase paperwork to understand what that particular company’s stance is on the matter. Beyond that, keep a detailed record of all the components and fluids used, as well as when the servicing was carried out and invoices for the work or the components and consumables, so any warranty claim can be processed with the minimum of fuss should the situation arise.

What are your legal rights when buying a motorcycle?

By law you have legal rights when buying any item. Warranties and guarantees only ADD to these, and in general are for if things go wrong after the first six month of ownership.

As long as an item you bought wasn’t damaged by wear and tear, an accident or misuse, and you didn’t know about the fault before you bought it, your legal rights mean you could be entitled to a refund, repair or replacement.

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, goods should be of a satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. That means that, typically, a faulty item bought in England from a business – be that a bricks and mortar shop, online, via mail order, phone or on a market – can be returned for a refund within 31 days of purchase, or for a repair or replacement within six months. This isn’t the limit of your statutory rights, but the rights can vary slightly in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. For more information on your legal rights when buying any item, visit Citizens Advice.

Your rights when buying a used vehicle are slightly different, but buying used from a Trader in England means you’re legally entitled to your money back or a repair if the vehicle is faulty within 31 days of purchase. Between that and six months, the law states that the fault must have been present when you bought it, though it’s the trader’s responsibility to prove the fault wasn’t there when they sold you it. The advice is the same for Scotland and Wales, with more information available from Citizens Advice here.

Could the extension to the Block Exemption include motorcycles?

The Block Exemption was due to expire on 31 May 2023, so on 4 October 2022 the UK’s Competition and Markets authority (CMA) submitted to extend the Motor Vehicle Block Exemption Regulation (MVBER) with several recommendations, including that it be in place in the UK until 31 May 2029.

One of the CMA’s recommendations was that ‘the current material scope of the retained MVBER should be maintained, ie with the notion of ‘motor vehicle’ being limited to three and four wheeled vehicles’.

Meaning the CMA still considers motorcycles to fall out of the scope of the regulation.

During the CMA’s consultation process, there were calls from the Independent Garage Association, Thatcham Research, UK Alliance for the Freedom of Car Repair (AFCAR) and two unnamed respondents to expand the regulation to include motorcycles.

However, in the document the CMA states that it “has reached the view that the current scope of the block exemption remains appropriate. While the CMA recognises that there may well be certain similarities between two-wheeled vehicles and four-wheeled vehicles, there are important differences in terms of their functionalities, characteristics and the legal regimes to which they are subject, all of which militate in favour of classing those types of vehicles as distinct products.

“Furthermore, in deciding not to recommend a change to the material scope, the CMA has taken into account the following additional considerations: (a) The CMA does not have any concrete evidence or indications that the competition constraints identified in relation to four-wheeled vehicles are also present, at least to the same extent, in two-wheeled aftermarkets… (b) The extension of the scope of the MVBER to two-wheeled vehicles, specifically the imposition of hardcore restrictions, would increase the administrative burden and compliance costs of the parties involved. (c) The provision of spare parts to, and repair/maintenance service of, two wheeled vehicles is already covered by the VABEO. (d) Access to two-wheeled vehicle information is regulated in secondary legislation. Modifying the scope of the MVBER would result in divergence from the EU regime.”

It would be easy to blame Europe for this, but while the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) did report that Executive Vice-President Vestager of the European Commission stated that “the Commission received no concrete evidence of issues in the motorcycle sector such as would justify bringing such vehicles within the sector-specific regime”, this had been in response to Danish Member of the European Parliament Penille Weisse asking the Commission what measures it was taking to safeguard the principle of free competition and prevent a few authorised motorcycle dealers from holding a monopoly, as well as whether it was considering revising the definition of ‘motor vehicle’.

It's a sensible choice for the UK government to work in line with European policy in many situations, but that doesn’t mean that it couldn’t be changed to suit the UK market or for the UK to influence the European policy on which it’s based.

Comment from the National Motorcyclists Council (from 2024)

Craig Carey-Clinch, NMC Executive Director says; “It’s essential that riders have proper choice in the matter of how they get their bikes serviced and several manufacturers, though not all, acknowledge this though the warranty conditions they set in relation to replacement parts and quality and precision of servicing and repairs when a machine is under its warranty period. But if the block exemption exists for cars, then it should also be in place for motorcycles. The CMA’s response in relation to the EU is weak and lacking in imagination, or even acceptance that our relationship with the EU has changed. While retaining convergence with the EU in key areas of technical regulation makes complete sense, it would be better if they took the view that UK divergence from EU regulations in selected and appropriate places can actually create national leadership in those areas where the EU also need to alter its thinking.”

Comment from the Motorcycle Industry Association (from 2024)

Tony Campbell, MCIA CEO says, “It is important that customers maintain and service their bike in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations, this is for both safety reasons and to respect the terms and conditions of the warranty. A full-service record is also very important to future values and therefore to shortcut on servicing will negatively impact on the resale value of the bike. As machines become more complex, operating systems and software is regularly updated and therefore the best way to ensure your bikes systems are running the latest software is to use your main dealer. This is not to say there are not very good independent repairers that can provide excellent service.”    

Comment from the British Motorcyclists Federation (from 2024)

Paul Morgan CBE, BMF Government Relations Executive, told us “Congratulations on a well-researched article covering the current state of play, and providing some valuable guidance to someone buying a new bike.

“Since motorcycle ownership became available to the masses following WWII, providing many with a cheap and reliable means of transport, owners have quickly learned how to carry out their own basic servicing and maintenance. That has continued to the present day, with many motorcycle owners seeing the maintenance and servicing aspects as a key part of the enjoyment of owning a motorbike.

“In addition, local motorcycle servicing and repair work supports the businesses of local independent motorcycle dealers and can often provide a more convenient and personal service for motorcycle owners, particularly when main franchised dealers are often situated some distance away.

“Self-servicing and maintenance, if completed in line with specified manufacturer service intervals and instructions, should not affect the warranty that comes with a new bike and most manufacturers accept this.

“As Robert Pirsig says in his famous book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, ‘if you’re going to repair a motorcycle, an adequate supply of gumption is the first and most important tool.’”

Comment from the Independent Garage Association

Approached for comment, but no response at time of publishing.

Comment from the Motorcycle Action Group

Approached for comment, but no response at time of publishing.

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