Why You’re Losing the Right to Repair Your Own Motorcycle

Some of this is diabolical in that you need the manufacturer’s software to service your motorcycle, which they won’t sell to you. Primarily covering the ABS/traction control mega sensor and throttle by wire sensor that needs to be calibrated after replacement, and Honda’s part approval garbage. The ABS/traction control are great safety features, but what happens if it fails, especially when you really need it or are depending on it too much? You do have a small window to buy a new motorcycle before the telematics hell of cars, trucks and SUVs take over motorcycles (now 5%). I owned a 2002 Kawasaki ZX-6R for 18 years, and did all my own services except the valve checks every 15,000 miles, as I didn’t want to hassle with going to get the shims, and deal with the cramped space between the frame when taking off the valve cover…, and it was only $400 for a comprehensive service… And I never had to do anything other than replacing wearable items, chains, tires… I can’t imagine being locked out of the computer and unable to calibrate new parts though. And the progressing to a CAN bus for less wiring is also troubling, and just sad that these megacorps are against their customers, even lobbying lawmakers against them.