How necessary is the 16,000 mile valve check?

[BeToney]

I just reached 16K miles. Just curious if anyone has encountered anything way out of spec at the 16k service or do these Honda V4's usually stay in spec? 
Out of curiosity, I talked to the service department at my local Honda dealership and he quoted me 9.5 hours @ $120 an hour plus parts, supplies, taxes etc. somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,300!   

I also own a Yamaha Tracer and the valve check service (which is recommended every 26,000 miles) is estimated around 4.5 hours and includes a coolant flush, spark plugs and a throttle body sync. 

So, What are your experiences?  What does Honda include with this service and are the valves ever out of spec?

[Murphy]

Sounds pricey, I’m guessing it’s the only Honda dealership for miles around then. I think I had one valve out by 1 or 2 thou’ on the exhaust side, that was all

[maccduff]

my honda st1300 60,000 miles never checked.
my yamaha fjr 1300 58,000 miles never checked
my honda vfr 1200xd current 26,000 miles bought at 17,000 miles , and by the look of the air filter i changed i am sure the valves were not done, and i have no intension of doing them    but i trade in my  bikes at around the 10 yr  old mark.

so saving quite a bit of money over the years   

[thetrecker]

generally the exhaust valves are loose at the first 16k miles check. It is a 8hour job on the UK side.
I would suggest doing the first check as the new engine has bedded in and then maybe skipping the next check?
The intake valves are shim type and the exhaust are nut and screw type. The intake valves are generally always in spec.
With ref. to the air filter, I don't know if it is the position of the snorkle air intakes or something else, but the change interval according to the Honda manual is too long. From experience it is always blocked when I change it. I have shortened the intervals.
Hope this helps

Tom

[BeToney]

Originally Posted by thetrecker

With ref. to the air filter, I don't know if it is the position of the snorkle air intakes or something else, but the change interval according to the Honda manual is too long. From experience it is always blocked when I change it. I have shortened the intervals.
Hope this helps

Tom

I agree, I bought a K&N reusable filter and usually clean and re-oil it a few times a year.

[hoppicker]

I did my valves at 16,000 miles. None of the inlets needed re-shimming, but most of the exhausts were on the tight side of the tolerance. I adjusted them all very carefully to the wider limit. I think the 16,000 mile check is the most important as everyting should be bedded in by then and its a good indication of what to expect as the mileage creeps up. Its a right faff of a job but there is a feeling of satisfaction when its done. I can see why dealerships charge so much. There are no short cuts as far as I could see.