Write down what you want to discuss
A motorcycle service plan is a list of intended work and questions, kept separate from your completed service history. Start with your confirmed bike details, current mileage and what you want the garage to assess. You do not need to diagnose a fault or choose all the parts before making an enquiry.
Here, a service plan means preparing a visit. It is not a prepaid servicing contract, a manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, a quote or a booking. Use the manufacturer’s information for your exact motorcycle and agree the work with the garage.
Gather your motorcycle details and previous work
Note the registration, confirmed make, model, variant and model year where known. Registration year is not always the model year. Add the odometer reading and whether it is in miles or kilometres. Mention modifications that may affect the work or part choice.
Bring relevant service entries and paperwork references. Say when you do not know a date, specification or previous repair. A clear unknown is more useful than a confident guess.
Describe symptoms and questions in your own words
Describe what you noticed, when it started and when it happens. Keep your observation separate from a suspected cause. For example, a question about chain adjustment is different from instructing a garage to replace a particular component.
If an MOT advisory prompted the enquiry, include the actual wording and test date. An older advisory is context for a discussion, not a diagnosis of the motorcycle’s current condition.
- What have I noticed or what work am I considering?
- When does it happen, and has anything changed recently?
- Which previous work or MOT entry is relevant?
- What do I need the garage to assess or explain before I approve work?
An illustrative garage sheet
This example shows how to organise a conversation. It is not a recommended service schedule or evidence of a real request. Replace the example with your own information and share only what the garage needs.
| Item | Example note for the garage |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | My confirmed make, model, variant and model year; registration shared with my selected garage. |
| Current mileage | 18,420 miles; rider reading on 26 October 2026. |
| Work to discuss | An oil service; please confirm what is due for this motorcycle. |
| Observation or question | Please assess chain adjustment and explain any work you recommend. |
| Previous maintenance | Oil and filter change recorded on invoice SERVICE-014; original paperwork available. |
| Parts questions | Please confirm the oil specification, quantity and exact filter fitment before ordering. |
| Price and approval | Please explain parts, labour and other charges, and agree the scope with me before proceeding. |
Check parts and prices before agreeing the job
You can prepare a useful plan without a parts shortlist. If you have one, keep source details and compatibility questions with it. Model variants and modifications can matter; confirm exact fitment and oil requirements with the supplier, manufacturer or garage before buying or use.
An estimated retail parts cost is a materials starting point. It excludes labour and other charges and is not a garage quote. Ask what the garage’s price includes, which parts it will supply and how additional work will be approved.
Review the enquiry, then agree the visit directly
Choose the garage, check the recipient and review the information you are sharing. Ask about availability, the proposed scope and the price. Sending an enquiry does not establish that it arrived, that the garage accepted the job or that a visit is booked.
After the work, record what was actually completed with the date, mileage and evidence. Leave declined, deferred or unanswered items in the plan rather than copying them into your completed history.
Keep your service plan in 2Shocks Free
2Shocks Free includes service plans and garage sheets for one active motorcycle, alongside private service history, available MOT records, mileage and automatic bike alerts. An account and internet connection are required. You can remove your active motorcycle and add another without upgrading.
Prepare and save a garage sheet, find nearby garages and review an email enquiry before sending it from your own email app. Agree availability, work, parts and price directly with the garage. Parts suggestions are guidance, and coverage varies by motorcycle.
2Shocks is available on Google Play; iOS is coming soon. Plus adds up to 20 active motorcycles, custom reminders and an ad-free experience. A notebook using the structure above is also a useful way to prepare.
Your motorbike’s service book, on your phone.
Start free with one active motorcycle. Keep your service history, available MOT records, mileage and maintenance plans together.
An account and internet connection are required. Coverage varies by motorcycle. iOS coming soon.
Keep exploring
How to check a motorcycle’s MOT history →