05-31-2017, 05:24 AM
I bought a Honda Service Manual from Helm for my CB500X. It cost me US$35 plus US$15 postage. It was well printed and bound.
But (there always a but right?) it was a PITB to use because the pages would not lie flat. So I took it apart and placed it in a 3-ring binder. Not only did the pages lie flat, but the required pages could be photocopied for greasy garage work.
Not Helm's fault but... the manual itself was PITB to use. Even the simplest job jumped from section to section. Again I photocopied the necessary pages and placed them in another binder for greasy garage work so all the instructions were in order page by page.
If I or a forum member found a better way to do a job, I would print notes and add them in the appropriate spot.
Now despite the manual, 26 years of motorcycle maintenance experience, help from forum members and You-Tube videos; I never did anything other than chain maintenance, oil and filter changes. Why? Because working on the CB500X was PITB. Behind all the plastic shrouds was squeezed radiator plumbing, bundles of wiring, and a myriad of unidentifiable electronic components. It would take half a day to disassemble the necessary parts just to reach the two spark plugs.
I am retired and ride only for pleasure one day a week on the back roads. I could tell just by watching the videos and reading the many forum posts that the major maintenance jobs on that bike would not be fun. So I put away $20 a week and paid the dealer to do the dirty work. I didn't miss the $20 and it saved my sanity.
I will probably do the same for my CB1100 EX. Although changing the plugs looks easier because the bike doesn't have to be disassembled.
As there is a plethora of information provided on this forum, I will also pass on buying a manual this time.
But (there always a but right?) it was a PITB to use because the pages would not lie flat. So I took it apart and placed it in a 3-ring binder. Not only did the pages lie flat, but the required pages could be photocopied for greasy garage work.
Not Helm's fault but... the manual itself was PITB to use. Even the simplest job jumped from section to section. Again I photocopied the necessary pages and placed them in another binder for greasy garage work so all the instructions were in order page by page.
If I or a forum member found a better way to do a job, I would print notes and add them in the appropriate spot.
Now despite the manual, 26 years of motorcycle maintenance experience, help from forum members and You-Tube videos; I never did anything other than chain maintenance, oil and filter changes. Why? Because working on the CB500X was PITB. Behind all the plastic shrouds was squeezed radiator plumbing, bundles of wiring, and a myriad of unidentifiable electronic components. It would take half a day to disassemble the necessary parts just to reach the two spark plugs.
I am retired and ride only for pleasure one day a week on the back roads. I could tell just by watching the videos and reading the many forum posts that the major maintenance jobs on that bike would not be fun. So I put away $20 a week and paid the dealer to do the dirty work. I didn't miss the $20 and it saved my sanity.
I will probably do the same for my CB1100 EX. Although changing the plugs looks easier because the bike doesn't have to be disassembled.
As there is a plethora of information provided on this forum, I will also pass on buying a manual this time.