Shop Manual
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2,359 Posts
$60 seems like a fair price to me. It's definitely worth it if you're going to use it. I paid $120 for my Big Dog service manual and it's not 1/2 as good as my Harley Manual. The online versions are usually old manuals and they're not easy to use. A service manual isn't always organized to be user friendly and it's much easier to flip the pages than to scroll on a computer. I don't know how familiar you are with manuals but I will explain. If you want to service your bike, you need to look in several different areas of the manual to get the information. If you want to change your oil, you look under "Engine Oil" in section 3 and to get the proper oil capacity you will need to go to the Quick Reference Data in section 1. You will be flipping around a lot; especially on the more difficult jobs. The manual will pay for itself after you first service.
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1,603 Posts
Couldn't agree more. I also have a 2005 BMW R1200RT and I could only get the manual on a disk, no paper manual is available.
I didn't see it as a big deal until I did my first service. Total pain in the a$$ trying to run my laptop and turn wrenches at the same time. Greasy keyboard, no place to put notes to myself in the margin, difficult to navigate, glare on the screen, etc., etc., etc...
I'd spring for the paper one, and another $30 or so for the parts manual. When I left the dealership with my shiny new bike, both manuals were in the saddle bag.
Best money you'll ever spend on your bike...
Thanks for the information and good points.
RDGL2009
Thanks for the info.
RDGL2009
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379 Posts
Hit me up....I've got it on CD....
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761 Posts
The book I bought for my Triumph was $120.00 but it is a ring binder and really top notch. 1/2 that price for a Harley Manual, which I would consider top notch as well, is an absolute steal. As someone else posted, you'll make up for it on 1 oil change.
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2,913 Posts
And don't forget the Electronic Manual also. It contains detailed information for the electronics now used on the Harley. I bought all three before I even took delivery on the bike. (I found them on eBay for much less than the "Brick & Mortar" dealer, and they were new from a dealer too.)
I always buy a Paper manual. I have paper manuals that go back to my 1982 FLH Shovel. I have part catalogs to 1941. It makes great research material.
I can set the books side by side to compare and out by the work when I need it.
The CD is nice for storage, but junk for usage.
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3,265 Posts
I didnt want to dish out 60 smackers either! But! I'm glad I did. It DID seem like ALOT of money at the time. I aint very computor savy.Hell my Dad only had a 6th grade education! BUT there was not a BETTER fixer on the Planet. He had every service manual there was to buy, x-cept when it came to fixn a Chevrolet. He new them like a manual!
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587 Posts
I have the pdf manual. I just print off the pages I need and take them to the shop. If they get dirty, no big deal I just print off some more. Let's face it, there are only a handful of pages that are being used on a regular basis (brakes, wheels, fluids, etc.). I have the printouts in a folder and will use the same pages until they are shot.
I will say that using anything in pdf format takes some getting used to. At first I hated reading technical documents in this format, but I have done it so much through work that it no longer bothers me. I completely understand why some people prefer hard copies, they are easier to handle if that is what you are used to.
I will say that using anything in pdf format takes some getting used to. At first I hated reading technical documents in this format, but I have done it so much through work that it no longer bothers me. I completely understand why some people prefer hard copies, they are easier to handle if that is what you are used to.
Thanks for all of the suggestions, I was able to get a manual from another member. All of the suggestions are worth checking into and seeing which works best for me, thanks again.
RDGL2009
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