Your bike has broken down or you've decided to buy a basket case that needs a lot of work. What do you do now? You could take it to a professional, but let's focus on people who are going to do it themselves. First thing you should do is buy or find a service manual. I recently had a conversation with an experienced motorcycle mechanic. He received a call from a guy who was attempting to repair his own bike and had failed miserably. My friend's first question was whether this person had a manual to work from. The answer was no. My friend stated that he still used a manual for reference on bikes he's repaired dozens of times, just to make sure that he wasn't missing something.
Where do you find a manual? Online is a good place to start. I've found downloadable PDF versions of service manuals for free on some motorcycle forums or websites. If you can't find anything free, Amazon has a large selection of manuals to purchase. Also, I've found some hardcover Haynes service manuals at farm and fleet stores. Finally, your last resort could be to ask a dealership to order you a factory service manual, but this would be the most expensive option.
Many people like to think that they are mechanically inclined and that they can fix anything, manual or not. This might be true for some, however it would be nearly impossible to know the proper torque on every specific fastener, or the proper order to disassemble components without some reference. Using a manual will save tons of time (and possibly money) in the long run.
Hobbes: "Shouldn't we read the instructions?"
Calvin: "Do I LOOK like a sissy?"
- Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
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