I'll put these in the order I learned (gasp-- broke) them.
1. New motorcycle batteries may come with a jug of distilled water you have to add. You have to remove a plastic cap on the top of each cell before filling it, and you add the water via a tube that comes with the battery and water, through an exhaust port on one side of the battery. What I learned through mistakes: Only remove the cap of the cell you want to fill at that moment.
Then squeeze water from the jug into the battery. The cell without the cap is the only one with a vent open to let out air as it fills, and that cell will fill while the others stay the same. When its full, re-cap that cell and repeat for the others one at a time.Also remember to leave the exhaust port uncapped after filling, to let the battery vent while the water settles into the cells for several hours before installing to your bike. If you remember this midstream and uncap the battery after it has sat for a little while, allow me to confirm that the mist/spray that comes out when you uncap it will go a long ways towards giving your jeans that mesh look (see pic on my blog…)…
2. Radiator plugs--eh, drain chickens (check out my blog after this weekend for the story on that-- I'll have it posted by Monday) may require only hand tightening or very slight tightening with a wrench. If it is a plastic plug and comes off VERY EASILY, don't overtorque it. (Although if you do, then you can justify buying a drill to your wife, as you'll have to drill it out...
)3. If you happen to remove the stem from your rear tire causing rapid deflation
, remember that you can just have a new stem installed instead of buying a new tire. Your standard tire shop can do this. Even on Sunday when the cycle shops are closed. 
4. If you find yourself having to remove your tire on a Sunday morning in order to have a stem replaced, a little WD-40, a rubber hammer, and a block of wood to pound on can do wonders for that stuck axle bolt (thanks to folks on this forum who suggested that...).
5. If the axle bolt won't go back in all the way, try lifting/moving/adjusting the position of the tire with the bolt in as far as it will go. I did this and saw the stuck axle bolt shift just a hair, but enough that it went in easy while I held the tire like that.
6. Having the clutch so loose that the bike stalls as soon as you shift into 1st (with the clutch still pulled all the way) is not a good thing. But, making the clutch so tight that the gears don't fully engage when it is released and you don't get much power is also not a good thing. If you adjust the clutch and find yourself unable to get to 20mph in 3rd gear, you have probably done the latter...
7. If you have saddlebags AND you have trouble getting the bike on its centerstand, consider whether the position of the bags may be impeding your leverage. I took off my bags (for the time being) and was then easily able to get the bike on the stand. Just like all the cool kids.
Clearly, I am learning by mistake with some of these things, but I gotta tell you-- its a helluva lotta fun so far. Hope some of you can benefit from my minor maintenance missteps...
JC
thanks.
