I want to do all my own maintenance, but...

[storysunfolding]

You need to make sure not to overfill though or you could be creating other problems. Don't just add a quart or two and call it a day.

[slowair]

If you're going to do your own repairs, certainly get the service manual.

And a torque wrench!

Mike

[Gnarlyroad]

these articles will at least give you some idea of whats happening. Sounds like you could use some basic info.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/motorcycle.htm

[Gnarlyroad]

here's another source of good info.
http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

[Rebel0007]

^^That guy is just like, "OK bEGGInER, DO A TUNE-UP. OK NOW CHaNGe TEH OiL!"

It just goes to show that this stuff is, for one reason or another, impossible to teach or even talk about. Mechanics hide their tricks better than most magicians.

[storysunfolding]

Rebel-

An oil change is simple. Find the hole where you fill in oil, open it up. Now find the drain bolt on the underside of the engine. If you can't find it ,take a few pictures under there and I'll point it out to you. Put a drain pan under the bolt (if the bolt isn't aiming straight down the oil is going to come out as much as 6 inches initially so be ready for it. Once it's done draining, put a new crush washer on the bolt and close it up (torque it to 10 ft/lbs with your torque wrench or whatever factory spec is). Next move your oil pan under the oil filter. Use an oil filter wrench to take it off and be ready for it to start leaking some oil. If you don't have a twist off the oil filter is going to be under a cover somewhere. Take the cover off and be ready for it to start leaking. Once that's off drain the filter into your oil pan, toss it in a plastic bag and put the new oil filter in. Next add as much oil as your manual tells you to add (make sure you get the right weight and that there aren't any friction modifiers in it, best bet to begin with is to get a filter/oil at a motorcycle shop). Plug the oil fill up and off you go

[IcyHound]

Hmm, gay shifters? Its being a bit happy then? Shifting by itself because its in a good mood from the nice weather prehaps.

[storysunfolding]

rough shifting because the transmission isn't getting oil?

[Rebel0007]

Story, you rule man. So do most of you, overall

Let me elaborate on the shifter's gayness--sometimes when I shift from 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th, it will accidentally not click all the way, and get stuck in neutral. Aren't you only supposed to be able to get into neutral between 1st and 2nd? Of course, this problem goes away if I just click it up harder. Idk if it's oil like a couple of you have said, or if I can just make some sort of adjustment with the shifter.

[storysunfolding]

You may just not be shifting right/ worn clutch cable/worn gears/ bad oil.

Start with oil and making sure you lift it fully through it's range. After that put something in the troubleshooting section and we'll help you figure it out.