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where is the cheapest place to get a do-it-yourself repair manual like you can get for cars? I tried Honda for my bike but they want $50 for the manual and I honestly dont want to pay that much unless I have no choice.

ofblong wrote:where is the cheapest place to get a do-it-yourself repair manual like you can get for cars? I tried Honda for my bike but they want $50 for the manual and I honestly dont want to pay that much unless I have no choice.

Try manualclub.com

Then try ebay.

thanks guys. I was thinking ebay but not sure I really want to lol.

*edit clymer doesnt have one and manualclub is down right now lol. Ebay has

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/88-03-Ho ... enameZWDVW

but im not sure if its right but I think it is since I have a honda shadow deluxe vlx model vt600cd 1996.

Thats just a Haynes...call around to local auto retailers (Autozone types) they might carry them. For 19.00 + 7.00 shipping it would be cheaper just to buy one in a store.

Or here: http://www.haynes.com/na401.html#anchor1225720

Walmart also sells alot of Haynes manuals. Haynes are decent but they are usually generic. It will tell you everything but there may be slight differences.

well I found

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/OEM-Parts.asp

heck the schematics are almost good enough I could fix/repair etc just using those prints . obviously there are things like tolerances it doesnt give me so I still need to find a good book lol.

ofblong wrote:where is the cheapest place to get a do-it-yourself repair manual like you can get for cars? I tried Honda for my bike but they want $50 for the manual and I honestly dont want to pay that much unless I have no choice.

Spend the $50. You'll save that much and more when you work on your bike because you have the manual. Also get the official manufacture's service manual because it is the best, then Clymers, then Haynes...

so its true when the honda manual says it has full pictures and instructions that it is actually better than any of the others? The only thing I want to have to bring a bike for repair in for is tires . I refuse to learn to put my own tires on and bead them balance them even though it will prob cost me an arm and a leg lol.

Yup, it has full pictures and instructions. Those exploded diagrams that you find on bikebandit are ok (And you have them on the service manual too), but it doesn't tell you how to access items. For example, to change my air filter I have to remove my seat, then the gas tank, and then the covers on the neck just to gain access to my air filter box. Would you know all that by looking at the diagram for the air filter box?

I'm sure the Haynes/Clymer have the same, but they are sometimes not as accurate. The FSM was written specifically for your bike, while the haynes/clymer are sometimes written for a range of bikes. Some of the pictures may be off a different bike or the instructions may slightly be for a different bike.