Bike Manuals - Question

[tzel]

Hi everyone, I just got my 98 Ninja500R and I really want to get a manual for it. I want to know everything about my bike and where everything is, so that when trouble brews, I can fix it myself, or can at least diagnose what's wrong. (btw, if any of you read my last post, yeah, the jump worked, but my battery didn't hold the charge, so I went and just recharged it at a local bike service place).

So I was just wondering which ones are good. I know that the OEM (whatever it stands for) is the official ones from the maker, but I also see stuff from Clyde and other makers. I also noticed there are MOMs and also service manuals -- are they the same?

Seems the market price is around 20-30 bucks, but I think it's definitely worth it considering the info in them.

Anyway, if any of you could answer, that'd be great. Thanks.

[NaKeDZX]

Skip the aftermarket manuals and get yourself a factory (or Original Equipment Manufacture) manual. I'd watch ebay for one.

Oh, and if your battery didn't take a charge when you charged it, you may just need to replace it. Walmart carries quite a few MC batteries.

[speediva]

It isn't necessary (IMHO) to get an OEM manual. I haven't had trouble with my manuals for either of my bikes, but I don't remember right now if they were Clymer or Haynes.

As for where to find one... check e-bay or a local bike shop.

[danmdevries]

Never had an original manual, my bikes always needed more on the repair side than the maintenance, clymers manuals are excellent, but if you don't need ot know teardown/rebuild procedures, just get yourself the manufacturers book, dealerships can always get them, by law (at least for cars) they need to be able to provide the manual to anyone who requests it for a certain time period, of course there's a price attatched, so check ebay. ALWAYS CHECK EBAY!!!!! :-p