Clymer vs OEM Service Manual

[barTman]

Greetings,

I am a recent GW owner and looking to do a lot of my own DYI repairs. I have looked at the Clymer manual and am wondering if someone out there has seen the OEM Service Manual and how it compares with the Clymer.

I realize there is a pricing difference but looking for info regarding the quality/quantity of description etc between the two.

Thanks for your feedback,

PoPsYellowWing aka barT

[FlyBoy2121]

I BarTman

I have a Clymer and it is well done, but there have a Hayses just be put on the market.

The Clymer is well done, the Hays I do not know evil they make good textbook.

Honda for the book I have in pdf.

But the paper book Honda you'll pay a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$.
I find the explanation in the Clymer are as good as the same the book Honda.

If you speak and read French, I have an address in France, the shop very well explain.

FlyBoy2121

[WingAdmin]

I can't comment, not having seen the 1800 Clymer manual, but historically for Goldwing shop manuals, the Clymers have been the least detailed and contained the most errors. Haynes were better in both departments, and the OEM Honda manuals were (while not perfect) by far the best in terms of accuracy and details.

[Remy]

Here is a link to a free 1800 service manual download, it is a huge file (757 pages), be patient, make some popcorn.

http://motoservicemanuals.blogspot.com/ ... anual.html

[barTman]

Thanks all for your info and Remy thanks for the link to the Service Manual.

Have a great riding season, when we can get out there...

barT

[Remy]

Your welcome, hope it works out for you.

[MikeB]

I agree with WingAdmin. The OEM manual is the way to go. It is not too terribly expensive and with all the differences in the model years, I'd highly recommend the OEM manuals to anyone that does their own maintenance.

[thrasherg]

I agree with WingAdmin. The OEM manual is the way to go. It is not too terribly expensive and with all the differences in the model years, I'd highly recommend the OEM manuals to anyone that does their own maintenance.

I agree, I bought the complete manual in a hard cover from ebay for around $48 plus shipping which I thought was pretty good.. After it arrived I thought it was amazing, there has to be $50 worth of paper in the manual!! It's huge and very well written.. Money well spent if you plan on keeping your wing for a few years..

Gary

[MattRyder]

Money well spent if you plan on keeping your wing for a few years..

Gary

A few years? The only way that my wife would let me buy a Goldwing was when I convinced her that this was the last bike that I would EVER buy. I'm not super old (although my sons might suggest otherwise); not that young either, so in the interests of marital harmony, it had better last more than a few years.

Seriously, I think that I'll spend the extra bucks for the OEM manual. This isn't the first time I've heard it said that it is quite good.

[minnleeboy]

I just received a Clymer manual for my 2005 GL1800. I am not very satisfied with it. Alot of the pictures do not have arrows pointing to the screws, nuts, bolts etc they are talking about. There is also nothing on the wiring harness and where everything plugs into and where it is located on the bike. I am thinking about buying the OEM service manual.

Lee

[RLEGoldwing]

Old thread yet worthwhile. I have the OEM for my 2005 and while it has lots of pages, it misses most important items.... like the two hidden bolts to remove front fairing, WHERE those 6 "headlight connectors" are located (only have four headlights), and dozens of other details the (mechanically inclined) Goldwing novice must have.

I'm ordering the Clymer as reviews on Haynes are not so good.

Really sad no one publishes a true shade-tree enthusiast can effectively use.