Owner's manuls

[Lonerider62]

This is a subject that came to mind because of my inability to figure out the 4-way switch under my left control, but the PO gave me a box of "scrap" when I picked up the bike and within it was a owner's manual (79) a set of clutch friction disks, a new unopened air filter, and various parts and bits of unknown value. It has been part of my dealing to ensure that the original owner's manual, and in many cases, a service manual goes with every bike I sell, whether to an individual or a dealer. Now whether or not the dealer passes it on, who knows but I'd say about half the used bikes I have bought didn't come with a users manual and Ive never received a service manual from anyone. Second key, hell no. Right now I have a single key for my XS because more than likely the key and the user's manual hit the trash soon after purchase and certainly before the bike went on to the second owner. There should be a "Rider's Rule", no 2nd key, no manual, keep the danged thing till you can supply them. I'm sure everyone on here has seen many posts asking for/about user's manuals and yet so many don't seem to think about the importance of them when passing a machine on down the road to the next guy/gal.

[Prothec]

With my XJ11 I got everything, including 3 original keys, but the PO was my father-in-law and original owner. He is pretty OCD about record keeping, though.

With my XJ650 (my first bike), I only got 1 key that looks like a copy, but did get a Haynes manual. With my '78 basket case, I got 2 keys and no manuals.

Anyone ever get copies of these little keys made? Where can I go?

[DGXSER]

I have only bought one car, that was not new, and 0 bikes where I ever got an owners manual let alone a service manual with them. Most have come with two keys though.

I suspect you could go to any Yammie dealer for a key and possibly even a Home Depot or such.

For a bike, typically the owners manual is not alot of use anyway. I have one to an LH sitting around here somewhere. Pristine condition really. Never even looked in it.

The 4-way you speak of would be the Hazard? Simple slide switch off-on function. Unfortunately, that is a very common wire to come lose in the switch though and often it needs to be resoldered, at least this is what I have found. But you won't find anythig about that in either the owner's or the service manual.

[CatatonicBug]

I didn't get a key with my bike, since the PO received the bike as part of a package deal when she bought her mobile home - it was in the shed out back. I went to the local dealer and took them the code on the bottom of the ignition switch and they stamped a new key. I wouldn't look to Home Depot for this kind of key, but more likely an OLD locksmith shop will have the proper blanks. They may not be the same tiny little keys though.

Since these bikes are 30 years old, and most people have obtained them from PO's who neglected them for a while, the fact that it came with both wheels and an engine is enough to be happy about. Asking for a piece of 30 y/o paper is like asking someone to produce their 1st-grade report card - possible, but not very likely. That's why I make the manuals available online. If you don't have access to a printer, I'll even print and mail them to you for the cost of postage.

[fredintoon]

Ive never received a service manual from anyone. Second key, hell no. Right now I have a single key for my XS because more than likely the key and the user's manual hit the trash soon after purchase and certainly before the bike went on to the second owner. There should be a "Rider's Rule", no 2nd key, no manual, keep the danged thing till you can supply them. I'm sure everyone on here has seen many posts asking for/about user's manuals and yet so many don't seem to think about the importance of them when passing a machine on down the road to the next guy/gal.

Hi 'rider,
keys? I pass on all the keys I have when the bike is sold.
If I buy a bike with only one key, there's locksmiths in the yellow pages. They can even cope with no keys but that does cost more.
User's manual? The ones that say, if the bike quits:-
1) check if it's out of gas.
2) Take it to your dealer?
Not too helpful but nice to pass along as it lets the purchaser suppose you are a careful owner.
Service manual? I paid full whack for mine and they are part of my library. Go buy your own.

[ManagerMike]

This will likely twist a few tails.... I DID get a service manual with the aquisition of my 78, and two keys, but no operators manual (useless anyway IMO), or 'tool kit'.

[Lonerider62]

The reason I brought the issue up wasn't because keys and user's manuals can't be obtained, but to my Type-A character, it shows that the person you are getting the thing from cares enough to help the new guy get acclimated to his new toy and it also gives me a snapshot of how well the machine was taken care of. User's manuals may not be very helpful when it comes to a valve adjustment or ignition problems but I've seen many guys on motorcycle forums totally in a quandary because the can't figure out how to get the seat off or a side panel disconnected and I don't think I've ever seen a user's manual that didn't include that info. Some riders that even have a manual can't figure it out because they don't think to look in the manual. As to a second key, at least once in my life I only had one key and somehow lost it and ended up getting a whole new lock which isn't cheap.