Best service manual?

[LugNut]

What's the best service manual (I've downloaded the pdf... Want a physical book)...

Yamaha... Clymer... Etc? Do I need supplemental also?

Will need for all general maintenance and specifically Good pics of carbs in detail

[Radioguylogs]

I always want to have the factory manual if possible, because it is the bible. You do need the supplement to get the specific specs for your model, like carb jet sizes, tire sizes, etc.

However the factory manual is organized like you would take the bike bike completely apart and put it back together. It's not easy to find the directions to do a particular job, like replace the clutch frictions. It sends you back and forth to various chapters during the job.

The Clymer is organized in a way that's better for individual jobs.

The information the Clymer and the factory manual is equivalent.

The Clymer is less expensive, and you can get a new or like-new copy, where the only available factory manuals are old and the pictures are fading.

I don't like the Hayes manuals they seem incomplete, hard to follow, and the paper is cheap.

[DaveT]

I believe there’s no such thing as too much information, so I’ll buy most everything I can find when it comes to projects.

[LenB]

I somehow had the presence of mind to buy a copy of the original Yamaha shop manual when I bought my 1980 G and have never looked back. Being a Canadian version, it's twice as thick because everything is in two languages and, as Mike said, you're jumping around sometimes to figure out simple mods. Another thing, in my case, is the fact that the manual covers '78 - '80 and there are addendums for '79 & '80 at the back. My '80 has some different specs for intake valve clearances, fork oil volume, etc. I made sure to read the year-specific info FIRST so I don't mess things up. My point is that I've read other manuals but I much prefer the factory version. Now a little dog-eared with the most referred-to pages bearing greasy fingerprints, it's served me well all these years.

[jetmechmarty]

The Clymer is less expensive, and you can get a new or like-new copy, where the only available factory manuals are old and the pictures are fading.

Mike, (@Radioguylogs) You can still buy a brand new factory service manual for these bikes. $89 Go to Yamaha Manual Store, select "motorcycle", etc.

[Radioguylogs]

Mike, (@Radioguylogs) You can still buy a brand new factory service manual for these bikes. $89 Go to Yamaha Manual Store, select "motorcycle", etc.

Marty:

Nice to know it's still possible to get a copy with good pictures- especially if one decides to rebuild an engine.

I'm not sure I can rationalize a whole new set of manuals for my bikes @ $89/each.

Thanks for the tip!

[madmax-im]

Look on fleabay..I found a genuine Yamaha Service manual for my current 1980 XS650...it was around 30 bucks...I too would prefer OEM service manuals..The one I have is used but good condition and the pics are fair..not great.

[Ranger_xs1100]

LugNut, your signature doesn't say what model you have, but I think I read in another post that you were looking at an 81 MNS. So if that is what you ended up with, then you may want to grab this brand new 40 year old manual off ebay: New Yamaha Service Manual XS1100 H/SH/LH B10542 | eBay.

[cajun31]

Might want to try this one. I bought the other one. Genuine Yamaha Service Manual XS 1100 H/SH/LH by Yamaha Motor Company. | eBay