Oil Changes

Anyone that knows me well knows I'm not all that handy. I most recently got a reminder when I busted my motorcycle mirror at the stem (bear combat) and tried to replace it. Despite the realization I could have used a socket wrench with a 6in extension to save me 2 hours of work, the actual disassembly and reassembly of the dash went fine... except that I didn't tighten one of the mirror nuts enough and it ejected while I was riding a few days after my 'repair'.

I don't want to go on a tangent, but I feel it's important to note I'm terribly lazy and it's still an issue. Anyway, I finally decided it was about damn time to get my 1000 mile checkup (at 1,150 miles) so I went to call my dealership/mechanic...

They are closed. Like super closed. So closed that the old building is being used to sell "As Seen On TV" shit.

So I turned to some friends, then coworkers for a bike mechanic. The leads didn't pan out so I ran to the source of all solid advice: the internets. I posted on the r/Motorcycle reddit and was informed that the 1,000 mile maintenance isn't anything technical, just an oil change (important for a new motor), tire pressure checks and tightening shit. I thought, "I can tighten shit! I check tire pressure! What's all this about oil though?"

Bear in mind the last thing I wanted to do after the (ongoing) mirror fiasco was get too involved with maintenance. If I'm anything I'm contradictory and as such I commenced youtubing and googling.

Autozone nearby claimed they had the parts I needed so the girlfriend and I piled into my car and made a quick run over that weekend. Surprise surprise though, someone fibbed. The attendant was a good guy and told me of a nearby Autozone and Advance that carry motorcycle stuff. Still annoyed at the 'zone I punched us over to Advance and found all my stuff.

In the morning I went out with my pan, oil, oil filter, oil filter wrench, and acquired my tool kit from the seat storage. I was ready.

My girlfriend meandered out to watch. I suspect she wanted either to see me sensationally burn myself while ruining my engine block and/or to make snide comments about how little I knew about what I was doing. And she fulfilled her quota on the latter many times over while I struggled with "righty-tighty lefty-loosey" (Protip: If the screw is upside down, it's backwards) and socket wrench operation.

Pictured left - Celebratory whiskey that happens to be proper color of oil, right - my oil

But my bike is purring like a kitten! I've learned a lot and I'll never have to pay for another oil change for my bike.

I spent all of $30 for all the supplies but took away some good stuff.
1) Doing your own maintenance is cheap
2) Knowing you did what you were supposed to is nicer then wondering if a mechanic is honest
3) Girls are not particularly impressed by oil changes
4) Riding a bike after you've worked on it is awesome