The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance: Tips & Techniques to Keep Your Motorcycle in Top Condition Paperback – January 1, 2004

Well-organized, easy on the layperson's eyes but without talking down to us either. "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance" is divided up into sections and subsections that make it both an interesting cover-to-cover read but also very easy to use as a fast reference when repairing on the fly, taking the "Teach a man to fish" over the "Give a man a fish" approach. If all you want to know is how to change a spark plug you can probably find a faster how-to online. If you want to know how to change the spark plug AND just what the spark plug is doing, why and how and what happens when it's not doing it right, this is the book you're looking for.My '03 Kawasaki Vulcan isn't a toy, it's a tool; my only mode of transportation in this poor economy averaging 2,000 miles per month. And if I can't afford a car I certainly can't afford a conventional motorcycle mechanic looking to squeeze my wallet for what isn't there. So when my work-out-of-the-backyard mechanic isn't available or my work takes me away from him for a few months, I want to be able to do a fair amount of maintenance and repairs myself. Or at least know what I'm talking about when I do go to the conventional mechanic. Especially being female, it's still a challenge for some mechanics to see women as anything but walking, gullible, bags of money.This book has been my first giant leap into that realm. For all the varied motorcycles and configurations out there, Zimmerman gives a solid, most-common overview. More importantly, he does a fantastic job explaining to the layperson just how the various components work. This way, when I have a weird power loss happening under specific weather conditions, I'm not just looking at a laundry list of possible suspects in my owner's manual (or the appendix of this book). I can also go back through paragraphs and sidebars about just what the engine needs, analyzing for myself what the symptom tells me the engine isn't getting, and from there, I'm better equipped to diagnose the likely problem(s) myself than just blindly "Try replacing A, B, or C."For any biker out there, male or female, looking to be a little less dependent on your local Super Acme Made Of Money MegaMotorsports service shop, for those looking to better maintain your bike (and trust me, the key to hitting 130,000 miles is maintenance, maintenance, maintenance), and for those who want to learn in plain English just what makes your dream machine tick, "The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance" will be your new best friend!

Ok - to be fair, this is seriously a guide to motorcycle maintenance. What I mean is that if you think this book is going to be an easy read on how to swap out your chain or calibrate your bowls, well, then yes, but recognize it is oh so much more. The guy who wrote this.... seriously? I cannot put words down with the amount of information this guy has in his brain about everything motorcycle, but the guy is no doubt just short of genius. I cannot fathom how he knows so much about it, but rest assured every little bit is included in this book. I gave up after 20 pages. I am still reading it, but I use it to put me to sleep at night. LOL I'm secretly hoping some of the stuff he writes sinks into my subconscious as I sleep. :) Anyway, the book does exactly what it says it does, so it gets 5 stars. Am I learning from it? Not much, but I'm trying. Sooo... much... information!

If you are able to do basic maintenance to lawn mowers and automobiles, then this guide is a definate plus to understanding the fundamental workings of motorcycles. You will still need an owners manual for your specific bike (for manufacturer recomendations, IDing replacement parts, etc.) but this Essential Guide is a big plus for helping to diagnose problems and a good guideline for "how to" kind of jobs before you actually get your hands greasy. It is written in a casual, easy to understand language, that explains not just how to do something, but why you need to do it, and how it effects the overall function of your bike.

All the basics are covered really well with clear photos and instructions. Author obviously knows what he's talking about. Good spread over older bikes and the newer ones also. Very comprehensive guide on electrics.

clearly written, the author gives a great big-picture view of how different motorcycle systems work, which system your bike probably uses, and how to maintain or tweak them. i feel much more confident with my knowledge of how my bike works and how to work on my bike myself. he details work enough to let readers have an idea of what they may be getting into with any particular job so they know whether or not they're up to it or if it's something that should be taken in (to the shop) for. this book has already saved me lots of money and given me a better understanding of my bike -- i'd recommend it to anyone on two wheels.

This book is excellent! I love the technical details included throughout the book. Being a mechanical engineering student, that's what caught my interest most. Mark allows you to not only maintain your bike, by provides the knowledge on WHY you are doing what you are and HOW its truly helping your bike run better. He doesn't skip over details, and he writes the book from starting point.Bottom line: Mark is a great guy. I've emailed him multiple times and received replies everytime. He treats you like a friend and enjoys helping others. He even assisted me in buying my first road bike by providing his opinion when I asked for it. Awesome book! Awesome author! Thanks a million Mark.p.s. The riding is going great!

Read zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance. Thank me later.

If you're like me and would like to stop feeling completely helpless and ignorant when your bike doesn't start or makes funny noises, this book can become your bible. Book offers not only simple instructions and accurate descriptions but also lots and lots of pictures, diagrams and illustrations. A must have for inexperienced, the curious, the dumb owner, people working on a moto project, people low on $$$ with a bad bike, etc. You will not regret your purchase. I'm also really happy with the quality of the book.