I'm just past the 15k mile mark on my 2012, and it's time to do some maintenence. I'm on a budget at the moment or I would just buy both, but I still need to buy some of the tools also. I'm very mechanically inclined and am comfortable doing the work, I just mainly need some direction. Are there any major advantages, or disadvantages, to buying one over the other?

fsm first

FSM...period.

The information you really need, torques, intervals, every service broken down, with limits and special needs tools, are in the book... that's why it costs so much, and is huge.

To attempt anything on this bike, without the bible, is a loosing proposition, as we will see daily posts asking endless questions on the simplest things that are fully covered there.
If you can do bike service, and have the time and experience, you will actually find better ways to do the stuff on your own, during the routine.
That's all I have to say about that.
Frankly, like SISF has been doing, all along, videos on what and why, could have been posted up in the library, by the video maker, if only they had as much passion about sharing with club members, as they did at making a saleable video... but that's just my stinky opinion. And we all have stinky opinions at times.
 

Oh, wait a minute.... does he (Fred) ever come here on this forum, and answer anything that doesn't involve some $$ transfer into his pocket???
I rest my case.

FSM...period.

The information you really need, torques, intervals, every service broken down, with limits and special needs tools, are in the book... that's why it costs so much, and is huge.

That's the kind of info I was in search of, right there. The cost wasn't what prompted this question, as they are roughly the same $$, it was more about which would be more useful overall.

Thanks for the replies. I'll be hitting up the stealership this weekend for the book.

If you'd add your location to your profile or post where you're at, there "might" be someone local to you that has one or both of these that they'd let you borrow.

Just saying......

I personally prefer the videos, but having a manual is invaluable, as is the owner's manual.  I have all three.

I also have all three. Fred's vids covers routine stuff fairly well but doesn't deal with the non routine much, if at all.

I have both but have never actually used Fred's vids. I'm usually in too much of a hurry and its a lot faster just to read the service manual.

That's the kind of info I was in search of, right there. The cost wasn't what prompted this question, as they are roughly the same $$, it was more about which would be more useful overall.

Thanks for the replies. I'll be hitting up the stealership this weekend for the book.

You could save a little money by purchasing a second hand one on ebay.

You could save a little money by purchasing a second hand one on ebay.

Seeing as I've never used them, I might be willing to part with my set of Fred's DVD's. If I can find them.

Its kinda funny reading postings here, where we all survive on sharing info, and over on the other place, where we try to share, and all the people that really do know the bikes and problems, and answers, get dissed by forum only members there...and even there, the "experts", those entitled with a formal position to "assist, and monitor, and keep abreast of technical issues and solutions" simply never are there, except for one or two people of current, or past "servitude"..  I'll also say thet those people that are there, and there daily, monitoring, and helping as they do, have done so with simple and viable assists to help, and did it ALWAYS for free...not saying they don't, or cannot charge for physical services... that money is well earned, just the point of selling the "common stuff, not personal dicovery of miraculous deviation or performance" knowledge, when its your job to share it, kinda twitches my britches...
My hat is always off to SISF, because of time spent, and efforts accomplished... that is what I call advancing forward..

Hey, always ask here, there are people here that WILL offer answers, and help..you may have to sort thru it, but its here.
I've owned the C14 since 7/7/07
I never made any videos, for sale, or otherwise, simply because I found the bike flawless with its build... I could not have justified buying a bike, and producing videos of how to do the most basic things, and sell them, after only owning the bike a few monthes...

Not that I didn't take it apart, and put it back together, just so I could tell someone how to... I just couldn't bring myself to do it for profit.

Its all because I luv y'all.... I don't charge for advice, or answers, I do charge if you want to help me fix your bike tho... but that's beer..good beer...and plenty of it.....

Its all because I luv y'all....

[Blush]

I don't charge for advice, or answers, I do charge if you want to help me fix your bike tho... but that's beer..good beer...and plenty of it.....

I wish you lived near me, I would certainly throw MY business at ya.

I have the service manual, it came with the bike and the videos (bought used cheap). I usually search this site for info which has always been very useful for both my C10 and now my 14. I am pretty anal so I tend to use all 3 sources depending on the complexities involved. I am very thankful for the knowledge available on this board and would also gladly utilize some for my valve check if they were closer.
Wayne

I have both and I tend to be a visual learner. While MOB takes issue with Fred's earning a buck, I'm of the take that in "Merica" if you have an idea or opportunity to earn a buck, take it.  Fred put some time into making them and for me, they help.  If it's only one or the other, the manual is the place to start.  It has what you need but the pictures are vague at times and (rightly) make the assumption you are familiar with the workings of machinery and motorcycles but Fred's videos kind of helps me past that inexperience. I am a toolmaker by trade and understand mechanical things but the C14 is the first bike I have really torn apart and information is always king when you have 200 parts laying all over your shop.

Having said that even with all that info I still needed MOB to help me find the attachment point for a bracket after I was all but done with my Valve adjustment    Best of all, He didn't even throw me under the bus for not being able to figure it out!

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