Which manual is better clymer or haynes

Thread Tools Show Printable Version. I do alot of my own service and need to pick up a manual. Is there a consensus on which is better Clymer or Haynes? Is there a BMW factory manual, and if so, is it preferable to the aftermarket ones? I have both the Clymer and Haynes, what one lacks the other covers.

I've got all 3 for my GS and do all of my routine maintenance and repairs have replaced clutch, clutch slave cylinder, rear pivot bearings and starter. Having said that I'm glad I have all 3 as there have been occasions where only the Haynes gave me the information I sought or presented it in a manor where I could understand it. Originally Posted by stwilliams. Is there a BMW factory manual, and if so, is it preferable to the aftermarket ones. Missed the last one in ! I just ordered both books from Amazon.

I am no stranger to wrenching have restored a few vintage BMW's. And up until now I have done all of my own servicing. However these "modern" bikes with fuel injections etc are a different animal. I'm prepared to do basic maintenance and check timing, valves, etc. Major service will likely go the dealer. The BMW manual is on the web for free. For that specific bike I have all three. The BMW manual assumes you are a qualified tech but usually provides the most accurate and useful sequences and specifications.

Photos are scarce. I find the Haynes better organized than the Clymer and prefer it, but the Clymer is also useful because sometimes the photos are better or at least from a different perspective. And the two explain things differently, and sometimes both explanations together are better than either one by itself.

Be cautious with torque specifications in Clymer manuals. Most are right but there are some errors. They both agree on removing the rider seat, disconnecting the negative terminal and removing the rear wheel and mud guard but after that, their approach is quite different.

Clymer says remove the left side passenger foot rest bracket and left side down tube, an easy job. Haynes says remove the exhaust silencers, the left shock absorber and the swing arm! This is a huge amount of work. Otherwise, they are about the same on all the hoses, tank bolts, wiring and stuff. By the way, the Yamaha factory manual does not cover removal of the fuel tank at all. Other complaints were that Haynes showed a photograph of the right hand mirror but failed to mention that the fastener was a left hand thread, identifiable by a groove or notches on the points.

Actually, they require the less common 18 mm socket. You can find one at a Sears hardware store. Haynes merely stated to use a socket of the correct size or the one provided in the Yamaha tool kit. The other differences lie mainly with the fact that Haynes is based in Great Britain. Their writing style is so, there is no other way to put it, British. Here is an example. Talking about brake fluid, "Wrap a rag around the reservoir being worked on to ensure that any spillage does not come into contact with painted surfaces.

Other disconcerting bits involve the spelling of the King's English -- tyres, centrestand and so forth. Haynes has a section, with color pictures, dealing with preparing for the annual MOT inspection required in the U. This would be of no interest except that it serves as a useful checklist for looking at a used motorcycle here in this country.

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