It looks like at least half of us do our own maintenance, I enjoy doing it and save a few bucks at the same time. Doing my own brakes scares me a little but I want learn to do my own. I have had the rear wheel on and off twice, successful both times

I do ,these things are pretty simple .

I replied "I do" but in all honesty my SW is brand-new so I don't know yet. I called 3 dealers today and an oil change runs between $60 and $75. This is really a robbing! Why could a dealer change oil on my Acura MDX for $20 and I have pay so much for SW??? And why an oil filter is worth $13 and a quart of oil costs $6? Does anybody else thinks that this is wrong?
Thanks, Miro.

Yes that is pretty steep .Why don't you look for a local motor cycle mechanic ?Buy your own oil and filter and get him to change it for you
should be a lot less that way .

Could anybody recommend a good place on-line to buy oil and oil filter? I think I would like to stick with Honda brand but I am open to arguments there.
Thanks, Miro.

Miro,

If you buy oil on-line you may pay a bit more just to ship it. You can get the Fram oil filter from Wal-mart and the oil too. If you saw the pictorial I posted you can get the part number for the filter. I have also read that it is better than the Honda filter, but I really don't know for sure though. When you get about 1,000 or more miles you should think about going to a synthetic oil. But if you want to buy on-line you can check out www.scootertrap.com .

That is a very good Tutorial on changing oil .The biggest mistake beginners make is cross threading the oil plug .So I would just like to add it should screw in easily ,if not it is likely cross threaded . I have had to correct this problem many times .So watch out for that ,also make sure the new filter actually has a gasket ,and that the old one is not stuck to the engine .
Hope this helps .

So far, I've done everything on my S'wing except mount and balance new tires.
That includes, to date, oil and filter, final drive oil, air filter, and spark plugs. Oh yea, I've topped off the coolant reservoir. Haven't changed the coolant yet, or the brake fluid, but would like to at some point.

I'm anticipating changing the drive belt and rollers in the next few (4 +/-) thousand miles - already have the parts. I'd probably wait longer, based on what I've read from others, but last winter I got the rear end smoking pretty good when I got stuck in the mud, and I'm thinking changing the belt might just be a good thing to do on schedule, at least the first time. I also bought front brake pads, but I don't know if I'll bother with that. They look fine to me.

Jeff, have you published your coolant tutorial yet?

I do everything to both my Silver Wing and my Reflex. When it is time for tires though, I will have the dealer do it, but not the one in my home town. I can't afford their prices.

I do all the maintenance and repairs to my Silverwing and Goldwing. I have service manuals for both and tools for complete overhaul of just about any bike. Having lived in places where you had to do everything for yourself one learns to do a lot of different things.