Haynes or Clymer?

[Joe Nardy]

I have a friend who recently purchased an '05 Suzuki Boulevard C50. I will be helping her maintain the bike so I want her to buy a service manual. I always get the factory manual but don't think that is necessary in this case since I'll be doing mostly routine maintenance.

Since I have never used either Clymer or Haynes manuals I would like to hear your opinions of both. What are the good and bad aspects of each? Which would you prefer to use?

Thanks,
Joe

[Rudeman]

Haynes manuals show you how to work without the use of special tools. For example in the GS750B-N manual they show you how to make a cam follower tool out of some heavy gauge sheet metal.

Clymer manuals have full color wiring diagrams. Pretty cool.

They are both very comprehensive and thorough so it's basically flip a coin and see.

That being said I have Haynes manuals for all three of my vehicles and I plan to get one for my wife's 2011 Taurus as soon as I see them on the shelf.

[Hoosier Daddy]

I have used Haynes manuals for decades. I have always liked the way they are laid out and the photo's that show a guy's hand ACTUALLY performing the task that is being described. Started back when I had british cars and have bought them since. However, on my bikes I download the factory service manual of the world wide web.
I have seen too many posts on other forums of incorrect information being listed in Clymer manuals to trust them. Although here people seem to prefer them. Maybe their Suzuki GS version is spot on...

[koolaid_kid]

Of the two, I prefer Haynes.
Neither can replace the factory manual, but you know that already.

[wacky941]

Why not get both? I've found that there are some things that Haynes does better with and some that Clymers does better at, so me being the way I am I would just get both if they are available.

You can never go wrong with having multiple how to sources.

[ddaniels]

Why not get both? I've found that there are some things that Haynes does better with and some that Clymers does better at, so me being the way I am I would just get both if they are available.

You can never go wrong with having multiple how to sources.

I've never used Haynes for a motorcycle, but I prefer them for cars. I find that the pictures in the Clymer manual are sometimes not so great.

[Digitus]

I always prefer the factory manual !
Clymer 2nd best
Seen errors and mistakes in haynes books..wrong torque numbers and such. That made me weary.

[hampshirehog]

I find Haynes manuals particularly useful when one chair leg is shorter than another or I need something to get a fire going......

They are notorious for oversimplifying procedures and missing out vital bits of info or just printing stuff which is clearly wrong. They are probably responsible for around 25% of the work I end up fixing on other people's bikes.

[salty_monk]

Having both is handy as they often describe different procedures in different ways & give different pics. If I can get them for $3 on Ebay I'll buy both....

Both usually need some level of interpretation & you can't always rely on them as "wrote".

Joe - for a mechanic of your ability I would say either will give you enough information for you to do a good job.

[Steve]

Just for the sake of comparison, I have all three manuals for my 850s: Factory, Clymer and Haynes.

Of course, there is little doubt that "factory is best". Like the others, I find that each of the others has its strengths and weaknesses. Overall, I would give the nod to Clymer over Haynes for the 850. Not sure how other models would do in that comparison.

That is not to say that the Clymer is without problems. One of the biggest ones is a very incorrect wiring diagram. Fortunately, most amateur mechanics are confused enough by a diagram already, so they would not notice, but if you are trying to trace a wire and it does not make sense, it might not be you, it could be the diagram.

.

[pete]

Answer is easy; factory...

I have a reproduction factory one for my 450 with all the addendums, plus the Clymer and Haynes.

The Clymer has been good, but not detailed enough in some areas.

The Haynes led me astray twice, once because the torque figure for the gear change drum detent plunger bolt was listed as twice what it should be, with the obvious result.

The factory repro one has been great and I got it for something like $30 on eBay from NZ.

This is the eBay store:

http://stores.ebay.com/e-ClassicBike-Manuals

They say if they don't have it listed to contact them, and it comes bound and everything too.

Not sure if he has modern stuff or not but worth a query I would say...