Haynes vs Honda Repair Manual?

leonides

leonides

Joined
Dec 18, 2018
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238
Age
82
Location
Miami, Fl.
How good are the Haynes repair manual if compared to the original Honda ??.
Also what is the difference between the ST1300 and the 1300A ?
Honda ST1300A-06.
thanks in advance.
P.B.
 
The A stands for anti-lock brakes. I have the Honda shop manual and while it has a few mistakes, documented here on ST-Owners, I wouldn't work on my STeed without it. Sorry, but I can't speak to the quality of Haynes manuals.
 
I'm a firm believer in the Honda Service Manual.
As Tom posted, their a few mistakes, but by in large, it is the go to manual.
Every ST needs the Honda manual.
 
The Haynes manual will tell you to take your bike to the shop right where it gets to the point where it might help you get something accomplished....
The Honda manual will tell you how to do it and let you know which Honda tools you'll have to have on hand to get the job done (of course it'll recommend the Honda brand too! $$$)
 
Manual ranking:
Honda, Clymer.....................................................................Haynes.
My experience since the 1960's. Clymer is a decent supplement to Honda's manual on most bikes. Haynes glosses over some operations a bit much for my taste.
 
IIRC, my Guzzi, Volvo, and Saab Haynes manuals had some useful pictures while shop manuals had only drawings or nothing. Beyond that, the shop manuals have always been more complete. I, too, have run into the 'disassembly and repair of the widget is beyond the home mechanic's ability - seek professional help' problem in these books. (I have no experience w/ the Haynes vs. Honda manuals.)
 
MajorTom said:
The A stands for anti-lock brakes. I have the Honda shop manual and while it has a few mistakes, documented here on ST-Owners, I wouldn't work on my STeed without it. Sorry, but I can't speak to the quality of Haynes manuals.
Click to expand...
Ok, then what is the difference with the model with the ABS
 
Nobody has said anything about the Honda Common Service Manual - 61CM002 Printed in USA.
The Honda Service manuals were designed for their Tech's, and not the general public.
The Honda Common Service Manual describes all common motorcycle repair etc.
So IMHO it would be: Honda Common Service manual, Honda bike specific service manual, Clymer, then Haynes...(only for the cool old school photos)
 
The main thing I like about the Clymer manual is that the wiring diagrams are in color, same colors as the wires themselves. It also covers the 28a-to-40a alternator upgrade, including necessary part numbers.
 
No Clymer exists for the 1300, so how someone can recomend it over the Haynes I'm not sure.

I have both Haynes and Honda. The Haynes generally covers everything and has better pictures. A few procedures are easier, faster and more real world the Haynes way vs Honda.
The Honda covers everything and I have yet to look up anything that the Haynes doesn't.

But I do have both just in case.
 
Common Service Manual, then ST1100 Service Manual, Clymer, Haynes.

I’ll use this opportunity to once again warn against using the Haynes to sync the carbs on an ST1100. Egregious error we’ve known about for years but keeps cropping up as new ST-folks try using it and screw up their carbs. Fact: #4 is the base carb and the other three are sync’d to it individually, in any order. Period!

Yes, I have a Haynes. Years ago the occasional picture in it was useful, nowadays I have my own. The colo(u)red wiring diagrams are indeed nice but those have been available for years to download and print out from the AOW on ST-Riders.net.

FWIW

John
 
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If replacing watepump-/ seals Honda shop manual does not mention sliding flat edge behind front cover to hold drive sprocket in place! Sprocket & chain can fall off behind clutch. Pull clutch to attach chain! How many other omissions, be advised.
 
The Haynes is difficult to use. The steps are all in sequence buried in dense text, very easy to get lost. Look away and then have to find your place again. Find the referenced picture somewhere on the page or the next. Flipping to other pages for torque values. I found it exasperating, frustrating, especially when...

In contrast the Honda Manual is a joy to use. All the info you need is clearly right there on opposing pages. Simple sequence task lists in table format with corresponding numbered parts on the facing schematic. Torque values and lube notations right there next to the part. Special notes. Required prior procedures. Also, space to make your notes (my well annotated manual is priceless.. NOT for sale, ha!). All in all, Honda got it right... Brilliant!

Are there shortcuts, other ways to do some procedures? Or course there are, that’s why the forums exist, and persist.

JMHO

John [who’s used a lot of tech manuals over 54 years, including aircraft and tactical vehicles]

PS Don’t get me started on Kawasaki manuals
 
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