You have been given very good advice, you can do this yourself. I realize it can be intimidating if you aren't a mechanic, but you can do it. :s I highly recommend buying the factory service manual, I look things up for my bike quite regularly. Between the service manual, THE SEARCH FEATURE ON THIS SITE, and all of the great 'Self Help Tips' available here, (not to mention the support from this site if you have a question about something not already covered), you will be fine and you will be amazed of how simple it really is, and how much better you feel when it is completed. Here is a write up of my first experience with my oil change.
Harley Davidson Community
Since that day, I now do the routine services for my bike and my husband's bike, I completed my 10k service, (I didn't attempt hubby's 10k service, I usually take a few days to get it done so we took his to a local indy).
If you really do not want to do your own service, I would ask around about a local indy shop. I feel that they are usually more personable, they seem to do better work (I think it's usually because they are more connected with customer service, i.e. 'usually own the shop and want you to come back' kind of attitude, and in some cases, they will let you sort of hang out and watch them work. That was the case with the indy we use when I got the tires replaced on my bike, (I could probably do it, but I would rather not, and I know my husband could do it and I could help, but he doesn't want to either), so we pay the indy when it comes to tires. :s But, I wanted to see how to take the back wheel off just in case I ever needed to, so the guy at the shop took the time to show me, and explain a few things here and there and showed me a couple of great tricks for general maintenance and technics for start up, (my bike has a carb) and just a good go to place for things over my head. It's not a bad idea to have a good relationship with a local shop. Smitty has a great relationship with his dealer so that is not always a bad thing either.
I have really become a better rider since I started reading this forum because I have learned so much in what is good and more importantly what is not too good for the bike.
Take lots of pictures if you do decide to do it yourself, sometimes it helps to go back and look at them and you can see how to do things a little better the next time.
Oh yeah, if you do it yourself, you will know that you will get new o-rings, (I NEVER USE O-RINGS OVER), they are cheap, mine always look fine when I take them out after one use, but when I did my husbands service after a dealer service, his o-rings were thin and very frayed, but anytime that I have done his service, his o-rings never looked like they did after the 2 times I saw them after a dealer service. They are cheap, replace them. :s (I do keep the old ones marked in an envelope that is marked 'used' just in case we need to use them for an emergency or something) I also keep 5 or 6 new ones on hand too. :s
Good luck!
Harley Davidson Community
Since that day, I now do the routine services for my bike and my husband's bike, I completed my 10k service, (I didn't attempt hubby's 10k service, I usually take a few days to get it done so we took his to a local indy).
If you really do not want to do your own service, I would ask around about a local indy shop. I feel that they are usually more personable, they seem to do better work (I think it's usually because they are more connected with customer service, i.e. 'usually own the shop and want you to come back' kind of attitude, and in some cases, they will let you sort of hang out and watch them work. That was the case with the indy we use when I got the tires replaced on my bike, (I could probably do it, but I would rather not, and I know my husband could do it and I could help, but he doesn't want to either), so we pay the indy when it comes to tires. :s But, I wanted to see how to take the back wheel off just in case I ever needed to, so the guy at the shop took the time to show me, and explain a few things here and there and showed me a couple of great tricks for general maintenance and technics for start up, (my bike has a carb) and just a good go to place for things over my head. It's not a bad idea to have a good relationship with a local shop. Smitty has a great relationship with his dealer so that is not always a bad thing either.
I have really become a better rider since I started reading this forum because I have learned so much in what is good and more importantly what is not too good for the bike.
Take lots of pictures if you do decide to do it yourself, sometimes it helps to go back and look at them and you can see how to do things a little better the next time.
Oh yeah, if you do it yourself, you will know that you will get new o-rings, (I NEVER USE O-RINGS OVER), they are cheap, mine always look fine when I take them out after one use, but when I did my husbands service after a dealer service, his o-rings were thin and very frayed, but anytime that I have done his service, his o-rings never looked like they did after the 2 times I saw them after a dealer service. They are cheap, replace them. :s (I do keep the old ones marked in an envelope that is marked 'used' just in case we need to use them for an emergency or something) I also keep 5 or 6 new ones on hand too. :s
Good luck!