BMW R1200 Twins by Phil Mather, Haynes Publishing (336 pages, $50.95)
Combine one of the best selling motorcycles in the world with the best maker of service and repair manuals and you come up with an absolute winner.
The Haynes approach to vehicle maintenance is meant to be completely hands on. In their guide books there are no elusive missing sections or recommendations that for further repairs you take it to a qualified service centre.
Anyone who is prepared to tackle their own repairs and service should invest in a good manual. The BMW book is just that, as are all the Haynes manuals on an extremely wide range of vehicles.
For motorcycles the manuals begin with locating all the identification numbers, a guide to essential pre-ride checks, and specifications. Next up is routine maintenance before moving on to repairs and overhauls and the electrical system.
In every section there are step-by-step instructions with accompanying photographs. For all repairs the required tools are listed and torque standards are included for the reassembly. Whether it is tracking down a short in the wiring or changing the brake pads, everything you need to know is clearly presented.
