Hey all,

So this week I hit a bit of a stumbling block.

I bought an ex-showroom Honda CB500F. I bought it just after passing my license. I really want to go by bike to Africa, some years from now, and I thought I should learn how to be mechanically handy with the bike. I have changed my own tires, pegs, clutch, chain and sprockets. I did my 8,000 mile service myself just following the Haynes manual and using youtube.

The 16,000 mile service has been a real doozy! I managed to change the air filter, oil (but forgot the oil filter, first red flag), and the spark plugs which are not easy to get to at all!

I questioned my decision many times, but perservered until now the engine fault indicator is permanently on. Everything starts fine. Going back through the connectors and looking at removing the ignition coil assembly for a third time I realised I'm in no way equipped for this task. This is a complex machine! I'm very impressed with what it takes to maintain these vehicles.

Colour me humbled and a bit embarrassed about writing this. I definitely overestimated my abilities and underestimated the work.

I have got it booked in for a professional service. I'm happy to pay whatever they charge to look after this thing! Given the CB500X is similarly complex, and this was my intended bike for this trip, I guess field mechanics are out of the question unless I take a college course or something? Does it even matter? Maybe I'm overestimating the likelihood of needing to change an air filter in the middle of the sahara...

It's been a tough few days going through all of this and it has me doubting myself. I feel like I'm doing something wrong, maybe focusing on the wrong things. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.