Topic: Does Honda understand the market??

[toycollector10]

Obviously NOT.

This really gets on my tits. How hard would it have been for them to print the proper original cover.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&isfrommerc=1&itemcount=4&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ABCA%3AUS%3A44&refwidgetloc=bid_confirm_email&usedrule1=CategoryProximity&viewitem=&refitem=200119508940&item=200118767096&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget

[puppytrax]

I'm not quite sure I understand your ire...are you upset at the [outrageous] price?? Or at the wrong pic on the front of the manual??   

...Or both??...   

[asmallsol]

Your #$%*ing about that? I'm #$%*ing at honda for not offering more smaller bikes. I want the bikes they have in Europe.

[toycollector10]

Good point, I hardly looked at the price.

How easy would it have been to put the proper period cover on the damn thing. Then you just say on the inside cover "printed by so and so and the date printed" so there is no attempt at fobbing it off as an original.

[burmashave]

I am be-puzzled.  I can't see wanting a reprint owner's manual in the first place.  I picked up a good condition, used owner's manual for much less.  He has "authorized" reprints available for lots of other Honda bikes.  Seems sketchy.

[333]

Can't blame Honda.  They contracted out all the reprinting of manuals.  Be thankful you can still get service manuals for our bikes.

[Gordon]

Can't blame Honda.  They contracted out all the reprinting of manuals.

Exactly.  These aren't being printed by Honda, just some independent publisher who got permission from Honda to print them.  In fact, Honda probably specifically told them they couldn't use the original cover style so they couldn't be passed off as originals. 

[trinorman]

Thy this link for a price of $18.  You can get them for pretty much any year.  This is just a sample.

[trinorman]

Sorry, forgot to include the link!

http://www.repairmanual.com/motorcycles/1972/27/0/1035

[MoTo-BunnY]

Being in the automotive literature business, I can tell you that there are a few sellers on feeBay that are selling totally bootlegged 'authorized reprints' and CDs of scanned manuals. We know they are full of it because my business partner has access to any of the actually authorized reprints and knows what is available and what is not.

All the real reprints we have seen, are JUST like the originals down to the cover and everything. About the only difference is the reprints are lacking any of the period 'mail this form in', 'request additonal copies of this manual for $1.95', and other such vintage only inclusions.

Still, even the authorized reprints are not as good in quality as the vintage originals. The pictures are usually near-photocopy quality of the original photos. They just don't do manuals with that heavier, shiny paper and fine, detailed lithographic pictures like in the best of the oldest manuals. The newest, factory/OEM manuals are actually pretty cheaply done, too.  . .all very simple line drawings with no actual photography done on phone book like paper.

Basically, I would take a vintage used but original manual ANY day over a brand new reprint.

Also, its pretty sad on how much of these fake reprints and CDs there are on feeBay and how both feeBay and any of the original companies obviously ignore it.. . . .

( /auto literature businessdiatribe )   

[bryanj]

Autobunny, and others, several years ago i borrowed from my local dealer the original blue book manuals for several models and spent the time and effort to scan them so that i was able to supply an out of print manual to anybody who wanted one at marginally more than cost, I also took the trouble to ring Honda UK who, at that time but things may be different now, said as long as i was not printing them and describing them as original they had no problem with me doing this with NON CURRENT books.

I did sell afew on ebay but stopped because it wasnt worth the effort and, after charges for selling + paypal, they sold at a loss (most going to the US). I did also send free copies to Glenn but at that time there was no way to host them, again different now.

Finally i still have them, and completed the "set" with a bought copy of a fun4u download for the 350 and 400 and i will happily supply anybody on this forum at cost , to include the post office "waiting time!"

[kaysystems]

I can see some people buying it. Perhaps to use everyday, so they don't wreck the original.

I use a photocopy, or scanned version of my manuals for that

David

[Marco83]

Your #$%*ing about that? I'm #$%*ing at honda for not offering more smaller bikes. I want the bikes they have in Europe.

Check out my 1998 Cb400four!

http://www.sohc4.us/forums/index.php?topic=8901.0

[Andrew Schauer]

I would bet money the manual on eBay is one of these:

http://www.helminc.com/helm/product2.asp?class%5F2=AHC&mk=Honda+Motorcycle&yr=1970&md=On%2DRoad&dt=&module=&from=result&Style=&Sku=323002&itemtype=N&mscsid=ATA31V4AAD058PJSQM1VJP8ARR4AEK7C

Pretty sure that Helm Inc. is the company that actually reprints all the older manuals, for quite a few companies.  Notice that it is only $22 from them, not $45.

[toycollector10]

Welcome to the forum Andrew, lets see some pics of your rides. I'm also interested in your rice burners....

[MoTo-BunnY]

Yes, Helm Inc. is definitely an authorized reprinter.  . . .actually, they are an original manual manufacturer from way back with American car service and owner's manuals.

That's the main way to determine originals from reprints. The originals have an extra page or card near the end of the manual saying 'additonal copies of this manual and others' or whatever and showing period prices. (like $7.95 for a full service manual or something super cheap compared to today's prices) The reprints - even the official ones - generally don't have this page or card or if it did, it would be in modern prices.

Don't fall for that 'new manual' smell or whatever. . . lol. . . I have yet to see a reprint of ANY manual that was equal to, let alone better than, the originals. Modern manuals use thin paper and bad photocopy-like pictures, generally.

Another lil' tip. . . .those Clymer manuals soooo common for these old Hondas? Get the older ones. . .. they use actual Honda co. parts diagram pictures, nice and clear. I believe Clymer got harassed by Honda about using their pictures at some point and then they went to those aweful line drawings that are an artist's 'interpretation' of the original Honda parts pictures and are not nearly as clear (if you look close, the lines aren't even straight. . . its all freehand?!?) My First and Fourth Edition Clyner manuals are both the desired original illustrations, the Sixth Edition I have is the later rough hand drawn illustrations version.

   he he. . . I'm such an auto literature geek. . . .

[Jonesy]

I know what you mean re: the Clymer manuals. I have a mid-60's Honda and Clymer manual for my CA95 and except for the covers and a few extra pages in the front (about the manual and such) and back (complete listing of other available titles), the Clymer manual is a dead ringer for the Honda one. They even keep the "Japlish" wording and spelling mistakes (some from poor translation, some from printing setup mistakes) to "assure authenticity so that the meaning of the original instructions is not lost".