Along the road you will find times where you need to perform periodic maintenance such as an oil change or tire change. The first couple of oil changes I did were at friends’ houses then I found myself in Moses Lake and in need of a oil change and not knowing anyone in the area. I went ahead and purchased the oil at a wall mart and a filter at a local MC shop but did not want to pay someone else to change the oil for me as I prefer to do that kind of thing myself. I spotted a quick lube across the street from the wall mart and got up the courage to ask them if I could borrow a drain pan as I was on the road. They allowed me to do such and I gave them the used oil and filter relieving me of the disposal problem. After that instance I repeated the process many times not once being denied by a quick-change oil shop of any kind.
Tires can usually be purchased at dealerships and if you tell them you are on the road they should bump you up and replace the tire in a timely manner for you but I have had an experience in Harrisburg PA where the dealership expected me to wait in a hotel for three weeks for them to replace my tire even though they had tires in stock, they said they had a waiting list. Another dealership was found in Mechanicsburg and they were able to get me in and out in about 45 minutes. If you get a uncooperative dealership just look for another one. Volunteer Honda in Tennessee has always been accommodating for tire changes for me.
You may not be able to perform the maintenance at the exact interval but it is important to keep up with it as you travel.
Another trick for tires is a motorcycle repair shop, which is not a dealer. I have been able to purchase tires installed from these types of places and saved a hundred dollars over the dealer price. One in particular I would like to mention is my friend Tim who has started a chain of shops called Bikers Bay where they will change your tires or oil very quickly catering to the traveling biker.
If you cannot find a shop in the area you are in just find yourself a group of local bikers. They will know of one.
