Sorry for another n00b question, but is it necessary to remove the lower fairing to do an oil change? I see some people on youtube don't remove it but on the service manual it says to.. also on the shraz.net forum, in the pictures, it's removed, but in the directions it doesn't say to remove it..

thanks in advance!

 

Do you need to? No. Does it make the process a lot easier? Yes.

 

No need. Just reach in with a 6in socket ext and take the bolt off.

 

Its a lot easier when you do. And its less messy on the fairings/garage/floor....it takes a few mins to take off.

 

I wrap tinfoil on the headersand the bottom of the cowl and when it spills it runs thru the tinfoil and into the drain pan and when your done just pull the tinfoil out.
No mess and takes less then 5 mins to set-up.

 

I set a funnel in the headers to catch the oil from the filter. Way easier.

Also for reference to anyone who cares: oil that drips from the filter onto the headers isn't a big deal. It will smoke and burn off the next time you run the bike, which isn't a big deal. Just more of an annoyance. Use one of the measures mentioned here if you want to prevent that.