Why do I enjoy oil changes so much?

 I changed the oil in my 1999 Royal Enfield Bullet. It's not clear to me when was the previous time I changed it. 

The last note I made of an oil change was just about exactly two years ago. That may be accurate. 

Well, I don't ride as much as I used to when I was a commuter. 

Anyway, the amount of oil regularly added to the motorcycle between changes (a lot) probably amounts to a sort of running oil change. 

The oil always gets black immediately on use; probably just the result of an old, unsophisticated motor.

Certainly the drained oil this time was very black. I didn't notice any silvery bits of metal in it but, then, I forgot to look closely. 

I didn't get the bucket properly positioned under the drain when I opened it, so there was a mess on the floor. Fortunately I had the motorcycle parked on cardboard, which soaked up most of the spill.

Then I spilled more oil just getting the multi-part oil filter out. It's not a spin-on. More like an athletic sock stuffed inside a kitchen sink strainer.

It should be returned to its housing soaked in clean oil. Getting it soaked was another mess on the floor.

And then I spilled still more oil emptying the bucket into an old plastic bottle to take to recycling. The funnel I'd chosen to use in this process had too small a spout, so it instantly overflowed. Luckily, again, onto the cardboard.

I went and got a bigger funnel.

The final spill (so far) came while putting clean oil into the oil tank. The oil compartment doesn't hold the full amount of oil specified in the owner's manual, so it overflows.

It's my theory that the oil has to be distributed into the filter and around the motor while running before there's room to get in the full proper amount of oil.

So there remain opportunities to spill yet more oil, in topping up. 

Luckily I make a practice of saving all the big cardboard that comes into the house. I will need it.

As a commuter, before I retired, I did oil changes regularly and I became pretty skilled at it.

Of course my practice then was to change the oil the night before I would ride to work in the morning.

That is the reason I didn't immediately go for a ride after this latest oil change: I don't associate changing the oil with immediately riding.

There is a satisfying feeling to having the job done. Yet more opportunities for satisfaction remain.

The gearbox oil is in a separate reservoir, and could use changing. The primary drive case requires another, separate, oil change.

Then the oily job of lubricating the final drive chain is certainly overdue.

 I feel as though I am saturating more cardboard than I am saving oil to be recycled. All this maintenance may be good for the soul, but not for the garage floor.