Here a link to VERY VERY useful information when it comes to motorcycles and getting started as well as their maintenance. Please note that even though the article is mainly about Yamaha XJ bikes, the same info can and should be used for other bikes as well.
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/
Thanks to Chacal from XJBikes.com for allowing me to link to his post.