... Don't have my owners manual with me at the moment, at what mileage should a gear oil change take place?
Most of us just change the gear oil when we change the engine oil, usually every 600-1000 miles. Getting a larger plastic syringe from, say, a veterinarian, will help you measure it out correctly and get it into the hole without spilling a bunch. Both the engine and gear oil changes are super simple. If I can do it, anyone can. (And I'm pretty bad at the whole picture posting thing, too, so don't feel bad.) Thanks for sharing your riding impressions with us.