Oil change question

[jjduke15F4i]

I have a '00 ex500. I have to go behind the front tire to try and get the oil filter out. the previous owner might not have lubed the seal before putting the damn thing on because i cannot for the life of me unscrew it with my hand.

When you guys change the oil filter on the bike do you take out the lower fairing? I am just wondering if it can be done without having to take it out. I don't have a power drill and one of the screws holding the lower fairing looks a bit threaded.

i am going to get a filter wrench and a ratchet extension but i don't know if i'll be able to get to the filter with the ratchet.....angle and such.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

thanks,

Jon

[Kawasaki_Kid]

definately take the lower fairing off, you'll avoid any damage to it for starters, and you gotta drain the oil by taking the cover off the very bottom of the bike anyway, you'll save yourself a lot of hassle doing it this way