I'll do oil changes, and that's about it.

 

I dunno. I like the feeling of doing the work myself. It kinda makes it feel more mine. Because I don't just know how to ride it, I know how to FIX it! hehe

 

Me too Deuce....Give me a Service Manual and I'll fix it myself......been burned by "mechanics" to many times

 

I do most of my own auto and bike work. However - a valve adjustment and anything involving cracking the engine case I will leave to someone who knows what they are doing.

I also don't enjoy getting raped by the dealer - so no... the dealer does not touch my bike unless I have no choice. The guy doing my bike has been rebuilding kawis for over 20 years, and is also a transmission mechanic. I trust him, and he is saving me about 60% on labor. The original valve adjustment was to cost me $200 plus parts (shims and gasket). Now I am looking at another 200 to drop and crack the case, plus gaskets. I also just found out that the gasket on the water pump is leaking as well. That's not a big deal... but the thing with having to drop and crack the enginer just disappoints me. Everything else except valve adjustments and anything to crack the case I will do on my own.

 

Damn, you got to split the case to adjust the valves on your bike ...... I'd pay someone two bills for that too...lol. Thats too much work...maybe the vibration of a thumper isn'tsuch abad thing.

I couldn't imagine what a dealer would charge for that.

 

That sucks sro, I am having some unexpected expenses with mine too[:@]

 

Unexpected expenses are definately not on my top 10 favorite things

 

YEah, mine started running poorly yeaterday. Had to order some new plugs and a fuel filter. Now it is in pieces in my garage.

 

So what upgrades are you going to do while you have it apart?

 

plugs and fuel filter isn't so bad... I do those every winter anyhow... pull the tank and airbox and you can get to the plugs and filter easy enough

And no - I don't have to crack the case to do a valve adjustment - however - a valve adjustment is a bit more tedious and delicate than I am willing/able to do on my own