Maintenance

I do most of my own stuff, like oil, oil filter, and air filter changes, coolant changes, brake fluid and pad replacement, chain adjustment, etc...

I do my own tires on the dirtbike, but get Mikeymoto to do my Vstrom tires because I find they are way to rigid to bother.

I'm not sure what I am going to do with my upcoming valve adjustments... should I attempt it myself or pay someone?

I've taken cases off, changed a stator, etc, but I am worried the valve inspection/adjustment might be too much for me, especially on the Vstrom where the whole bike needs to come apart to get to the heads.

I do most of my stuff for the same reason you don't do yours... I don't trust most shops anymore and I want to make sure it is done right and I am not being ripped off.

I do the fluids, clutch adjustment, have done minor electrical repair. Anything else, it goes to the shop.

Checking is the easy part, adjustments & shimming is the hardest part. Once you do it once or twice it becomes easier. The important part is to double check everything, in fact triple check everything & if you have doubts that you didn't do it, check it again. When finished, remember, turn the motor over by hand first. You don't do this you might need new valves.

And btw, you only have 2 cylinders to worry about, 50% less work there.

Im with the majority here, i do my own because i know it will be done right and i save a ton of cash on top.
When i started riding and didn't know a whole lot about bikes i used to take it to shops and ended up getting ripped off, and more times than not had to re-do the job anyways. On top of that there would be scratches, missing bolts etc...

Shops don't care about your bike, just how much money and how quickly they can get it from you.

I had a shop that most would consider respectable do my brake lines and fork seals after they were leaking and not even bother to wipe down the rotor and pads that were soaked in the fluid. When i asked them about it they said that wasn't part of their job...and then a short time later had to go back because the lines were leaking lol. Unfortunately this is the mentality of the majority of shops that i have dealt with in the gta.

I took a GF's bike to a shop (snow City) for the 1k maintenance, they charged her close to 300 - One month later the Steering nut came dangerously lose, that was one of the things she paid for them to check and adjust.

I do all my own maintenance, don't trust those fuckers (unless is Dave at competition cycle) but he will slap me if I bring my bike there for an oil change

I'm even going to look at a machine to do my own tires. I know of a shop that wanted 160 to install and balance both because I didn't buy the tires there. Sometimes shops are ok but some are blatant rip offs. I've been working on cars my whole life so I guess that helps too

Larrys in Orangeville. They've been great to me for part prices but I laughed at him when he said that for tires. Went to the guy in caledon (west end cycle? Something like that) and he did them for 75 bucks in under 20 minutes. I understand if you don't buy tires with the company but it's a great example of rip off. I told the guy at Larrys if he can match the price from Petes then I'd buy there. He was nowhere close.

I use Mikeymoto in Brampton for my Vstrom tires... $15 cash per tire, balanced, as long as they are off the bike... I couldn't be bothered with the hassle of doing them myself for that price.

Curious to know whats different about dunlops?