They have good suggestions, Rejet, & syn.  However, once you're up to speed, you'll find that you're not using much throttle.  Mikuni has told us that at cruise we're on the pilot jet, beleave it or not.  I think others have confirmed this and I can say too that while cruising it ain't twisted much.  Final drive ratio was supposed to be slightly higher on the 4 speed vs. 5.  I have a 25 mile commute, run upwards to 80, although 70 is my target speed.  Been doing that for 23k miles so far.  Haven't always been the best at keeping the oil level between the lines, and haven't always used syn.  Use 20-50 weight in the summer, and 10-40 weight in the winter.

Now for the maintenace stuff, here's why we tend to diy.  Our bikes cheap, so they tend to get a knuckle dragger to work on it.  Also, the time it takes to have a shop change your oil, you can easily diy.  $58 aint bad concidering the cost of oil.  Typically what I do, on return from a ride, park it, throw pan under, remove plug, pull filter, takes less the 5 minites.  Go away for awhile.  Replace filter and plug, pour in a 1 and a half, check level and fill.  Start bike, run for a bit, shut off and check level.  repeat as neccessary.  Wash bike & degrease engine.
Shouldn't take you more than a 1/2 hour for the oil change total.  More for washing of course.  You take it to the shop, it'll take that long to write it up and get someone to pick you up, unless you guys are best buddies.  Of course 1st time takes alot longer, but with practice...

Haven't seen dunlop brakes yet, but ebc's are a good brand and don't tend to squeal.  And I can do the front brakes in less than a 1/2 hr. too.

All it takes is a little prep, Buy your oil by the gallon.  And filters by the case.  If you're doing 120 miles a day 5 days a week, it'll add up quick.

Another thing for you to consider, rather than do every change yourself or at dealer, do every other one.  600 miles/wk, 2400/3000/month.  Once a month oil change.  every 2 months you just change oil, every 2 months dealer/independant changes oil/filter and does valve adjustment.  And every 3 to 6 months you're gonna need tires (it was a shock to me too)

I run synthetic or synth-blend oils. I get my filters (not Suzuki) at a little sports bike shop for around $3.00 per. The oil change takes about ten minutes, and once you find the right size allen wrench your golden.

Haven't done the front pads yet, they're hanging on the garage wall waiting for the snow to melt. Got them at the same sports bike shop for half what the dealership wanted. I understand it's not too taxing a job to do the change.

I suggest doing the work yourself. It's the best way to get to know your bike and it's personality. This is my first bike ever at middle-to-old age and, although I had done extensive work on cars, I was a little apprehensive about the unknowns of cycle work. I paid for the first tire change and brake pad job. Never again. Outlandish labor rates.

As for running the bike at speed and distance, I've done three round trips in the 3k-4.2k range in the summer from MN to FL as well as countless other trips in the multi-hundred mile range. Interstate, back roads, gravel . . . this bike handles it all very well. I've not re-jetted but do run a Sportster muffler and have done the Oldfeller air filter mod. and I just can't wait to do a long run with the darkside radial I've got on the back now.

The only thing I can say is to be careful about reading Oldfeller's posts. He tends to get you thinking about doing strange things with your bike. then the next thing you know you're having fun, saving money AND thinking you can do most anything. There's them that think outside the box is not inside the box.

Jack

stumusic wrote on 01/09/09 at 08:41:59:


My $.02...I WOULD REALLY RECOMMEND DIY!!

I'm really busy too...but DIY maintenance is very easy as others have said.  I'm not a great DIY'er either (double the estimate times mentioned).  But this is really an easy and fun bike to work on (believe me I've tried working on some other bikes).  It's become more of a "dad's quiet time" kinda bike.  And the maintenance on it is really nothing more than the time to take any vehicle in to get the maintenance done.  In addition you gain valuable experience on the understanding of your bike which is invaluable when/if something goes wrong.  'Nuff sayd...

stumusic wrote on 01/09/09 at 08:41:59:
Let's see...  120 miles each way, 4 hours travel, four gallons gas.  about $30 for a set of pads.  10 minutes to change them.  I'll do it for $150.

Seriously, the front pads are nothing to change.  Half hour including running in and out of the house to get instructions off this site.

60 mile/day = 300 miles/5-day week = 15,000 miles/50 week year.  In your situation you might consider going to the dark side for tires.  Other than that, as others have noted, the bike has no problem running at speed.  Year and a half ago I ran L.A. to Holbrook AZ (570 miles) in a single day, followed by 510 miles to Amarillo the next day.  And I'm a wuss compared to BeatDuck.

Do you really want a stranger fondling your Suzi? I thought not.
DIY. If I can wrench on it, anybody can.  

The $$$ you save will more than pay for the tools & oil drain pan( get a Low one), a cake pan works fine. Harbor Freight has T handled allen wrenches for cheap. Get a few O-rings for both places. They both last thru several oil changes, but its good to have backups & not be running for ten cent parts every time you need one. Get a magnetic plug at least. Once you get comfortable with it all, study Old Fellers posts on Supermagnets. I have spare oil plug washers & O-rings. It's not much $$ & having them assures me I wont be parked over a little detail. You will gain confidence & save $$$ AND you wont be looking for someone to take you home from the shop, you wont be waiting on them to get to it & you wont need anyone to take you to get & you wont have to drive the car while you wait. When the rear tire gets replaced, a taller one will give you a small gearing change.
The challenge of jetting isnt so much the mechanics of DOING it, it's getting it adjusted & choosing the correct size for the bike to get the right fuel/air mixture. The guys here can & will help with that. Give them accurate descriptions of how its runnintg & you'll get directions on how to get it right.

So far, we've seen at least 2 engines ruined by Professional Mechanics doing oil changes. No owners have messed things up changing oil. Sticking an oil filter in backwards just dont make sense.Just look at it when it comes out. Its easier to get right than wrong.

Doing the brakes is easy enough, just talk about it before you dive in. Look the bike over, read the manual, I expect there are pics in the tech area.
You'll need to get a small collection of tools & lubricants & just start in. As your confidence grows( It Will grow, because Success Breeds Confidence & you Will be successful) your list of jobs you are willing to attack will grow & your tool collection will grow along with your technical abilities.

Save your $$$, expand your horizons & enjoy taking care of the bike.
Its fun when you've finished a project that WOULD have cost you $100.00 & you did it for $25.00, knowing the next 6 pack & pizza are FREE!!, because you saved all that $$$$.

Just have to join in on doing the oil change DIY, it really will save time and money for you while also connecting you to your bike more, while the oil is draining you can check the tires, lights and wipe it down. Go for rejetting the main, it gives more throttle at highway speeds and makes the bike run cooler.