I wouldnt trust a shop unless you know the guy who owns it personally or unless you're riding a $10k + bike. Our little bikes and other similarly small/cheap bikes usually end up with the shop trainee (ie idiot). Before Ineclipse bought a Savage he took his 250 nighthawk to the local shop for a rear tire change. The idiot they had do it was in a hurry i geuss and didnt tighten the axle bolt. A week or so later his chain adjusters (which were bearing all the load since the axle wasnt tightened) broke, his chain jumped sprocket and he came to very abrupt hault in traffic. We found out a couple months later after he got a flat that the idiot had also put in the wrong tube. The tube he had installed was WAY too big and pinched in several places.

The point is, our bike is simple and easy to work on. get a manual, a small tool kit with some feeler gauges, and a funnel. That pretty much all you'll need for basic upkeep. if something actually goes wrong hit us up and we'll get you through it.

kk lewi wrote on 09/23/09 at 17:36:09:

No, we don't all know that.  

Read your warranty paperwork.  That is what you need to KNOW.  You can do whatever it says there, and don't fall for the hype from the crooks at the stealership.  In any case, anything you do that might harm part of the bike would only make the warranty void on those parts, not the entire warranty.  If you screw up the valve adjustment, the warranty is still good on the transmission, clutch, electrics, etc., etc.  In general, service can be done at any state licensed motorcycle repair shop*--be sure a complete description of the work is on the receipt and save the paper--and usually the owner can do oil changes and stuff and save the receipts for the oil & filter.  If you want, do it all, photograph and document what was done, and save those.

*My state, at least, has licensed motor vehicle repair shops.  See if yours does.