The border was nothing dudester, once you're sure you understand the rules it takes a load off. We went directly to the UPS store and back across the border within 10 minutes, and that's exactly what I told the customs officer. He asks what the total is of what you bought, and you tell him. He sends you in with a card with that amount written on it, and you declare what the goods actually are, and you pay the cashier the PST and GST. You leave, happy with your deal, entirely legally!
The best deal, after MUCH searching and copious patience, was the same as what HelmetRider quotes above,
Dennis Kirk | Frontpage. In order to be compare apples to apples, add $5 per tire surcharge (a denniskirk.com surcharge, it's explained on the site), $5.50 total to cross the bridge ($2.75 each way), and $5 per package that you have delivered to the UPS Store. Plus the gas for whatever you ride there... I have a write-up on it in another thread, here:
http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/fo...solutions.html
Installation will be done at Gary's Custom Cycle in Ottawa, on Robinson Avenue (near Lees at the 417), this is a guy my buddy found that will do it for $15 per. That's pretty reasonable compared to anything else I've found or read on here, and makes it hard for me to decide to buy the tools! I like doing everything myself... but 15 bucks?!
As for the Bridgestones... very impressed with the wear. I got my bike with 27K on it, my buddy's Marauder had 22k with Dunlops. We think both bikes are on the original sets. Since then, I've put 10k on mine, he's put 6k on his... His wear was worse than mine when we got them, and got progressively, noticeably worse until this week he decided he wasn't even going to ride it any more. Mine, now with 37k total, still falls well within the wear limits... I am very particular about tire pressure as well.
Hope that helps, if you want any more info please let me know! With the differences in pricing, it's worth spreading the word!