[Simon]

I'm located in the Kansas City area.
I need to get the 500 mile check up done on my 04 Ninja 250, and I have serious doubts about my sellng dealership to be able to do the job properly (it seems that since I didn't buy their $900 extended service and coverage package, I'm not a "perfered" customer).
I there anyone out there from around the KC area that either would be willing to show me how to do the work (sychronize carbs/check and adjust the valves/ service chain) or could you recommend a good trustworthy mechanic that I could contact to perform the job?

Thanks!!

 

[Curt]

It sounds like it's time to dump that dealer. There is no way I would pay $900 for a warranty on a $3,000 bike. Whenever someone wants to play games, it's time to walk. I think you have some options:

1. Hopefully someone will post here and offer to help. I would do that, but you're more than 400 miles from me. Make sure you offer free pizza.
2. Do it yourself. You'll need the Kawasaki service manual and supplement. And you'll need a set of feeler gauges (I like Lisle -- they're made in the USA) and the special service tool (valve adjuster). You can do the job without the special tool, but it's a royal pain. The service manual will tell you how to do the job. It takes some time, but it's not too bad, especially on a new bike. I found http://www.scsquared.net/articles/valves.htm and http://users.tmok.com/~kpaxton/barbievalves.html which shows that even Barbie can do it, and she's a total airhead (literally!), so you can definitely do it. You'll have a tremendous amount of new pride in your work if you do this.
3. Try a different dealer. Look them up at http://www.kawasaki.com. There should be more than one in the KC area. Feel free to tell them what your last dealer did to you, and they should take the opportunity to snag you as a customer. After all, the big markup isn't on the bike -- it's on all the accessories you will buy later, and your next bike. If you take this option, it would be nice to write a letter to the owner explaining why you switched dealers.
Curt