Motorcycle Repair: scheduled maintenance, routine maintainence, motorcycle owner

Question
Chris, I am a rookie motorcycle owner (Yamaha 650 Vstar, 2004). I would like to know exactly what is involved in a first time maintenance service, (other than oil and filter change), does it involve any requiring mechanical know how.  If so what might it be and how mechanically inclined does one need to be to perform such maintenance?  I have a problem of distance to a dealer (40-60 miles one way) not to mention what seems an outrageous charge, anywhere from 120.00 to 259.95 is what I have been quoted for the same service?
Thanks for your answer.
Rob  

Answer
Hi Rob.
The absolute first scheduled Maintainence should be done by the dealer to insure that the warranty is maintained.  It is at the 500 mile mark.

What happens is this; you leave the bike overnight.  This is to insure that the engine is cold for the biggest part of the job.  In the morning, they check and adjust the valves, timing and cam chain tension.  Then they change the oil and spark plugs and synchronize the carbs.  Then the
maintainence is to be done every 2,000 miles (approx) or 6 months.  Some things are more and less frequent.

 Everything that is done in routine maintainence can be done by the operator, however, you need the repair manual to have the schedule and specs for everything.  There are also a couple of specialised tools to use.  Most bikes only require the carb sinchronizer and carb adjustment screwdriver, while others require other special tools.  Those are all listed in the repair manual.

The prices that you were quoted sound about right for most dealerships and actually, the $120.00 sounds like an absolute bargain for a first time maintainence.  You may want to ask them details about what you are getting for those prices

Good luck.
FALCON