Brad, the valve adjustment cost is a hard pill to swallow. From my experience with the 2008 SE5 GS, at 43,000 miles, when the valves were checked before resale, they were all in spec. I never had them checked, much less adjusted. I am not warranty paranoid. If it happens, it happens. For the most part, I believe that any money I save on unneeded services will pay for any work needed that would have a warranty question. And, if the rear bearings go out, what does that have to do about whether or not you had your valves adjusted or checked? I also know of one incident where the dealer charged a customer to "check" the valves and never did. That was proven to the customer by another tech (production straps were still on the cables, etc., that were supposed to be replaced when valves were checked). It is far too easy for a dealer to charge and not do the work and very hard to prove otherwise. I read one post where a rider had been quoted $90 to change the brake fluid...a job requiring a minimum of 4 hours, but many times longer, to perform. Conclusion...same fluid will be left in the system and dealer nets $90 profit. So, I guess I am trying to say that I will ride, do what work I need to do that I can do, and cross whatever bridge I come to as I come to it. I sure can't tell anyone what to do. And, the oil I use is still Royal Purple, 10W40 Synthetic Automotive and change the oil and filter every 5,000 miles.
