Okay, next little question for anyone in the know:
I'm doing the shims and I notice that there is a proper pool of oil on top of the shim/bucket of the left exhaust. As I turn the engine it, the level slightly decreases and returns to the previous level as the cam rolls around. Normal? Not normal? Symptomatic of...?

I'll post a video later today.

Thanks.

side stand? if you run it in the center stand?

Okay, trying to get a shot of it was impossible! That's a tight little spot and my phone doesn't focus that close no matter how much I swear at it.  I'll try swearing in Spanish next and see if I can't get a shot of it.

It's on the centre stand.

I've always noticed the same thing and assumed it was because the bike spends time on the side stand so oil pools up there. I bet if you closed the bike up and ran it and then took it back apart without ever taking it off the center stand that the oil would go away.

Standard procedure in a shop is to lean the bike as far as possible to both left and right sides to drain off as much oil as possible then put the bike on the centerstand or lift before pulling the valve cover. Some bikes will make a mess if you forget this step.

Thats good info, the pool of oil makes removing the shim very difficult, i discovered that sucking that oil gives you more clearance(negligible) and combats the sucking effect when lifting the shim (sticks with oil to the tappet).

Cool, Thanks everyone.