Friend's '05 EX250F: Carbs, J-shock, mirrors, battery, windscreen, blinkers, etc Qs

[CZroe]

Well, my friend back in GA just got himself a classic Ninjette (I've already invited him to the forums): A 2005 Metallic Nocturne Blue Ninja 250R. Unfortunately, it's been neglected: The previous owner admitted that it has been sitting for years. It still started with choke and a jump start so he bought it. Assuming, as the previous owner says, that all it really needs is a carb cleaning, I'd say that he got it for a steal ($900; 5K miles). The tank is dented and the windscreen is missing but it's in otherwise good condition (he says it went down in grass so there is only minimal damage).

He's still working on getting a class and getting a license, so he has a little while to work on a few things and that's what I'd like to discuss here. Like me, he's not mechanically inclined and would like to know the best way to go about getting the carbs cleaned. A local dealer? A independent mechanic on Craigslist? DIY sound risky... the soft JIS screws and the people talking about damaged rubber pieces certainly scares me away from doing it to my bike (I'm pretty sure I need it too) and it probably makes more sense to find someone who can sync them while they are at it. What is a reasonable price to pay a dealer for a carb clean and sync? What is a reasonable price to pay an independent mobile mechanic (he can't exactly drive it in)?

Like me, he weighs enough that the notoriously soft suspension concerns him. I have mine cranked all the way up on my J-series bike, but the pre-gen shock doesn't have an adjustable pre-load. I've seen where people say that it's a 30-minute job to fit a J-shock on an F-bike, so it is something he could do with the center stand and a ratchet set alone or is he going to need torque and impact wrenches and an elaborate way to suspend the bike with the swingarm/shock disconnected? I keep thinking of the DIY lowering links pictures I saw for the current-gen with straps going every-which-way in a garage (he doesn't have that luxury). I already knew that the center stand was useful, but if it lets you suspend the rear tire and swingarm without a separate stand, that's awesome.

Any input would be appreciated!

Edit: Added attached pictures, moved some questions to other threads. Ignore the pics here.
Battery issue
Questions about mirrors, turn-signals, and windscreen