My wifes Vmax 600 ' 03.  
At the beginning of the season it started but when it was running gas poured out underneath the engine.
Our mechanic said due to the crap ethanol gas the needles in the carbs fused to the inserts and stayed wide open so gas just poured out.
Is this a regular occurence for everyone? He said he had replaced about a hundred of them so far this season.
If this is going to be a regular thing is it something I can easily do?
I'm pretty mechanically inclined but have never messed with the carbs before. Is it something I could do on my own with average mechanic tools?  
A buddy of mine mentioned they make a rebuild kit that resolves this problem.

Not a hard fix at all i do carbs all the time for people. Id say your float valve is sticking in the open position. More than likely the bowls are varnished. Remove the bowl on the bottom of the carbs then your main jet from the center and the pilot jet and then knock the float pin out carefully be sure not to break one of the ears off they break easy. Then remove the floats and float valve. Dont bother removing the high and low idle screws, if you do be sure to count the turns. Soak everything that doesnt have plastic or rubber in a can of carb cleaner. scrub the main and pilot jet with an old tooth brush, wipe everything down with a rag as best as possible and reassemble