Topic: Prices for bike mechanic work jobs?

[seaweb11]

I seem to be getting a few bikes through my garage for repairs lately as word gets around on a small Island that I like to work on motorcycles.
I like having something extra to work on so no complaints

The issue I'm having is figuring out what to charge. The shops charge $90.00 per hour and I don't have their experience, but I do know how to fix a lot of these things quite quickly.

Does anyone have a link to a shop charge for individual issues?
 ie. Replace fork seals should cost X at a shop.  Does such a thing exist?
I would never charge the going rate, but it would be nice to have a reference point as to what they would be charged at a dealership.

I usually never charge enough

[MoMo]

We had flat rate manuals in the shop but I do not know if that would be available.  Keep track of your time and charge at least 35 per hour.  I charge 40 here, near Philly...Larry

I remember many of the flat rate times if you want to contact me I'd gladly share.

Flat rate to change fork seals on most Hondas was about 2 hours. However, since the bike is now 30 plus years old use that as a guidline but charge by the hour. The flat rate would not take into consideration a rusted nut or bolt, which alone could take an hour...Larry

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

What you need is a flat rate manual that gives time alloted to particular jobs then multiply that by an hourly rate. We'd take longer than a trained mechanic so the flat rate book would be good to use. Plus they have the correct tools on hand to get the job done quicker. I'd say seals would be a minimum of 1 hour up to 2 depending on the complexity of the front end. $50 to $100 labor plus parts and shipping.   

http://www.fileguru.com/apps/flat_rate_motorcycle_repair

[seaweb11]

What you need is a flat rate manual that gives time alloted to particular jobs then multiply that by an hourly rate. We'd take longer than a trained mechanic so the flat rate book would be good to use. Plus they have the correct tools on hand to get the job done quicker. I'd say seals would be a minimum of 1 hour up to 2 depending on the complexity of the front end. $50 to $100 labor plus parts and shipping.   

http://www.fileguru.com/apps/flat_rate_motorcycle_repair

Was that link supposed to help Jerry?   I must be missing something?
Tonight 1/ 1/2 hours, Removed fender, brake, tach and forks, and drank a beer.
Drained forks of pea soup, and cleaned out the goo inside and out with Varsol. Maybe I suck?

[faux fiddy]

$20 an hour labor.

$30 an hour if you watch

$40 an hour if you help..

These are an old rate, of course, maybe from the eighties. Adjust for cost of living index.

Gotta have some shovel work or something to trade before I don't get billed myself for all the shop hangin' out time....

[flybox1]

..... and drank a beer.......Maybe I suck?

...not if you can get someone to pay you for THAT, too!

[Gordon]

I make a list of what they want done, then estimate the time it will take for each item.  I then multiply the total estimated hours by $25 and get them to agree to the price.  Some things end up taking longer, some end up taking less time, so it all works out. 

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Derek,

I didn't look into that site. I thought you'd be able to find a way to judge time it takes to do a particular job. Thought it was a link to a flat rate manual. Sorry if it didn't pan out. Have you called any shops in Vancouver/WA, etc to check what they'd charge without parts? Hope I'm not asking the obvious. The way I see it you/me/anyone needs to charge the same time factor a shop bills for no matter how long it takes us shade tree mechanics and cut their hourly rate in half. Better?

[754]

The 73 and later 750 forks can be done quicker, 1.25 or less.. Just leave the forks in the trees, take off caps, spring, pull lowers off the bottom with wheel and fender off.
 Yeah, that may not be by the book, but its way quicker..
 1/2 the going rate is reasonable if you can work fairly effeciently..and have the RIGHT tools..AND you do a proper job..