High bike service costs?

[rok-the-boat]

I am new to NZ and slowly learning what goes on etc.

Straight to the point: A friend of mine paid a ridiculous amount for having his bike serviced. I could not believe it and told him to buy a set of tools.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, maybe I could offer to show people what tools to buy and how to service their own bikes. Say, $50 for my time, two to three hours on Saturday afternoons (max 2~3 people, North Shore, Auckland).

If you have high service costs, it will save you money.

What do you think?

[GR81]

when it comes to warrantys, sometimes you have no choice but to pay bike shops.

[bobsmith]

Hell I would pay you more (depending on how through it is, I already know how to change engine oil light bulbs, etc...) but I'm in Palmy.... travelling to Palmy anytime soon?

Damn I miss living in the shore. No where quite like it in NZ

[Motu]

There are far too many bike shops in Auckland,about time we sent some of them down the gurgler.

[Lou Girardin]

There are far too many bike shops in Auckland,about time we sent some of them down the gurgler.

Yeah, God forbid that they earn enough to stay in business.
Perhaps he could also supply the diagnostics to interrogate ECU's as well.
Or even a complete set of special tools for all the bikes of all KB'ers.

[Squeak the Rat]

Haha! And he'll use the money to get his bike serviced :killingme

Fair call, each to their own. I prefer to pay some one that I can trust to service my bike.

[SARGE]

Yeah, God forbid that they earn enough to stay in business.
Perhaps he could also supply the diagnostics to interrogate ECU's as well.
Or even a complete set of special tools for all the bikes of all KB'ers.



yea lou... great idea .. then when they stuff something up.. and the warranty wont pay out..we can sell MORE BIKES!!!!!
( GIGGLE)

[ManDownUnder]

rok-the-boat

I love the attitude mate - you'll fit in around here.

Yeah the DIY stuff is for those so inclined, and if you haven't met him, introduce yourself to FROSTY our resident... errr... senior member/racing lunatic/bike fixing teacher and so on.

Lou and SARGE boith work for bikes shops (can you tell), and they have a habit of being less than completely subtle... but they have a point. Leave the advanced stuff to the experts.

Of course if you happen to be an expert and care to share then even better!

Welcome aboard
MDU

[SARGE]

rok-the-boat


Lou and SARGE boith work for bikes shops (can you tell), and they have a habit of being less than completely subtle...


MDU


i resent that MDU.. im subtle as a brick


seriously.. under warranty.. get it serviced..

after warranty.. DYI

i actually leave the simple shit for the workshop.. oil changes and routine service gets done here cuz i cant be stuffed..


modifying gets done at home...loose lips sink ships..

[ManDownUnder]

i resent that MDU.. im subtle as a brick suppository


seriously.. under warranty.. get it serviced..

after warranty.. DYI

i actually leave the simple shit for the workshop.. oil changes and routine service gets done here cuz i cant be stuffed..


modifying gets done at home...loose lips sink ships..

Can't arguewith any of that mate.

Stay put I'm coming over to the shop in 10 mins... need some wet weather
gear (can you work out why???)

MDU

[bobsmith]

Can't arguewith any of that mate.

Stay put I'm coming over to the shop in 10 mins... need some wet weather
gear (can you work out why???)

MDU

Damn I wish my work paid me to sit there and browse KB...

[SARGE]

Damn I wish my work paid me to sit there and browse KB...



I'm in separate windows updating my advertising and bikepoint today...

[ManDownUnder]

Damn I wish my work paid me to sit there and browse KB...

You work??

[Jantar]

I am new to NZ and slowly learning what goes on etc.

Straight to the point: A friend of mine paid a ridiculous amount for having his bike serviced. I could not believe it and told him to buy a set of tools.

Anyway, if anyone is interested, maybe I could offer to show people what tools to buy and how to service their own bikes. Say, $50 for my time, two to three hours on Saturday afternoons (max 2~3 people, North Shore, Auckland).

If you have high service costs, it will save you money.

What do you think?

I generally find that most bike shops are quite reasonable in their charges for servicing a bike.

I do tend to do most routine jobs myself. Things like adjusting the chain, wheel alignment, cleaning the air filter etc, are not beyond most people, and it is quite suprising how doing these simple things means that there is less for the shop to do. Also, take your bike in to the shop in a clean condition. It makes it easier for the guys working on it, saves their time and yours, and will often make the cost of a service $10 - $20 cheaper in saved time.

[bobsmith]

unfortunately, only if student allowance and loan was enough to live off...

off to work now...

[ManDownUnder]

unfortunately, only if student allowance and loan was enough to live off...

Yeah I remember those days - aaaa the good ol' days (actually I hated them... Hope your time in pergatory is better than mine was... wait till the bloody IRD make you start paying the bastard loan back).

[bobsmith]

oh it will be wonderful, it's already almost up to the 100k mark.... damn expensive flying courses...

Probably won't see any pay that's better than what I'm getting already at my current job as a lab assistance (I have no lab training whatsoever) for several years as well... maybe I should have chosen a differen profession...

[Lou Girardin]

Lou and SARGE boith work for bikes shops (can you tell), and they have a habit of being less than completely subtle...
MDU

What do you mean, less than subtle? I'm as subtle as the next guy.
As long as the next guy is Sarge.

[ManDownUnder]

What do you mean, less than subtle? As as subtle as the next guy.
As long as the next guy is Sarge.

As the French say... Voila!

[rok-the-boat]

I generally find that most bike shops are quite reasonable in their charges for servicing a bike.

I do tend to do most routine jobs myself. Things like adjusting the chain, wheel alignment, cleaning the air filter etc, are not beyond most people, and it is quite suprising how doing these simple things means that there is less for the shop to do. Also, take your bike in to the shop in a clean condition. It makes it easier for the guys working on it, saves their time and yours, and will often make the cost of a service $10 - $20 cheaper in saved time.

Those simple things will save you a lot of money. And if you can do that much, it is not too difficult to take a few more steps. And don't forget to tell the shop what you have done - it'll make them a little more wary of conning you. And even better than that is being able to tell them EXACTLY what you want done, and nothing more. And best of all, is doing it all yourself - and it's not only the money, it's, like, being one with the machine - Zen, I suppose :) You just can't beat that kinda satisfaction.

Anyway, if interested pm or email me.

I am not a professional by any means. The only qualification I have is that I have never had a bike serviced in a shop in my 25 years of riding. DIY rules OK.

[Bandit Rider]

Yeah, God forbid that they earn enough to stay in business.
Perhaps he could also supply the diagnostics to interrogate ECU's as well.
Or even a complete set of special tools for all the bikes of all KB'ers.

It all depends. I took a rear hub into a shop as I didn't have the special tool for the bearing retainer. As the bike was my transport to work didn't have time to make one. Assured they had the special tool, left it there. Came back and a quick look told me what their special tool was - a chisel in an air hammer! Then they lied to me and told me that it was cross threaded - it had never been removed before in the life of the bike, and it was certainly not cross threaded. Just paid and said no more - they will never see me in there again.

I have quite deliberately forgone the 2nd year of warrantee on abike as I was not happy with either the standard of service, or the cost of it. But, then the next gear box I rebuild will not be the first, so the economics for me are not necessarily the same as for everyone. Furthermore, I do take into account maintenance issues before buying a bike - not interested in "bleeding edge" cleverness at the expense of simplicity, ease of maintenance and parts at a reasonable price are important to me. Which does not mean I do not appreciate clever machinery, just don't necessarily want to live with it.

Having said all that, all in all, I think shops generally give outstanding service, and at a very fair to too low a price.

[rok-the-boat]

I should also add that I am a qualified teacher, which means I can get what is in my head, over into someone else's.

[Troll]

There are far too many bike shops in Auckland,about time we sent some of them down the gurgler.


hardly a good thing

there has been a bike shop or two going down the gurgler every year for the last 20 or so years

eventually there will be very few shops left and even less competition

less competition = higher prices

[The Pastor]

Just out of intrest how much should a full serivce cost? I mean everything done. I paid $244 for one not to long ago, they quoted me $300 so I was pretty happy.... I even asked them to spend up to 400 on the bike, but they said they didnt want to :) I think im in love

[Highlander]

Damn I miss living in the shore. No where quite like it in NZ

Now there is something you don't hear often.

[Gremlin]

Just out of intrest how much should a full serivce cost? I mean everything done. I paid $244 for one not to long ago, they quoted me $300 so I was pretty happy.... I even asked them to spend up to 400 on the bike, but they said they didnt want to
fark... which shop was that?!??!?!?

Just had my zx7r done from top to bottom, 1.5 weeks ago, and it cost me $575.

On my old little zzr250, I had a full service for $470 ish, then a 5k interval service at $660 (crashing it just before didn't help - 2 hours of fork straightening was always going to cost :confused: )

[scumdog]

Just out of intrest how much should a full serivce cost? I mean everything done. I paid $244 for one not to long ago, they quoted me $300 so I was pretty happy.... I even asked them to spend up to 400 on the bike, but they said they didnt want to :) I think im in love

The last time I paid that kind of money was in 1975 for a full rebuild of my 3.3. Vauxhall engine - but that was because it was stuck at Franz Joseph on the West Coast and I couldm't do it myself!!

But actually I lie - I did pay $1237 for fitting new pistons/rings etc and new stailess valves, new valve-guides, regulator etc etc to my '81 iron -sportster back in 1994.

That was the last gargre bill I ever had.

[rok-the-boat]

If you do it all yourself it costs NOTHING, except oil + parts if necessary, and you know it's been done.

[Patch]

You'll probably find that there is very little difference between a hooker and a service department. Some charge alot for very little, some are very inexpensive and do more for your dollar, others just charge you but aren't worth a cent. It pays to shop around.

My point being: either do it your bloody self and risk not being satisfied with the end result or swallow a hard pill and pay the professional. :woohoo:

:ride:

[The Pastor]

I didnt mind paying the money, The work was done at spectrum - Probably the only bike shop that I trust. There was 3 hrs labour and oil filters plugs other stuff... they did an awesome job, and I'd go back there anyday. Im not complaining about the price, I just want to know what other shops charge.