Flat-rate bike rebuilds/recon

[CRF119]

I have come up with this idea after my mates have told me i should start a Business. Basicly it would be similar to what bike shops offer but not done on a hourly rate. For my self its more to pass the time and make a bit of money on the side to keep my own bikes and other toys running. I am currently rebuilding a TRX450R from the ground up for a mate and also a CRF250R.

Rates for example:

Re Grease all bearings etc and full bike clean would take atleast 6 hours to bring it up to what i call clean so at a bike shop you would get a bill over $300 I would offer this for around $200. Flat rate not including any parts that need to be replaced.

Is this a good idea would any body even consider droping there bike off for a over haul for that much? Let me know.

Here is a pic of my bike just so you can see how well kept my bike is.

[ManDownUnder]

Before the naysayers line up and tell you the 1000 reasons they think it won't work... do it

Post your prices and get going!

[B0000M]

brilliant idea! one of the reasons a lot of people dont like taking their bikes to shops is the fact that it goes in, they get given an estimation of say $300, then they get a bill for $900 because the apprentice took all week on it

[Phil_86]

yea mate good idea id bring my bike to you..

[hayd3n]

good effort
i think there should be more places like you around

[4stroke]

go for it man, a mate up here does a simular sort of thing for a std rebuild but any extras cost more, if anybody daubts ya tell them to get f"d

[LittleJohn]

It's a good idea mate but be careful... I have done some bits and pieces for some people with no problems but have come across 2 problems:

1) you open up there eninge and find heaps of damage, which they deny all knowledge because they reckon it was going sweet or wasn't leaky oil.... (mostly from the people who bring just there engine in, already in pieces)

2) they want you to do a cheap job on it, i.e. number 8 wire stuff instead of doing it properly. I refuse to do this, will tell them what they need to do themselves if they want it budget but I'm not going to be responsible for someone coming off and damaging themselves or others because of a dodgy cheap job.

If you guard against these people then yeah sweet, go for it. Can be quite fun if you are like me, just wish I had more time on my hands and a few more "special tools" to save me some time.

[yokel]

funny I was thinking of doing the same thing,
doing regular servicing on bikes rather than repair jobs.

go for dude!

[xxblackbirdxx]

I have come up with this idea after my mates have told me i should start a Business. Basicly it would be similar to what bike shops offer but not done on a hourly rate. For my self its more to pass the time and make a bit of money on the side to keep my own bikes and other toys running. I am currently rebuilding a TRX450R from the ground up for a mate and also a CRF250R.

Rates for example:

Re Grease all bearings etc and full bike clean would take atleast 6 hours to bring it up to what i call clean so at a bike shop you would get a bill over $300 I would offer this for around $200. Flat rate not including any parts that need to be replaced.

Is this a good idea would any body even consider droping there bike off for a over haul for that much? Let me know.

Here is a pic of my bike just so you can see how well kept my bike is.

Good Idea i reckon, You've got the skills might as well use it. Moreover you enjoy it and the punters get a decent job done on thier bike. WIN WIN situation i say.......................not for the bike shop ofcourse

[CRF119]

Cheers for the feed back guys i will sort some pricing later on in the week and post it up. Got my mates fully rebuilt CRF250 running last night he is happy as.

[honda_power]

Sounds like a good idea but could also be pretty dodgy... say the thing blows up a few hours after its re-built cus the guy was nailing it when it should have been run in or something, theyl try and blame it on you, even if it was nothing to do with you. But i could be keen, If my CRF doesnt sell or trade soon its goona need a top end

[barty5]

You do need to be carefull we have a workshop i run as for fixed pricing you need to watch you dont get caught out where jobs end up takin alot longer than you originally thought you will end up doing it for hardly antthing. just cause a job takes you 2 hrs one day the next time it could take 4hrs we get it all the time no 2 vehicle are ever the same and never come appart the same or go back.

the other point if something dose go wrong (hopefully not) being on your own you will need to make sure you cover yourself ie: insurances etc bike gose missin while you have it could be costly. We havee the backing from the mta had to dicuss things with them a few times where customers just dont understand how things work and run of complaining to anyone they can it helps havin these guys who will back you up as long as you havnt made an obvoious stuff up they help smooth it over. (not that it happens offtern twice in 5 years which anit bad).

[Sparky Bills]

good effort
i think there should be more places like you around

Dare I say it...
There are reasons why there isnt places like that around...

Good luck either way mate!
Hope you can make it work.

[theblacksmith]

When youre pricing mate - consider allowing for public liability and indemnity insurance.
And like barty5 says - no 2 jobs are the same -
A job where both parties could agree on whats needed to be done can still turn out to reveal that more parts are needed or more time has be taken(for instance a stud/bolt breaks in the hole etc). As long as there is good communication regarding stuff like this from the start it usually turns out ok. One way of stopping comebacks is to have the customer check the bike and sign a satisfaction note that they are happy with the work you've done before they leave with the bike.Best of luck whatever you choose to do.