Wildguzzi.com
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: willowstreetguzziguy on April 12, 2021, 10:39:33 AM
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What are the typical per hour labor rates for major motorcycle dealerships these days? With most motorcycles putting more and more expensive gadgetry on their motorcycles, you’re almost dependent upon the dealer for any repairs when those expensive parts stop working.
Just curious... What are you finding are the labor rates in your areas? And do certain brands charge more or are they all getting the same?
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My current guess for KS is $90-$120.
GliderJohn
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$110-$120/hr in the Puget Sound area of WA. I know certain cars command a higher rate, BMW and Jaguar/Land Rover are $160/hr+. Haven't seen too much difference between motorcycle brands.
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105 per hour independent bike shop
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I need to up my rates...
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$ 100 per hour for my Stelvio at Powersports in Prescott, Az. Had them do the break in and second service before warranty ran out. They are a Guzzi dealer. Do excellent work.
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I think I mentioned this once before: Big sign behind the Harley Davidson service desk...Labor $75.00. Wow, that's not bad, I thought. Then in very small print underneath, it says, "Per Half Hour." :angry:
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$150.00/hr. out here in the middle of the Pacific.
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It’s not going to happen for me. I’ll be out of the motorcycle world if it ever became necessarily for me, personally.
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About $300.00 if I work on my bikes on weekdays. $0.00 on the weekends. My lost hourly attorney rate less overhead, but I only have to argue with myself over the cost.
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$150 - $180 / hr in San Francisco Bay area. :sad:
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Pre-dealership our rates were lower, too low apparently looks bad. However, it's ludicrous what HD dealers charge
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100-150 around Southern Ohio, KY and IN.
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Pre-dealership our rates were lower, too low apparently looks bad. However, it's ludicrous what HD dealers charge
I suspect $100+/hour is pretty typical across much of the US in the automotive industry these days.
According to AAA as of 2017 their approved shops charged "between $47 and $215 per hour, based primarily on the shop’s cost of doing business."
Yes, there are auto shops that are OVER $200/HOUR!
https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/auto-repair-labor-rates-explained
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Do shops still use book rate?
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That's why they call them stealerships.
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Don't go to a dealership if you have a competent service shop around.
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Do shops still use book rate?
Yes.
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That's why they call them stealerships.
perhaps ,but do you have any idea of the cost of running a repair shop with employees , workman's comp, liaability insurance, taxes, rent or mortgage, permits and so on?
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im some kind of "dealer", and i will only charge you $25/hour and a sixer of Newcastle... warranty end at the same point my driveway does..
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If I had to pay dealers I would no longer be riding.
Just like cars, there are some you keep, and some you trade as soon as the warranty is up.
I like my simple bikes.
Most dealer service techs are parts changers. They are not going to actually attempt to repair a part.
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Most dealer service techs are parts changers. They are not going to actually attempt to repair a part.
Most parts today are modules, they can't be repaired even if you wanted too! What gets me is when a small part of a larger assembly fails, and the factory will only sell the full assembly. Fuel pumps are a good example. If you need a pressure regulator, or even the pump motor, you have to buy the whole assembly. Or a TPS. I know Kawasaki is infamous for forcing you to buy a full throttle-body assembly ($$$$) just to get a new TPS. Of course, invariably, someone does a little research and finds out another source for the part in question, saving a lot of money. But if you just go to a dealer, you'd better be prepared to bend over big time.
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TWA, many times it's cheaper to just replace a part than to repair it at the going labor rate. Think Guzzi starter. To go through one at $100 an hour labor rate could get up there. Or pop an $70 aftermarket in and be done.
Tom
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TWA, many times it's cheaper to just replace a part than to repair it at the going labor rate. Think Guzzi starter. To go through one at $100 an hour labor rate could get up there. Or pop an $70 aftermarket in and be done.
Tom
If you are paying the dealer, yes. If you dig into it yourself you can sometimes repair a part for more time than money. This is where forums and YouTube really shine.
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TWA, your right that many are techs not mechanics. Also remember that this thread was about dealer pricing.
I do my own repairs, at least as many as I can without a machine shop. The starter example, I would pull it apart and fix it if possible. My labor rate is $0.00 for myself.
Tom
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"Don't go to a dealer..."?
Sure, maybe we can just kill off all the delaers, then wouldn't life be great!
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"Don't go to a dealer..."?
Sure, maybe we can just kill off all the delaers, then wouldn't life be great!
Believe me, there are plenty of people out there who don't have the time or the inclination to work on their own vehicles. There is no shortage of work for all the dealers around my area, and all the good independents since dealer s tend not to work on vehicles over 10 years old.
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Just talked to a friend of mine today. He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo. Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box. The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old." :huh:
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Just talked to a friend of mine today. He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo. Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box. The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old." :huh:
Though I think that's a bullshit answer, it IS 22 years old, which means it's a "classic" and as much as I'd want a dealer to still have a tech that remembered it and parts to fix it, well it's oid enough to drink.
In Harley terms it's two complete redesigns from current.
And it's not like there aren't plenty of others who still will look at that.
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Just talked to a friend of mine today. He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo. Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box. The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old." :huh:
Evo, perhaps the most successful bike in Harley's history. Financially, it saved the company and it was the most reliable bike they've ever built.
I can only guess that it's probably the largest production run too but I'm sure someone can verify or correct that.
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perhaps ,but do you have any idea of the cost of running a repair shop with employees , workman's comp, liaability insurance, taxes, rent or mortgage, permits and so on?
Plus the costs of sending mechanics to factory service training, the service department manager, service writer, the go-fer that moves bikes and gets stuff for the mechanic so he can do more valuable work. Also, to cover the overhead of the sales department because they "lose money on every bike sold" or that have been sitting on the floor too long.
Dan
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The irony of this "screw the stealership" mentality and "lack of dealer network" complaints aren't lost on me.
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The irony of this "screw the stealership" mentality and "lack of dealer network" complaints aren't lost on me.
Regarding Moto Guzzi, I wouldn't blame owners for the current sorry state of affairs as much as Piaggio.
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For the most part all the dealerships I've worked with are honest, hardworking enthusiasts who will do everything within their power to make and keep you happy. They are also largely independent business owners who have to bust their asses to make a profit.
As others have noted the labor rates not only cover the cost of the tech/mechanic but also shop overheads. Bike sale profits are challenging with seasonal fluctuations and skinny margins so the service side has to help cover cash flow gaps there.
We have a new MG dealer in NJ who's 'only' an hour from me. I intend to buy maintenance and other parts there and support them as I'm able. MG may be a side brand for them but throwing them a few bones may encourage more interest/investment on their part.
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I do all my own work EXCEPT when my Gold Wing 1800 needed some work. Just taking all the plastic off to get to stuff is a three -four hour job!
I took it in for rear seat heater not working, brake job, new tires, fluid changes, etc and dont even want to discuss what the total bill was. I now work on my own Gold Wing too!
:grin:
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I do all my own work EXCEPT when my Gold Wing 1800 needed some work. Just taking all the plastic off to get to stuff is a three -four hour job!
I took it in for rear seat heater not working, brake job, new tires, fluid changes, etc and dont even want to discuss what the total bill was. I now work on my own Gold Wing too!
:grin:
The now-closed Honda dealer I used to use advised me to pull the bodywork before bringing the bike in to save on labor. Worked out well for me (unless you're riding the bike to them). Same with tire mounting - $50 on the bike, $25 if you just bring the wheel.
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The now-closed Honda dealer I used to use advised me to pull the bodywork before bringing the bike in to save on labor. Worked out well for me (unless you're riding the bike to them). Same with tire mounting - $50 on the bike, $25 if you just bring the wheel.
Thats a good idea. Hoping to do a majority of its maintenance and work myself from now on though!
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I do all my own work EXCEPT when my Gold Wing 1800 needed some work. Just taking all the plastic off to get to stuff is a three -four hour job!
I took it in for rear seat heater not working, brake job, new tires, fluid changes, etc and dont even want to discuss what the total bill was. I now work on my own Gold Wing too!
:grin:
This alone is why I am gravitating toward simpler lower maintenance motorcycles. I have performed open heart surgery on a few bikes. Fun, but time consuming.
(https://i.ibb.co/gZR6tZN/DSCN7435.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gZR6tZN)
(https://i.ibb.co/87J7W3G/P-20150625-221336.jpg) (https://ibb.co/87J7W3G)
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This alone is why I am gravitating toward simpler lower maintenance motorcycles. I have performed open heart surgery on a few bikes. Fun, but time consuming.
(https://i.ibb.co/gZR6tZN/DSCN7435.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gZR6tZN)
(https://i.ibb.co/87J7W3G/P-20150625-221336.jpg) (https://ibb.co/87J7W3G)
Best answer yet TWA👍
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$120 ~ $150 / hour around here. Like all industries there are very good honest dealerships and a couple that would steal from their mothers. In comparison to the average charge out rate of my employees when I was in business, shop rates are pretty reasonable IMHO. No one gets rich on labour charge out rates of $120 /hr after factoring in the operating cost to support skilled labour including rent, taxes, utilities, insurance, training, equipment etc.
A local independent BMW / Ducati service shop charged me $700 for a major service on my K1600GTL which included a valve adjustment and coolant flush, remove and flush rad, fluid flush etc. I told them that was very fair given the charge included the fluids and filters and the actual labour (4.5 hours)
The service guy was a little taken aback that I was happy with the charges, I sold my skills by the hour for forty years, repair shops do the same. If I was entitled to be compensated fairly then why shouldn’t the repair shop be given the same respect.
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This alone is why I am gravitating toward simpler lower maintenance motorcycles. I have performed open heart surgery on a few bikes. Fun, but time consuming.
(https://i.ibb.co/gZR6tZN/DSCN7435.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gZR6tZN)
(https://i.ibb.co/87J7W3G/P-20150625-221336.jpg) (https://ibb.co/87J7W3G)
Yep, I agree!