Hi all.
I really can't believe this.
Out of curiousity I rang around 3 local mechanics (outer sydney suburb) for service prices for a 2003 gs500. I was quoted between $430 and $700 for a service.
Now I know the handbook requires a valve check - call it 45mins for an experienced mechanic. Another 45mins for oil / filters / plugs and round it up to 2hrs total to include a general check. I think those are pretty generous time wise but anyway I look at it $430 seems incredibly steep.
It's all good encouragment to buy the manual and do things myself but I would like to know if these are common prices. Any feedback from aussie gs owners?
Naked bike valve check is under 20 mins, my personal record is somewhere in the low teens on the 89 I rigged for wrenching speed and that is open and close ... and I am not a bike mechanic, I am a software engineer.
Oil change is 10 mins max on naked bike. Again open and close.
The thing though is, if there is a problem, like a stripped bolt or a O ring that is not sitting in place ... yea can take longer. I wont count that as an estimate though I'd put in a disclaimer saying its assuming stuff isn't over tightened/stripped etc.
Cool.
Buddha.
Quote from: jimmyjames182 on January 07, 2010, 03:55:52 PM
Hi all.
I really can't believe this.
Out of curiousity I rang around 3 local mechanics (outer sydney suburb) for service prices for a 2003 gs500. I was quoted between $430 and $700 for a service.
Dealer Mechanics are gonna charge you $100++ per hour.
What do you call a "Service". A "service ranges from "oil change, check chain, headstock, fluid check and top" to a whole bunch of other things.
My 6,000 "service" as per Log Book cost me $209.20. Changed the oil and filter, lube chain, adjust chain, lube headstock bearings, check fluids and pads, blah blah. Charged me for two hours labor, oil and filter. Labor is like Free $$$. After all, who can say how long it really took? And at dealers (I don't go to dealers) they have apprentices do the Services.
$430 seems bloody steep to me. I'd ask for a breakdown of that price. Because there ain't no way a "service" is gonna take the price up to over $400. And tell the $700 guy he's trip'n.
If you want a mechanic to do it, find a smaller mechanic and give them a call. BUT, seeing as it out of warranty, do the servicing yourself.
Michael
Never worked at a bike shop but I assume they have the same practices as automotive repair shops. There are industry accepted labor times for most standard repairs (sometime referred to as Chilton hours). For example I looked up the timing belt on an '03 Honda Civic with a 1.7L SOHC engine on ALLDATA and it says the job is a "B" skill level and pays 2.7 Standard hours, 2.0 Warranty hours. So the shop would take that 2.7 hours and multiply by the hourly shop rate. If the shop rate is $100 then the labor charge for that job would be $270. The parts price is usually where the gouging takes place in the auto industry since it is the easiest thing to hide in the quote. Typically aftermarket parts prices are doubled by the repair shop. Keep in mind the shop pays wholesale prices to suppliers so at the very least they will charge you the retail price.
As someone else said you should see what is being quoted in the "service." Are they just changing the oil and adjusting the chain? Are they pulling the top cover and checking the valves?...
Always know exactly what is being quoted so you know if you are comparing apples to apples. Going back to the timing belt example, you could call 3 different shops and ask "How much would it cost to replace a timing belt on an '03 Civic?". You get a quote of $300, $450 and $500. The $300 quote is just replacing the timing belt. The $450 quote is replacing the timing belt, timing belt tensioner and water pump. The $500 quote is replacing the timing belt, timing belt tensioner, water pump and front cam & crank seals. In that case the most expensive quote is actually the best deal. Note: Many timing belts also turn the water pump. If the water pump bearings go bad and lock up it will break the timing belt (very bad in an interference engine) so it is good practice to replace the water pump when replacing a timing belt.
-Jessie
and at the other end of the scale you have average USA motorcycle, it gets maybe one free lookover when new, after that nothing and doesnt get ridden either. Just sits outside in the weather.
I think Germany might be most expensive, where the maintenance is required and its done for real, not by scruffy untrained kids
Thanks to all for the replys.
I asked for a price for a 24000km handbook service for my gs500 and reminded everyone I rang that the valve clearences needed checking at each service - still had a variation of $350 to $700.
Since getting the bike I'm amazed by the standard of service I've recieved from various people.
Getting help to buy proper fitting gear as a newbie was impossible. I showed up 3 times at a dealer looking for 2nd hand bikes and got told I needed to stop stuffing them around and just buy one. Now getting a service for a reasonable price seems to difficult.
Can't be like that in other countries can it?
Anyway - will buy manual and teach myself.
Jimmy,
Download the manual from the link I put up the other day http://www.carlsalter.com/motorcycle-manuals.asp
There a workshop manual And a Haynes manual. The Haynes isn't the newest but these bikes don't change That much.
If you don't have the Owner's Manual, here ya go http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/10/7/2133953/GS500-OwnerManual.pdf and you'll notice on section 6.4 (page 46) that the only things to get replaced are PLugs, Oil and Filter, exhaust pipe bolts and chassis bolts and nuts to be tightened, and everything else is to be Inspected and it really doesn't take long for a Mechanic to do such. With the exception of checking valve clearances.
Michael
Getting back on track...
Just had the 12k service done on the bike, as per the book.
Cost: $256 - but he said he'd give me a discount and only charge $240 cause of the motorcycle club I'm in :icon_mrgreen:
Not only did he do the log book service he also synced the carbs for that. He thoroughly cleaned the bike - and - dropped it off at my home for me! :thumb: :thumb:
If'n your in the Brisbane area and want his number, just PM me.
My local Suzuki dealership also quoted me a price of $300 for the 12k service and also said that included a carb sync.
So your $700 price is way Way WAY over the top.
Michael
u live in sydney? im from marrickville , i do my own services i can do urs for 50$ for the first horu then 25$ for each hour after it, service shudnt cost that much , lubing chain / adjustin chain , oil / filter spark plugs is not hard to do and especially checking battery liquid brake fluid brake pads wud probably take the most 2 minutes cause all u do is jst look at the meter low - full lol im not fully qualified or anything but i do have my own GS500F and i do service it myself and i gain the knowledge of bikes from my dad which is very experienced cause bikes are very popular in thailand . ! id say 2 hours is max on service atm i have not been taught how to valve check but if u are going to hire us ill get my dad to do it instead of me. 0401013754 call me if u interested
Hey thanks for the offer - pm your contact details to me so I've got em handy, will give you a call when it's time.