So, I have some things I would like to have done to my GS.

New Fuel Petcock
New fork seals
Progressive Springs up front
Katana 600 shock out back
Superbike bars
Bar end mirrors
New sprockets/chain

Now my mechanic locally is a good sort, he doesnt speak english terribly well, but he speaks motor quite well.  He often has trouble sourcing parts, in no small part, im convinced, due to the language barrier. 

I am planning to order the parts I need, and when they arrive, set an appointment, and drop of the bike, and the goodies for him to slap on.  My question to the expeirenced wrenchers on this board, is how long do you think it would take a skilled mechanic to do that work?

If he knows what he's doing, I would guess around 3-4 hours tops

This isn't the answer you're looking for, but save yourself some money and DO IT YOURSELF.  If you don't know much about bikes, the mods you have listed are the equivalent in difficulty of changing your own oil in your car.  You really can't mess them up.  Very simple.

I've never taken my bike to the shop, but a guess off the top of my head would be a minimum of 8-10 hrs labor

Its an issue of tools and space and time.


To wit, I don't have the tools, and while yes, I could likely spend the money I would spend on a mechanic on the tools, and come out ahead, I do not have a place to work on the bike.  Nor do I have the time to do this myself, as with a manual, I am sure I could manage, but it would take me a ~significant~ amount of time.  And my bike is my daily driver, I do not own another vehicle.  While I can get two days off, I do not know if I could complete the tasks, unassisted, within that time frame.  While I look forward to one day handling this on my own, that day is still a ways off.

Quote from: Jarrett on July 27, 2007, 02:23:27 AM
This isn't the answer you're looking for, but save yourself some money and DO IT YOURSELF.  If you don't know much about bikes, the mods you have listed are the equivalent in difficulty of changing your own oil in your car.  You really can't mess them up.  Very simple.

I've never taken my bike to the shop, but a guess off the top of my head would be a minimum of 8-10 hrs labor

For the Most part I would agree with Jarrett...DON'T take it to the shop for the bars, mirrors, sprockets and chain, or the rear shock. The bars all you need is a 12mm open-end wrench and and a screwdriver. The bar end mirrors will probably come with their own allen wrench to put them on, the rear sprocket just requires a 14mm for the sprocket itself. To remove the chain and front sprocket you only need a 22mm and 12mm to loosen the rear axle, an 8mm socket or nutdriver to remove the front sprocket cover, and some c-clip spreaders to pop off the little clip that holds on the sprocket. The hardest part of the whole thing is getting the masterlink on the new chain secured, they can be a PITA on an o-ring chain. The rear shock is just two 14mm bolts....Pie. A shop would likely charge you for 2-3 hrs labor at $60hr for these very simple things you could do yourself in just a few hours. The tools you would need are of such a basic sort that you will use them over and over again and If you shop wisely you should be able to get what you need for the cost of about an hours labor. Basic set of metric sockets sizes 10-19mm - $20 (home depot) decent quality 3/8 drive socket wrench - $20 home depot, 8mm nutdriver - $5 (home depot), 22mm socket for rear axle - $6 (home depot), #2 phillips screw driver - $4  (home depot), c-clip spreaders - $8 (kragen, napa, autozone,ect), total - about $63. and you will use them over and over. If you REALLY want to be prepared, then splurge and get a set of metric open end wrenches size 10-19mm and your just about ready for a frame off resto... The front forks are an entirely different animal...The springs are easy, but those damn fork seals  take that to the shop. most shops should charge about $150-175 to do the seals and they can just put in the new springs when they re-assemble it. The petcock is also very do-able, just do it when your tank is almost empty so you can turn the tank on its side to swap the petcock without dousing yourself in gas-o-lean....  in the eternal words of rob schneider..... You can do it! 


a side note about tools: home depot's "husky" brand is a great value. Same lifetime warranty as craftsman, ect... and they cost less and their rachets and wrenches are exelent quality. Stay AWAY from craftsman ratchets  ...they are junk! I can't tell you how many ive broken...their sockets, open ends, ect are great though....the moral of the story was supposed to be "buy decent quality tools, they are worth every penny when you are not stripping bolts with a skinny &$$ chinese wrench thats some cheap alloy and doesn't fit the head of the bolt securely"

I wouldn't take it to a shop.Save yourself $3 to 400 and do it yourself.The hardest thing is doing the forks and I done them in three hours with no previous experience.You need a special tool to do the forks and it can be made from 2 bolts and a coupler.If you would like I can post pics of the tool I made to disassemble the forks.I can also walk you through the tare down,reassemble,and setting fork oil level.I'm one of the few that got it right the first time.Also buy a manual.It'll help you understand how your bike works.

3 to 4 hours.

sigh

Yes, i know it would save money and generally be better for me to do this myself.  I do not have a flat level place on which to work on my bike (ie my drive way is at a 20 degree downslope, and while I am not mechanically inept, I am inexperienced, and cannot take the risk that a complication would arise that would cause me to over shoot my given time limitations, and thereby deprive me of my sole means of transport to work.

Thanks to all who provided a rough estimate on how long it should take.