$938.00 for 500 mile service and wrapping a muffler,and replacing frontvalve stem cap

[Brock]

How are you guys. I own a 2007 Big Dog K9 and only recently put 500 miles on it (didn't ride it much because both my elderly parents became ill, and I did my best too keep them out of a retirement own until their recent passing). I recently brought the bike for the first 500 mile service, and also had one of the muffler pipes partially wrapped with heat shield to help protect the paint on the right side cover, and also had a leaking front valve stem cap replaced. The mechanic called me today and told me that the bill was $938.00. Bear in mind that I did not authorize the mechanic to do any other work on the bike. He said that he would go over the invoice with me when I go to pick up the bike. His labor rate is about $100.00 an hour; but the bill sounds too high to me. Am I missing something here, or should I let him hold the bike and hire an expert to go to court with me--I'm great in court. Are the service parts very expensive for this bike? I'll let you know the details of the invoice after I see the mechanic. Would really appreciate the opinion of you experts out there asap before I see the mechanic tomorrow. As always, thanks for your valuable advice my friends--Brock

 

[Guillaume]

Well if I read it right you bring your bike only for 500 miles service , So if the mechanic see something on your bike he have to give you a phone call first before he start to repair that.
And $100 hour that is pretty high $85 sound better.
But that is my opinion, Well I hope the bike runs great a d be safe.:2thumbs:

 

[Fibersnake]

Will not speak to the hourly rate for they vary depending on where and it is up to the shop/mechanic to charge what they want as long as it is up front. That said the overall price sounds very expensive for a 500 mile check.

If they did the old recommended BD 500 mile check, vast majority is checks, change of fluids, adjust primary chain and check and adjust clutch.

Figuring nothing broken, maybe a $100 for parts (3 Quarts of engine oil, 1 quart of primary fluid, 20 oz of tranny-some brake fluid, grease and cable lube, air filter) and I would say 2 hours of labor.

Were you clear on what was going to be done for the 500 mile check and was it per BD recommendation or something they came up with? Also was there agreement if something came up outside of the expected service that they would get authorization from you.

My opinion would be about $300-325 at his rates for simple 500 anything over that or say $400 should mechanic should have got authorization first.

 

[Nukeranger]

It sounds to me like you enjoy spending even more money in court as implied by your statement that you are good in court. Is it that difficult to ask how much will this cost?

 

[bigdogtech01]

You could have drove the 6hrs to my shop and still spent less than $900...just sayin...
Full service using synthetic oils and filter would cost you around $245 + tax in my shop. It's a 2hr job + parts.

 

[Marky-Marc]

If you did NOT authorize the work and he didn't call you prior, FIND another mechanic, or start wrenching..... As many on this site say....it's better to f^%K up your own bike than let someone else do it....

As for court, your call, your bike...I'd say, work it out with him. Have him go over the bill with you, let him know you didn't authorize it. Break every line item down with him.....ask him how long it takes him to do the oil change, valve stem, wrapping exhaust etc...EVERY place I know of, CALLS before upping the bill and performing work. Otherwise, IMO, it's extortion-"We fixed all this, you pay us $X or you don't get your vehicle back..."

IMO, labor, tops 2 hours, MAYBE, MAYBE 2.5 for all that...while the oil is draining etc you can do other checks...multitask...parts, maybe $100

$100 an hour? WOW! BMW and AUDI dealerships don't even charge that rate where I'm at...... Leaking Valve Stem takes about 2 minutes, the rest according to the manual for the 500 mile check, MAYBE 1.5 - 2.00 hours.... Checking fluids etc......so assuming he did a BDM 500 mile check and your valve stem...maybe 2.00 plus parts....his rates should be around $300 plus tax.......IMO....

$938 will get you a timing belt job on an AUDI QUATTRO...or a new clutch.....

Never taken it to a custom bike shop to get worked on, but their rates are anywhere from $75-$85/hour where I've inquired.......maybe it's different out east...

EDIT: Andrew's out east, and look at what HE charges....and he's a GURU from what I've heard.........

 

[Brew]

Yep, I agree with the others! That bill was heavily inflated...

 

[330-DAN]

Holy shit.... That's rediculas! And you always get approval before spending someone else's money. No way should those parts and labor be that high.

 

[Sven]

Well, that's $300 w/tax. Now, I'm going to charge you $638 to wrap a pipe, add a shield, and swap a stem with wheel on bike no less.

Court drags out:
Yes, guilty of estimate laws just like this case (assumed).
Bike comes back all beat up from sitting from neglect and being pushed outside everyday, bumped into, scratched.
Yes, no matter what, you signed a paper saying, 'mechanic's lean' and you are waiting for a court hearing.
Yes, now you want a jury case so you can get money lost for the bike sitting in his possession, award a penalty price for that estimate not written, pain and suffering the BD went thru, add your P&S, I mean, get a good lawyer to soak this mother.

Or, you come to an agreement to lower the price or you take him to court so he tells the judge how he justified that price I wanna fly out and hear his plea.

 

[Marky-Marc]

Well, that's $300 w/tax. Now, I'm going to charge you $638 to wrap a pipe, add a shield, and swap a stem with wheel on bike no less.

Court drags out:
Yes, guilty of estimate laws just like this case (assumed).
Bike comes back all beat up from sitting from neglect and being pushed outside everyday, bumped into, scratched.
Yes, no matter what, you signed a paper saying, 'mechanic's lean' and you are waiting for a court hearing.
Yes, now you want a jury case so you can get money lost for the bike sitting in his possession, award a penalty price for that estimate not written, pain and suffering the BD went thru, add your P&S, I mean, get a good lawyer to soak this mother.

Or, you come to an agreement to lower the price or you take him to court so he tells the judge how he justified that price I wanna fly out and hear his plea.

I'm with Sven, have to post again because I REALLY DIS-LIKE people who try and take advantage of other people...here's what I would do:

Call 2-3 shops in your area that work on motorcycles, including Harley if you want to.

Have them give you a written ESTIMATE for an oil change on a vtwin, checking fluids,wrapping the pipe and the valve Stem...they will probably ALL be under $400, even UNDER $300....

take those estimates with you, sit down with the Asswipe, go over the bill, then show him the estimates, and ask him WHY he is so much more?

Come to a resolution, or not, pay him, or take him to court.....but be sure mention that you will post all these estimates and his bill on social media for people and ALL your biker friends to compare....and do so-you are not saying anything negative about him OR his business, just posting estimates and his bill along side for people to come to their own conclusion......that'll make him happy!

 

[Brock]

Thanks so much guys!

Thanks so much for all the great information guys. Yes, I too thought the bill was excessive. I'll try to work it out with him tomorrow. Nukeranger, nobody enjoys going to court,; but sometimes when you get badly screwed in life, you do what you have to do. The mechanic had a good reputation, and I never expected the bill to be that high. Thanks again guys--I'll let you know how it ends--Bob.

 

[Nukeranger]

My apologies to you sir. It sounded like you liked it to me. Sorry.

 

[pknowles]

You fucked up by not getting it in writing. You ordered the work and apparently authorized it without getting quotes or at least a guesstimate. In my part of Virginia the local harley shops are right at 500 for a full service. If they pulled the wheel, that's another 100. If they pulled the exhaust pipe add another 100. What did the wrap cost? Go to court and no one will win except the attorney's. I would go to the shop with hat in hand and do my best to cut a deal with the owner and then invest a few bucks in some hand tools and get on with it. Sorry for my honesty, just the way i see it.

 

[bigdogtech01]

Hanging in my shop you will find.....

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

I agree that it sounds like overcharging without seeing the actual invoice and how it is broken down.

The main issue IMO is that I would never drop off my bike, car, or lawn mower without a clear understanding of "you are going to do X and it will cost X, or I will get a phone call to authorize other work". Maybe you had that. It sounds like you did not.

Just FYI, our Ford dealer in town just raised their shop rate to $139 per hour. I don't know how anyone affords to get their stuff worked on anymore.

 

[bigdogtech01]

I agree that it sounds like overcharging without seeing the actual invoice and how it is broken down.

The main issue IMO is that I would never drop off my bike, car, or lawn mower without a clear understanding of "you are going to do X and it will cost X, or I will get a phone call to authorize other work". Maybe you had that. It sounds like you did not.

Just FYI, our Ford dealer in town just raised their shop rate to $139 per hour. I don't know how anyone affords to get their stuff worked on anymore.

Because $140 would have been too high Think I need to raise my rates :loony:

 

[Marky-Marc]

Hanging in my shop you will find.....

$200/hour to work on the bathtub motorcycle someone built in their back yard??? MAN, what is the world coming to these days..hahahahahaha

My cousin has something similar at his shop too......A little humor with stern facts!

 

[07bigdog]

I too think you got over charged. All you can do is pay the bill and don't go back there. Make future arrangements with someone like Andrew (bigdogtech01) who will give you a fair shake.

 

[Th3InfamousI]

You fucked up by not getting it in writing. You ordered the work and apparently authorized it without getting quotes or at least a guesstimate. In my part of Virginia the local harley shops are right at 500 for a full service. If they pulled the wheel, that's another 100. If they pulled the exhaust pipe add another 100. What did the wrap cost? Go to court and no one will win except the attorney's. I would go to the shop with hat in hand and do my best to cut a deal with the owner and then invest a few bucks in some hand tools and get on with it. Sorry for my honesty, just the way i see it.

Couldn't agree more.

No point in going to court over $1,000 thats just a waste of fucking time and more money man.

I would do what the other people did call up a shop ask them how much it would be and see if you can work a deal. Your more than welcome to pay the guy and tell him to his face that you got ass fucked, and tell him thanks I know where I will not take my bike next time. See if he comes down in price, at the end of the day these guys are in business to bring in business and satisfied and repeat customers are the best business around. Word of mouth is strong.

Do whatever you want its your life, but I wouldn't waste my time in court nor leave my bike with the shop so when you get it back you got dents and scratches. Cost you more than it's worth in the end.

 

[Marky-Marc]

Couldn't agree more.

No point in going to court over $1,000 thats just a waste of fucking time and more money man.

I would do what the other people did call up a shop ask them how much it would be and see if you can work a deal. Your more than welcome to pay the guy and tell him to his face that you got ass fucked, and tell him thanks I know where I will not take my bike next time. See if he comes down in price, at the end of the day these guys are in business to bring in business and satisfied and repeat customers are the best business around. Word of mouth is strong.

Do whatever you want its your life, but I wouldn't waste my time in court nor leave my bike with the shop so when you get it back you got dents and scratches. Cost you more than it's worth in the end.

TOTALLY :iagree: