Labour - how much is too much?
Discussion
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Sorry I think over £60 is too much considering most owners won't be on anywhere near themselves.
Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
If you want a franchise to sell new bikes you have to go along with the concessioners ego trip and pay for a fancy showroom with all the overheads that involves,Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
Hence you pay your staff as little as possible and charge the customer as much as possible!!’
Hugo Stiglitz said:
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I actually think that is ok, £5 for a bulb and half an hours labour, it's a business, if they gave their time away for free they would not be in business for long.Changing a bulb on my r1150rt was a real pain to do.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Sorry I think over £60 is too much considering most owners won't be on anywhere near themselves.
Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
Even pre-inflation our local Honda in Edinburgh was about £150+ an hour based on my estimates of their time. Christ knows what it is now.Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
I would not consider that reasonable personally (but I fully accept that is just my opinion).
Jazoli said:
I actually think that is ok, £5 for a bulb and half an hours labour, it's a business, if they gave their time away for free they would not be in business for long.
Changing a bulb on my r1150rt was a real pain to do.
Not sure on the fairing on rhe 1150RT but the side 'cheek' fairing - remove three bolts and it pivot opens like a wing the it is very very quick. 10 mins all in max. No losing skin of hands etc..Changing a bulb on my r1150rt was a real pain to do.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Not sure on the fairing on rhe 1150RT but the side 'cheek' fairing - remove three bolts and it pivot opens like a wing the it is very very quick. 10 mins all in max. No losing skin of hands etc..
Then it's affordable isn't it as you have no reason not to change it yourself 
The 1150 has a stupid flap you remove under the headlight, it was stupid.
Hugo Stiglitz said:
Sorry I think over £60 is too much considering most owners won't be on anywhere near themselves.
Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
I suspect you've not actually done any real calculation on the costs involved in just having an appropriately kitted out workshop with correctly trained staff for customers bikes.Fine that there's staffing etc costs but it could ultimately contribute to a shrinking motorbike market.
Why? Mote complexity, more electronics in new bikes equals less self spannering equals people just not bothering further down the line as the bikes age.
I was quoted £55 to change a headlight bulb on my old 1200RT by the local bmw garage. How is hobby motorbiking affordable?
I've no issue is BMW mechanics are paid a premium over say Honda etc which are lower Per hour rates.
Good to see Honda rates at reasonable prices.
Workshops not making a profit and closing down would, I'd suggest, shrink the motorbike market even quiker.
I’m so glad I enjoy working on the bikes myself when I read posts like these…
Got a decent set up now and can do most of the day to day things without any issues - a good service manual works wonders!
I’ve caught my local Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley dealers making basic mistakes, not following their own service schedules and trying to charge for work that wasn’t done.
Only take my bikes to a main dealer if there is a recall on them.
Take them to my local, trusted mechanic if something goes wrong with my monkey hammering and when I need a MOT.
Probably haven’t saved any money due to buying kit and tools and needing to redo things and reorder parts.. but it’s fun and it’s my hobby… man maths at its finest!
Got a decent set up now and can do most of the day to day things without any issues - a good service manual works wonders!
I’ve caught my local Yamaha, Kawasaki and Harley dealers making basic mistakes, not following their own service schedules and trying to charge for work that wasn’t done.
Only take my bikes to a main dealer if there is a recall on them.
Take them to my local, trusted mechanic if something goes wrong with my monkey hammering and when I need a MOT.
Probably haven’t saved any money due to buying kit and tools and needing to redo things and reorder parts.. but it’s fun and it’s my hobby… man maths at its finest!
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