One of the local stealers originally quoted me 4.6 hours at $75/hour to install the apes I have waiting to go on the bike. When I mentioned that I wanted internal wiring,they bumped that figure by 3 hours. Thing is, my bars are already dimpled and drilled, so all they have to do is run the wires inside the bars, rather than route them outside. This doesn't seem like the kind of thing that will take 3 hours. Am I missing something?

 

Find yourself a good Indy. Their hourly rates are always cheaper and most of they'll quote you a lot less hours than any HD shop. Unless it's a warranty issue I don't have it done in a dealership.

 

You don't indicate the model or year of your bike-so hard to say.
Just understand changing your handlebars is one of the most expensive modifications on a bike regardless of model.
I have heard an average price for bars and labor is about $700. Hope this helps.

 

I would think that replacing and re-routing the cables would be the
bulk of the time charged.
I also think that people get charged for things that aren't performed...
example: the procedure may call for the gas tank to be removed, but the mechanic
knows a short cut and just 'lifts-up' the tank to run a wire.
They then charge you 2 hours labor to remove the tank.
7 1/2 hours seems a bit long to replace handlebars ( at a dealer).....
Me?.......I'd give myself12 hours, then come to find out I put them on backwards.

Chuck

 

Changed the bars on my 05 Ultra. What took the most time was removing the fairing. Glad I saved $700. Do it yourself. Grab them and go for it.

 

A good indy or a bro that knows how Beer and weed is still cheaper than labor. Also u will know how to do it next time!!!!!! Werks fer me....
WICH I NEW HOW TO TIPE




BOSSMAN

 

Do it yourself, its not very difficuilt. Easy money really!

 

I had my 508s put on at an indy. Book does call for mucho labor. doubt it really takes that long. Be CAREFUL with the indy, my throttle and idle cables pissed out at 7k miles. Took to HD for replacement and tech said it appeared as though thecables had been bent to fit in the brass thingy on the twisty thingy. Good luck. You DO pay extrie for the int. wiring.

 

I had my dealer put on 14" apes with internal wiring and braide cables. THey only charged me 4 hours labor at 80 bucks an hour. I say tell them 7 hours is a little much. Again, depending on the model.

 

Just yesterday I found and was seething over the invoice from when my hubby had new mini-apes and new risers put on his Night Train. When they handed me the invoice to write a check, Iwas incredulous, as it had SEVEN hours labor at $79/hour. I said "SEVEN HOURS TO PUT ON HANDLEBARS??? HOLY ****" ... and they explained that sometimes when they get into that kind of job "things happen that aren't necessarily anticipated".I complained that we had gotten a quote for work he wanted done that included new tires and the labor for THAT, and the whole quote was just a bit more than what this invoice which didn't include the tires and installation of them. I am NEVER one to fuss, complain, create a scene, etc... but this time it was my husband that had to calm ME down. I was really irked. He seemed basically O.K. with it. Not 100% happy about it, but certainly more O.K. with it than I was. He said he understood what they were saying. Seeing that invoice yesterday just pissed me off all over again.[:@]