My indy charges $65.

As far as the guy getting $120/hr US, God Bless him. Goods and services in the good old USofA are based upon supply and demand, quality and experience.

If the mechanic could not get enough business at that $120 rate he would reduce it. Or he may chose to work a 4 hr day at $120/hr versus an 8 hr day at $60/hr. Same money but less hours = more time to ride.

I am blessed to have good knowledge in my profession and 35 years experience which allows me to charge my clients $300/hr and I have all the work I can handle.

I am fortunate enough to not only have found a good indy at $65/hr but he is someone I trust. If I had to use the dealer I personally am still way ahead paying them $120/hr while I work earning my rate. That assumes they do the job correctly which I found early on they did not. That is why I now have an indy.

I never begrudge anyone their labor rate or product costs because I have the freedom to say thank you I'll take it or no thank you I'll go elsewhere.

I envy all of you guys that are mechannically inclined and truly enjoy working on your machines. I don't know a wrench from a screwdriver and at this point in my life don't intend to learn the difference. I'll just stick with what I do know and keep improving on that.

Ride Safe.

 

Wow, that's a rip-off. Local HDealer rate is $90. I'd be thinking of getting some training and opening up my own shop...even part time.

 

Even if one allows that the dealer has a cost of $50 per hour, why in the world do they need to more than double that? Using your $110 number they'd be making over $2,000 profit per 40 hour week, per mechanic. Over $100,000 profit per year per mechanic! Sometimes they may not work 40, but I'd think in California sometimes they work over 40. Don't forget the money made off the parts the mechanic is bolting on too.

I know there's taxes and overhead, I'm just saying there's a lot of fat in these operations that a lot of us are not interested in subsidizing.

 

Agreed!! I think my next purchase from Harley will be the service manual!!

 

Where have I seen that one before ?????

 

If that's the case,bring your bike to me for service.

 

If you are not intelligent enough to do basic service then please how are you able to start the damn thing up? Some people have plenty of money and will continue to pay the service rate. Some will go to an indy and save a little. Some will just do it themselves and save a lot. Whether dealers are making a lot or not they will lose business to other avenues as people making less than $25 hour cannot pay $120 hour rates.

 

I disagree. You have to have a lil bit of inclination, to be real learnable. There are those that just don't need to be holding a wrench and only get themselves into trouble if they try. I have met a few and I am sure that teaching them would be a waste.
Being able to recognize your weaknesses is a real positive attribute.


You're kidding, right?

 

Gee,.... I wonder,.... Bwahaha!

 

No actually I wasn't kidding. You think you can show someone where the key goes and the start button is and you need to pull the clutch in..............and so on but they can't learn to take a drain plug out and change a filter??? Surely your the one kidding.