mom/pop smaller dealer vs. mother honda dealer shop pricing

[cookiedough]

Got 3 quotes for taking off my rear tire on my I/S and mount/balance new rear tire.

Honda dealership wanted 1.9 hours at 180 bucks plus tax regardless if buying rear tire there or not.

Two smaller dealers who service all cycles wanted 105, the other 85 bucks, plus tax.

I took it to the 105 dollar place last time 4 years ago for new tires, etc. and he did a good job even lubing the rear splines with fresh lube and knew it should be done and he let me see the splines at 20K and looked fine.  Now at 30K for mileage and hoping for the best.

Going to get fresh brake/clutch fluids (been 4 years and 10K miles since last done) and new brake pads as well since pads were OEM since 2001 and now at 30K miles, am sure it is time since that shop 4 years ago and at 20K miles said they were fine at that time, wait until next tire change and am not usually a hard breaker but am sure it is time. 

Amazing the difference in pricing from big Honda dealership vs. smaller local cycle shops that employs only say 3-7 people.  Not so sure I want to bring it to the 85 dollar shop since I did not ask if they have ever done a Valkyrie I/S or not rear tire change, and the 105 dollar shop has been in business since owner I talked to who also does the service for over 30 years.  20 bucks is not much difference if I get someone knowledgeable but that 180 bucks per rear tire at large Honda dealership is super high, agree?  They said the Honda service manual states 1.9 hours for a rear tire change taking rear tire off/mount and balance new rear tire.  That 85 dollar shop is 1 hour labor, not 1.9 hours.  I would think 1.9 hours is too slow (too long) but 1.0 hours labor is not enough???

Really amazes me 2 cycle shops can be so much apart 1.0 vs. 1.9 hours labor time for a rear tire of Valk and new one back on.   If I took just the tire/rim in off the bike myself (which I would need to buy a lift, etc.), all 3 places I talked to said would be 40-50 bucks tops. 

Do most of you Valk owners say after 4 years or every tire change replace the metal valve stems with new ones every tire change?  I suppose so. 

[RainMaker]

I'd go with the shop you know at $105.  The Honda dealer is less likely to know the Valkyrie than either of the mom and pop shops.

[gordonv]

Yes, replace the rubber valve every time you change your tire.

Better, put the metal 90' from Jake Wilson, which has the tightening nut on the outside. So it can be tightened if it leaks. I think this might be the right one.

https://www.jakewilson.com/p/1753/19082/Myers-90%C2%B0-Tubeless-Chrome-Valve-Stem?term=tire valve

I'm using it on my CT for the first time.

As for the time. I think the 2 hours isn't bad for the job, done right and not hurried. Your $180 for 1.9 hrs from the dealer is $95/hr.

I won't pay that. I would remove the wheel myself, and bring them the rim to replace the tire on. But only so I know the rear lube has been done right.

[Tfrank59]

Yes, replace the rubber valve every time you change your tire.

Better, put the metal 90' from Jake Wilson, which has the tightening nut on the outside. So it can be tightened if it leaks. I think this might be the right one.

https://www.jakewilson.com/p/1753/19082/Myers-90%C2%B0-Tubeless-Chrome-Valve-Stem?term=tire valve

I'm using it on my CT for the first time.

As for the time. I think the 2 hours isn't bad for the job, done right and not hurried. Your $180 for 1.9 hrs from the dealer is $95/hr.

I won't pay that. I would remove the wheel myself, and bring them the rim to replace the tire on. But only so I know the rear lube has been done right.

Yeah, I bring the shop my tire and wheel and just let them change it.  They put in a new valve for $10 (not OEM) and balance the wheel.  the shop I go to gets around $45 for that but it's been worth it to me, and I make sure the rest of the maintenance gets done myself.

[Bone]

Take them my wheel and CT. I pay about the same as Tfrank59. I always ask them to price a front tire when it's time and if they are close I buy theirs.
Been going their since the place opened in a 1 car garage now it's 3 good sized buildings.

[PAVALKER]

Found the opposite regarding pricing.  Mom and pop shop wanted 40.00 per wheel/tire if it wasn't bought there, and off the bike.  Honda Dealership wanted 25.00 per wheel/tire off the bike.  On the bike, prices were much more.  Pa State Inspections vary as well. 

[Bighead]

I hope really HOPE someone is holding a gun to your head when they ask $180 to remove an mount a new tire hell $105 is Hiway robbery.

[da prez]

  Most know that I work at an independent Harley shop to support my Valkyrie addiction.
  H/D gets $220.00 labor for rear and $180.00 labor for front tire change plus you must purchase the tire from them. They will not do carry in tires . That puts a rear tire in the $450.00 plus range and the front in the $350.00 range. We get a lot of tire work from several dealers (weather they know it or not). People buy the Harley branded tires (Dunlops) on line and delivered for a lot less than the dealer sells them for , but can not get them mounted unless they go to an outside shop. We get from $25.00 to $50.00 per tire to do them.

                                             da prez

[wiggydotcom]

I was on a long trip out West several years back and ran over something that caused the rear tire to
lose 3-5psi per gas stop. I was in Utah at the time and found a motel right next to a Honda Dealer.
First thing in the morning, I got the bike to the dealer and knew I was going to pay a pretty penny for a tire changeout. I don't remember what I had to pay(I have a I/S) but I do remember it was taking them FOREVER to do the changeout. I kept my mouth shut and finally the Service Advisor said that I'd be just a couple more minutes as the mechanic was finishing up putting the exhaust back on. Ooooops. I politely asked if I could give him a hint on how we do it faster in the VRCC.

After my explanation of how we leave the exhaust on, drop the shocks, etc., he was amazed. He asked if I would tell the procedure to the mechanic and I said, "Sure".

After explaining it to him, he acted like I just gave him a new lease on life. He must have dreaded every rear tire change knowing he had to pull the exhausts first---probably because it was "By the Book"!

Cookiedough, I don't know if that Mother Honda higher labor rate could be because of the way they do it but it's a possibility.  It's something to think about. I do all my own tire changes with a Harbor Freight unit so it's a nonfactor for me but it's a different story when out in TimBuckTwo.

[Old Geezer Richard]

 Here in San Antonio , the Stealerships charge $90 per hr. labor charge IF you buy the tire from them and they do the change out , other wise they will Jack up the Labor Charge .... The Independent Mom / Pop shops usually charge $50 for the front & $65 for the rear with your tire and you can wait in the shop while their doing the change .... A car tire now thats a different can of worms and as mentioned ALWAYS change out your valve stem , it's Cheap Insurace  .... Thanks the Geezer 

[cookiedough]

I don't think 105 per rear tire if bringing entire bike in is out of line, but 180, no thanks.  Honda dealer said honda shop manual states 1.9 hours, so at 90 bucks per hour, is right on the money, well almost. 

LIke everything else labor related, is location, location, location that makes the difference. 

Even that 105 dealer said for an extra 40 bucks or so labor would do my clutch/brake fluid and install new brake pads as well and of course lube the rear splines. 

[sdv003]

I didn't realize how good I have it.  The independent shop I buy from mounts and balances for free if I buy the tire from him.  His tire price is not bad, and is cheap if you consider the free mount.

[Tfrank59]

I didn't realize how good I have it.  The independent shop I buy from mounts and balances for free if I buy the tire from him.  His tire price is not bad, and is cheap if you consider the free mount.

Yeah, there's no bike shop here in Western Washington I'm aware of that still does it for free – those days are gone.