New Tires...LOL no really I am crying.

[Nachodaddy]

If you have any choice, shop around. They obviously don't want or need your business. Buy the tires on-line if at all possible and find a place that will install them for a more reasonable price.
If there is no place else, then they know they have you by the short hairs.

[DaSwami_imp]

Another shop 4 hours drive away said they would install the tires for $240 if on the bike, $120 if off the bike. But it is 8 hours round trip which negates the savings. Will try a couple other local shops today

[GoldOxide_imp]

Got a quote: Bridgestone Battlax T32 installed for $907

That's $527 for the tires and $380 for the install

That's as much as a set of four truck tires installed

Consider my mind officially blown

Of course, if you don't buy the tires at the dealership they won't install them

My local dealer would get $120 for mounting 2 tires on the bike if you bought the tires from them. The equivalent of 1 hour labor. If you bought the tires elsewhere, it would be $180.

If you just bring in the wheels I believe its $30 a wheel for mounting and balancing

$30 seems like a fair market rate, but of course, likely varies with region.

[pdedse]

Assuming the quote is for removing the wheels, changing the tyres and then reinstalling the wheels, how long does it take to remove and replace the wheels? What on earth is the hourly labour rate? At $126 per hour, that's three hours work. I can't imagine it taking anywhere near that long, particularly for an experienced mechanic. For 2 hours — which seems a very generous amount of time — its $190 per hour. That's a pretty hefty labour rate, I'd have thought. I'd be looking for another workshop.

I imagine in the OP's quoted price, tubes were also included and they, too, have gone way up in price. $47 for two tubes last time for me.

Here's the invoice from an independent shop I like in the Portland, OR area. July of '22, so not too far back:



A 12% discount is given for buying tires through them--kind of a gimmick as their prices are higher than those of internet. Their install charge increases if you buy the tires elsewhere. It's $140 for the two tires installed, the rear is $20 more than the front, which makes sense as it likely takes a bit longer.

I don't mind sending business their way as I have heard very good things about their work and they have a certified Honda mechanic on staff. You can talk to them, they ask you questions about how you like to ride, offer suggestions for your particular bike, and they were about $300 cheaper than what a Honda dealership wanted for a valve check. But if their tire install prices were to increase much more, I'd likely consider doing it on my own, particularly as the bike ages.

Show them the above invoice--ask them to (somewhat?) price match!

[GoldOxide_imp]

For these total invoice prices, it almost seems well worth the stash to invest in a domestic heavy duty tire changer like some Forum members already do.

[pdedse]

I just did a search for the two tires I had installed back in July to see what current prices are. The MKII Avon Roadrider 110/80-18 front is currently $140, and the rear MKII Roadrider - 140/70-18 is $218. Last July, the shop charged 196 and 279 respectively, but then they "discount" 12%, so they charged me $475 for the pair.

Via the internet, I could get the same tires today for $358, but then the shop would charge me more for install, I think it was $200, so $558, and that didn't include tubes. Either way--me purchasing the tires, or purchasing them thru the shop, the price would have come out to around $600.

The only savings would have been if I removed rims and took them in...or did them myself, which would still be $390 with new tubes, and I would have spent about 15,000 hours to do the job, give or take 14,994 hours.

EDIT: so it looks like the shop made at least $215 for the install and higher tire prices. Is it worth the $215 for me to do this? Somedays I think it is...but then my body says..."whoa, there, partner, let's think hard on this one."

[DaSwami_imp]

Got another quote from another dealer (non-Honda, but Yamaha KTM Husky) for $708, which is $450 for the tires and $258 for the install....I guess this will be my best bet....sigh

[The Gecko_imp]

There is another reason to remove and install the wheels yourself, if you can. We live in times where more and more skills are hard to find, and prices are seasonal. The shop owner has only one skilled slave (left), and no time in spring. So ride your tires through the summer, take the wheels off end of fall, ask for a quote ( it will be much lower) and have him mount the tires in winter when nobody is interested in his services. Then take all the time you like to get your wheels back on yourself and remember:
an amateur with interest and a lot of time can often perform better than pro in a rush!

[GoldOxide_imp]

There is another reason to remove and install the wheels yourself, if you can. We live in times where more and more skills are hard to find, and prices are seasonal. The shop owner has only one skilled slave (left), and no time in spring. So ride your tires through the summer, take the wheels off end of fall, ask for a quote ( it will be much lower) and have him mount the tires in winter when nobody is interested in his services. Then take all the time you like to get your wheels back on yourself and remember:
an amateur with interest and a lot of time can often perform better than pro in a rush!

That is some firm logic, Gecko.

Like it!

[Nachodaddy]

Good ideas, Gecko, and let me add, the person doing that job at the shop may not be as interested in doing it right as you are.