Shop Labor rates

[ButterSmooth]

I just bought a new 2020 RT. I wanted the bars swapped to short reach bars, based on my 5'5" height and past experience. The labor quote from the dealer was $380. I looked in the Flat Rate manual and the swap is listed as two hours, which seems to be a generous time allowance. That makes the hourly rate $190 and that seems unreasonable to me. My plan was to enjoy the luxury of having someone else maintain my new machine -- not going to happen at that rate. Maybe it was just a 'quick-n-easy' gouge.

 

[Lew L]

Maybe this stealer thinks your ryde is a 2019 or earlier RT?????

 

[bodymanpainter]

I changed my bars myself in about 20 minutes, that 2 hours is way too much, I would suggest getting a
service manual and doing the work yourself and save a lot of money or find another dealer if possible.
My local dealer's labor rate is $88.00 per hour for example.

Toby

 

[SPYD3R]

i saw this Labor Rate sign @ a CAN AM dealer in New Brunswich, Canada a couple yrs ago....

working on your own ride, is half the fun of owning one of these toys....
good luck.
Dan
SPYD3R

 

[ARtraveler]

Most common labor rates are in the $125 per hour range.

I experienced $130 in Alaska when I was there. Here in Arkansas I have gone to shops where it was ballpark $80. I am talking August 2019 and April 2020. May have went up due to Covid and lack of work.

 

[RICZ]

If you know which end of the screwdriver is the handle, you can do it easily. Maybe there's a video available to get you started in the right direction.

 

[ButterSmooth]

I've been riding 57 years and for the first time (this year) I rode on tires that someone else mounted. Of course, they didn't do it right and I ended up correcting their errors. I'm reading the service manual now. Careful there in Portland -- I'm in Central OR.

Edit:
I checked the service manual and the bar swap seems simple. My only question is: Is there enough wire length to accommodate the reduced reach bars?

 

[RICZ]

Buttersmooth.....
I have never done a bar swap, but from what i've read on this forum, there is enough wire if you undo some zip ties.
So far. none of the crap going on in Portland has been near where we live. However, I am keeping my powder dry and heating up the tar and stocking up on feathers for running mayor Squealer out of town on a rail.

 

[cptjam]

Did one yesterday. 8 bolts, 4 clips. To the OP, get the bars, get the tools, (3/8 drive ratcheting wrench, 1 set of metric Allen sockets) call me. I’ll walk you through it. Joe

 

[ButterSmooth]

Did one yesterday. 8 bolts, 4 clips. To the OP, get the bars, get the tools, (3/8 drive ratcheting wrench, 1 set of metric Allen sockets) call me. I’ll walk you through it. Joe

Changing the bars won't be a challenge. How to deal with the dealership about the situation is more problematic. Was it an intentional gouge or a mistake? They are assembling the bike on Tuesday (8th) and I plan to call early (before they start) to tell them to give me the bars and remove the labor charge. My expectations are if it was a mistake, they will fix the amount. If it was a gouge, they will start whining.

If it was a gouge, they will never see me in their service department again.

 

[canamjhb]

....... If it was a gouge, they will never see me in their service department again.

You may want to have a conversation with the service manager. And, if you are purchasing the bars at additional cost, make sure they don't keep the originals (that you paid for too). They may be of little value to you but someone will want them and the dealer doesn't deserve them.

The local dealer here had hourly rate of $100 per hour EXCEPT for Can Am products. They Charged $125 for those. They since have changed so the rate is the same for all products they sell. And guess what? It is now $125 for everything..... Jim

 

[Gwolf]

Yeah, I understand...... I was riding Harley so old the local dealership would not work on it. I am older than dirt and wanted to get a new bike that I could let somebody else do the work and I could just ride it. It was not a question of money. All my dependents have good jobs and their own families. I could afford to have somebody work on my bike. The problem came up when the local dealership had no idea what they were doing. They wanted me to bring the Spyder to them and maybe a month or two later they might call me to tell me it was ready. I would be much worse off than I was with the 20 year old Harley and doing all the work myself. I bought the new Spyder and just the fact that it doesn't have 350,000 miles on it makes it a lot easier to maintain. I am still doing all the work myself. I have the money to let the dealer do the work, but I don't trust them. There is no way around it. If you want it done right, do it yourself.

 

[ButterSmooth]

... I am still doing all the work myself. I have the money to let the dealer do the work, but I don't trust them. There is no way around it. If you want it done right, do it yourself.

I used to think I was pretty savvy. But the number of times I've had to relearn this lesson suggests mebbie not so much... My concern in this case is when I need BUDs, where do I go? Why can't there be competent, honest people? I had tires mounted on my Scout and discovered the axle hadn't been tightened. It was done at a shop with a great reputation.