Fork rebuild -- average shop prices for labor

[d_adams]

This is for the guys that don't have the know-how to rebuild forks.

What I'd like to know is, what's the average shop rate and how long it should take to rebuild a set of forks, ie; change the oil seals, dust caps and the oil inside?

I do my own work and have for a long time, so I have a pretty good idea on how long it will take me to do it and what I'm willing to do the job for. I know a lot of guys here do their own stuff, just as I do, so this isn't for you, it's for the guys that DON'T do their own work and have paid to have it done.

How much did it cost you to have your forks rebuilt, off the bike only.

 

[jonzin]

I haven't had mine done yet but I was quoted $190.

 

[d_adams]

I want parts and labor prices if possible. Thanks!

 

[buellboy19]

Here in Fresno, Ca Harley/Buell quoted me $350 and Wilsons Motorcycles quoted me $325 ($275 for labor and $50 for parts) I don't have the tools to haggle with it so I gotta pay outta pocket If I had tools I'd take the forks off and send them in for a lot cheaper

 

[snrusnak]

Well I do just about everything myself but when I needed my forks rebuilt I didn't have the time to learn something new so paid a shop up the street from me to do it. Real nice guy there, he charged $150 in labor, $10 shop fees, plus fluid, and plus tax. I don't have the receipt but that's what the cost was, you can get an idea from that. I bought the parts myself(he isn't familiar with buells), the parts were just under $50 from asb IIRC. Dust covers, oil seals, guide bushings, slide bushings, and the "c" clip things. I know it wasn't all needed but I figured I'm in there I might as well do it for a couple bucks...

So total was ~$230 ish.

Hope this helps you at all...

 

[d_adams]

So, $150 labor, $10 in fees, how much was the oil and taxes? Plus $50 in parts and you took the loose forks to him?

$210 + oil and tax, right?

Edit; yep, that's what I'm looking for.

 

[anrkizm95]

local honda shop charged under 100.00 parts and labor

 

[snrusnak]

So, $150 labor, $10 in fees, how much was the oil and taxes? Plus $50 in parts and you took the loose forks to him?

$210 + oil and tax, right?

Edit; yep, that's what I'm looking for.

Yeah that's right. I can see if I have the receipt but it was what you said, $210 plus the cost of oil and tax(7%). And yes I brought him the forks.

Let me go see if I have the receipt filed away...

 

[snrusnak]

Sorry I don't have the receipt. I'm kind of shocked as I usually file EVERYTHING, but I guess since I trusted this guy so much I just tossed it. It was $150 for labor, plus $10 in shop fees, plus oil, plus tax though. I even checked an old thread I made about it to see if it was a good price and that's exactly what it was.

I do have the receipt from ASB for the parts:

Guide bushings(43mm) $7.50
Oil Seals(43mm) $11.00
Dust Seals(43mm) $11.00
Slide bushings(43mm) $8.90
S&H $7.00

IIRC I also bought the clips from HD for a few bucks...

 

[snrusnak]

And FYI for better comparison that $150 for labor was 2 hours labor ($75/hr).

 

[FastTimes]

I was quoted $ 250.00 for both forks. I have a slight leak in one- but would do both while apart

 

[oldblue]

I'm just getting mine done, I called numerous places and got quoted $200-$300. I ordered the parts from ASB and found a guy on craigslist that runs a shop in his garage, went there and he was a really cool guy. Dropped off the forks and parts and he told me it would be $50 when i pick em up. Its def cheaper if you can take them off, maybe check craigslist to see who knows how to work on them

 

[Iamarchangel]

The forks are relatively common among racers.

That means you could check out a number of independent suspension shops, even motocross shops.

I use an independent Ducati specialist. I left the bike with him and he did the forks and installed a set of Michelin Pilot 2 for about $560.

 

[FastTimes]

FYI - I just got another quote for $65 for labor - both forks. Thats with me providing the seals and oil

 

[user_deleted]

showa cartridge forks are like anything else...not hard to work on if you've done dozens of them and have the correct bushing and seal installion parts and compressor for springs. LOL LOL
here we charge $130 if forks removed from bike and brought in by customer. that includes disassembly, flush, cartridge flush, cleaning, removal of old bushings and tube bushings and seals. cleaning and reassembly with new slider bushings, stock cartridge bushings if re-useable, oil install and pressure test. the seals and oil of your choice and weight extra. oil runs about $15 and seals about $18 or so.

 

[rah7777777]

I brought my guy the forks and all parts and fluids, he charged me $150.
Not sure what all my parts cost from ASB.....
He was a Buell tech for years before opening his own shop.

 

[06xbss]

Small local sportbike shop did both my front forks for 112.00. That included everything. Parts, fluids, and labor.

 

[d_adams]

Thanks for all the responses, that's what I was looking for. Seems like the average is $150-200 for labor unless it's someone running a shop out of their garage. If you get a low-ball price of $50 to rebuild the forks, do you REALLY trust that guy with YOUR life? I'm all for saving a buck or two, just think about it before you do it. If it's someone you know and trust, then go for it.
Parts prices vary from each vendor obviously.

I normally won't work on other people's bikes for liability reasons, especially if it's brake or suspension related. I will NOT lose everything I've worked hard for over the last 20+ years over someone's bike. I know what I'm doing as far as rebuilding pretty much anything on a bike even though it may have been a while since I've worked on them professionally.

I made a quote of $140 for labor based on it taking me 2 hours to rebuild both forks off the bike, it would only take me an extra 20-30 minutes to do it on the bike assuming I was asleep while taking them off. Parts were what it cost me to have them 2nd day shipped from ASB, I think it was $100, might have been a little less. Oil I had to pick up locally, that was $30 alone for silkolene 10w. My quote for the whole job was $240 out the door. The local dealers quoted $350+ at 2 different shops for the same thing and I don't know for sure if that even included parts/oil.