Tire changing: How much is too much?

jeero

jeero

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So I got my bike off a friend of mine and he was very nice to buy me a new set of very good tires.
He didn't have the time to have them put on for me but that's fine because I have to do a safety inspection on the bike anyways, I'll just get them to put the tires on at the same time.
(both my friend and I agreed that without a new rear tire, it most likely will not pass safety because it's pretty slick in the middle lol)

What price should I be looking at paying?
I strapped my 2 new tires to the backseat and rode my bike to a nearby shop (i can walk home from there).
He then said it would be 70$ for the safety (sounds about right), and then 100$ to change EACH tire.

...

Is it just me or is that a ridiculous price?

Now about this shop:
I went in there 2 summers ago and the bikes he had for sale then are still there today.
Behind the counter is a huge mess of unorganized stuff that's been there for a while; you can tell by the layer of dust on everything.
Every time I call to ask questions he's the "yeah yeah we can do it don't worry" kind of guy.
It took a month and a half to get a part ordered through him for my other bike (93 Katana) direct from Suzuki.

I'm all up for supporting the little guys, but I shouldn't be raped while helping someone.
I honestly don't like the vibe at his shop and probably will not visit there anymore.

Back to my question:
How much should I be looking to pay to have 2 new tires put on my bike?

@ anyone in Niagara Region: which shop do you use to buy parts/have your bike serviced?

**EDIT**

I ended up doing the rear tire myself with the tools I already had in the garage.
The front tire still has a good amount of life left so I will just leave it until it needs to be changed.

For those who are curious:

- 2 flathead screwdrivers.
- a couple rags to use as rim protectors.
- plyers to remove old weights.
- aaand a car to use as a bead breaker.

Here's the video reference I used: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0s2NzImDhA
It worked quite well actually!

To balance I simply used the rear axle on top of two boxes and did the same thing that a harmonic balancer does. Piece of cake.

Thought I'd share with everyone. :)

Cheerios!
 
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jeero said:
So I got my bike off a friend of mine and he was very nice to buy me a new set of very good tires.
He didn't have the time to have them put on for me but that's fine because I have to do a safety inspection on the bike anyways, I'll just get them to put the tires on at the same time.
(both my friend and I agreed that without a new rear tire, it most likely will not pass safety because it's pretty slick in the middle lol)

What price should I be looking at paying?
I strapped my 2 new tires to the backseat and rode my bike to a nearby shop (i can walk home from there).
He then said it would be 70$ for the safety (sounds about right), and then 100$ to change EACH tire.

...

Is it just me or is that a ridiculous price?

Now about this shop:
I went in there 2 summers ago and the bikes he had for sale then are still there today.
Behind the counter is a huge mess of unorganized stuff that's been there for a while; you can tell by the layer of dust on everything.
Every time I call to ask questions he's the "yeah yeah we can do it don't worry" kind of guy.
It took a month and a half to get a part ordered through him for my other bike (93 Katana) direct from Suzuki.

I'm all up for supporting the little guys, but I shouldn't be raped while helping someone.
I honestly don't like the vibe at his shop and probably will not visit there anymore.

Back to my question:
How much should I be looking to pay to have 2 new tires put on my bike?

@ anyone in Niagara Region: which shop do you use to buy parts/have your bike serviced?


Cheerios!
Click to expand...

I can't really help you with suggestions out in Niagara Falls.

Here in the GTA, there are generally 2 guys you can go to that everyone recommends.

Ted @ Rosey Toes is dirt cheap. $40 for the safety, about about $15 per tire with the rim off the bike. $30 with the rim on the bike. So about $60 if you ride in with the tires.

Daniel @ Heritage Auto. I got mine done from him. He's not dirt cheap, but you definitely get more professional service in a cleaner environment. He has a proper computer-based tire mounting and balancing system he brought in from Japan (I think). He charged me $90 for changing both tires on my bike, including the rims. It would've been half that if I just brought the rims in myself.

So $100 per tire? Yeah, too much. $70 for the safety is too much too.

Oh and there are guys here on the forum (frekeyguy, JohnnyP636, kneedragger, etc) that can help you out with the tires too, and are definitely cheaper than $100 per tire.
 
Leave and don't go back.....that guy is taking the piss. I pay $100 all in with taxes to change front and back on the bike.
 
Great responses, thanks everyone!

Obviously at 1:30am I don't think I will be able to get a hold of anyone, but the other bike shop I know in this area is Clare's in Fenwick/Fonthill. They are a pretty big motorcycle store, huge gear department and a big shop in the back.
They are a 20 minute ride from me. I will call tomorrow and see what they price me at.
 
Let me guess. You went to Ready Honda and Bent Bikes.
Take it to John at Bent Bikes.
 
I think most shops would charge you about $50-$60 per tire if the rims are on the bike and $20-$30 per rim if you take in just the rims.
 
V-Twin Cycle in Niagara Falls, just off Drummond. Tim is the owner and is a independant shop. Bike repairs etc., dosen't matter whether scooter, HD, cruisers or any sport bike. 905 356 2008
 
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shops can charge whatever they feel the market will bear.

Perhaps tire changes aren't what they feel to be a profitable use of their shop employee's time.

I'm not sure why everyone gets so upset when they are given a price that's outside what they feel they should be paying.

If you're not happy with the price your best option is to spend your money elsewhere.

One of the problems is the people quoting trackday/racetrack install prices to street riders, this gets the street riders VERY upset, the difference is tire sales volume.

The trackside tire vendors know your tires are only going to last 2-3 trackdays at the most, so you're going to be coming back to them, they make their tire install profit on volume, whereas the corner shop, especially the small ones will only see a rider once per season.
 
^^^^ +1 people have a lot of choices, but as you said they get upset easily. I guess the shop doesn't want the business (for their own reasons), so instead of saying flat out no (that would upset people even more) they hike the rate knowing people who do their homework will go elsewhere. Just another way to control a demand. happens all the time in almost every type of a business.
 
reciprocity said:
If you're not happy with the price your best option is to spend your money elsewhere.
Click to expand...

What do you think the point of this thread is?
I am looking into going somewhere else while also gathering useful information from fellow riders.
I was expecting 50$/wheel because I know it will be a little bit trickier than changing a car tire, which I've done before as a job.

Although I have been riding other people's bikes for a couple years, this is my first one that I own so I am not too familiar on what kind of prices I should be expecting to have something done. It's not like a car.
I know when someone is trying to push their fist up my ***** and control me like a puppet, and I am not one to let that happen.
 
Low rider said:
Let me guess. You went to Ready Honda and Bent Bikes.
Take it to John at Bent Bikes.
Click to expand...

Nope.
SCMC in St catharines.
Honestly I think he's going under. There's never anyone there.
 
jeero said:
What do you think the point of this thread is?

I know when someone is trying to push their fist up my ***** and control me like a puppet, and I am not one to let that happen.
Click to expand...

See how quickly you got upset?

Others are offering prices, but for a different, MUCH larger market so the prices will be different.

In the Niagara area, you're limited.

There are a few of us out this way that could help you.

I have a good friend that does them just down the road from you for $15 per rim, but he's pretty opinionated and I wouldn't want you to feel like you're being controlled
 
if you're in the niagara, try NRC, clares harley centre in st. catharines (not sure if they do that stuff there), JAGZ repair in niagara on the lake, clares cycle in fenwick, st. catharines city cycle.
 
reciprocity said:
See how quickly you got upset?
Click to expand...

My biggest beef with talking to someone/people over the internet is that the message being read is to be taken in whatever context the reader chooses. You can't hear my tone of voice and we don't know each other's personality (some people sound ****** off 24/7 lol).
I am not upset, although I can see how it would seem like I was.

In fact, I couldn't be a happier man! I've been riding everyday since monday and I am recently single so I don't have to deal with the nagging or the obligations to even come home. Besides work and living expenses, I am a free man!

I do understand that if I lived in nowhereland and there was only one mechanic to work on my car, it would be pricier than in a area like the GTA, where there's a mechanic every other block.

There's a lot of bikers in the Niagara region. I am simply looking for shared information on what other places I can go and ask how much it would be.
I'm new-ish to St Catharines and even newer to owning my own bike.
I only know about SCMC (the shop i described in op) and Clare's in Fenwick, and also a Honda dealership just off the QEW closer to hamilton but I've never been inside that store, jsut seen it as I drive by.

He's your friend and it's up to you if you want to share his details.
As I said, I am all up for supporting the little guys. Clare's is a big store and they have plenty of work/customers to keep them afloat.

And by the way, thanks for all the info.
I will be making some phone calls on my lunch break. :)
 
My first choice would be NRC in Niagara on the Lake. I;ve had a few tire swaps done there. You will find it cheaper if you can bring in rims off the bike though.
 
For about $125 you can buy a tire changer from Princess Auto. I do my own changes and balancing now whenever I need to.

Garry
 
Garry_Kramer said:
For about $125 you can buy a tire changer from Princess Auto. I do my own changes and balancing now whenever I need to.
Click to expand...

Interesting approach!
 
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