Component Installation Pricing?
 

Hey, I just got a new stem, headset, pedals, and cog for my bike.
How much would the installation cost? Would it be more cost effective for me to install the cog, stem and pedals by myself? Or would an LBS group it into an hourly charge and just knock it out for the same price.
Also, how much is it to install an uncut steer carbon fork?
Thanks

I can't speak for any LBS, but many don't look too kindly on requests for installation of new hardware bought elsewhere. Don't take it personally if the staffer at the shop asks you "do you bring your own meat to Mcdonalds and ask them to make a burger?".

It's a sore point because most shops consider labor as an adjunct to support sales, and feel they can't survive on labor alone. Others are more open minded, but may charge more for labor alone than you'd want to pay.

Certainly you should be able to install pedals and a cassette, and ask the shop for labor on trimming the fork and installing it the headset and stem, which are related jobs anyway.

DIY, i say. FB is right; many shops get all P'ed O when a customer comes in with stuff s/he bought elsewhere, hoping for cheeeep installation. (Especially if the stuff isn't compatible anyway...) Personally, i think the shops would deal with the "annoyance" of customers paying them good money for service far less often if shops charged reasonable prices for components. This is why i buy stuff online, including tools, and do stuff myself.

-rob

I am too cheap to pay for LBS installation, I agree with surreal about the pedal and cassette installation, for the head set, you can go the LBS but I would look for a co-op so you can use their tools and learn to do this yourself.

Pedals? WHy the heck would you have a shop put on pedals? Do you not know how to use a 15mm open-end wrench?

Not sure if performance counts as an LBS but I got my bike from there so I will go ask them.
I will install the pedals and stem myself since they're simple, but I need to buy a chain wrench and lockring wrench just for this one time I will install the cog so I dont think itll be cost effective to do it on my own..

What, you reckon you'll never replace another cassette?

Invest in tools, don't waste on labour.

Chain whip is under $20 -
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-Spro.../dp/B003RZM9OK
http://www.amazon.com/Avenir-Chain-W...0424963&sr=8-2

Lock ring tool -- Cassette Lock Ring Tool -- might not be the right one for you, but as an example:
http://www.amazon.com/Park-Tool-FR-5...425023&sr=1-10

Personally I might go to the LBS for a headset install and fork --

What's a chain wrench ? Any why do you need one for what you're doing ?

The tools will pay for themselves the first time you use them. You will use them again. Parts wear out, things need to be cleaned and maintained, etc... I have yet to have an LBS do any work on my bike. I just buy tools as I need them.

What would it cost? Well, can you tell me what it would cost to have pants cleaned, not knowing where I live, how quickly I need them, whether there are any difficult stains, and what they are made of (dry clean vs. wash)? No, you'd probably go to or call a couple cleaners in your town and ask them. In the case of a bike it would have to be in person.

I've never worked in or managed a shop where we charged more for installing a part not purchased at our shop. But then mail/internet business is many times greater than most of the period when I worked. I still think it's bad practice. Generally one prices installation pretty generously due to there being so many unknown factors, which then gives room to discount installs for equipment purchased at the shop.

You save your money when you purchased online. You can't have it both ways.

And finally if you can't install pedals and a stem on your own you may not want to go "featherlight," in your equipment, as there are compromises there also, and you need to understand the limits of your equipment. "Price, weight, strength - choose two." (I believe this has been attributed to a bike frame builder, but can't find the source)

was a 'certified installer' network set up by Nashbar, mostly I hears a request for an opinion of their bikes .. which woking in other brand shops I didn't buy
whole bikes from them ..

that was pre internet , I could only say Bring it over and I can speak on seeing it ..

I note this list has a frequent ,'what do you think of' .. contents

Still say 'bike' is a sum of its parts, and price-point is the bottom line.

As others have said, the answer depends on how much you want to spend on tools and on your particular LBS.

Fork, headset and stem: I recently had a fork cut and installed, old headset removed, new headset pressed in, and new stem installed by a LBS for under $30. Although another shop quoted me $50. Installing a headset and cutting a fork is not a job for someone new to bike mechanics. If that describes you, let the LBS do the work.

Stem: This is simple to do yourself and requires nothing more special than an allen wrench. But if the LBS installs the fork, it makes sense to have them do the stem as well.

Pedals: If your old pedals can be removed and your new ones installed using only an allen wrench, then do the work yourself. If either requires a special pedal wrench, you'll spend about $10 on one. Which is more than the LBS would charge for installation. But as others have said, tools and learning to do your own repairs are good investments.

Cog: As mentioned by others, this is a relatively simple job requiring about $25 worth of tools. Again, the LBS will probably charge less, but it's a good investment.

How about bottom bracket?

:thumb: Well said!

I figure if I have the shop do the cassette then they can help me extend the chain as well because I also don't have the tools for that...
It may be at least a couple of years before I change the cog out again so investing in the 3 tools for the cog and the chain tool seems like too much of a hassle.

i'm assuming you're riding a fixed, b/c you're saying "cog" singularly, and this entire thread has that FG vibe...

That being said, if this is your only bike, and you ride every day, that cog won't last a couple foo years. It's hard to say how long it will last; there are many factors, including the conditions under which you ride, the front:rear gear ratio, you're riding style, how far you ride each day, chainline, how clean you keep your drivetrain components, and more. Buy a chainwhip, or the other FG kids will never extend you any respect. Buy a chain breaker, too. a 15 mm wrench. A full set of allens. A tube of park or other decent grease. The most popular chain lube in your area. A spare chain. Tire levers. A quality floor pump. And, find a friend with a headset press, or make an "FU-2" from stuff you buy at the hardware store.

hth
=rob