Orbit.SF

I would like to know, does it seriously take that much money to tune my bike up?

what do they really do?

can i do this my self?

HillRider

What did they do? Why don't you ask them? That is a very expensive "tune-up" if that's all they did. If they replaced some components and trued the wheels then maybe it was proper. With out a lot more information no one can tell you if you were overcharged.

Can you do it yourself? Probably with a lot of learning.

BikeWise1

The answer depends on many factors.....

One: there is no such thing as a standard tune up. Every shop does different levels of things.

Two: What my shop does for the $90 tune up is probably beyond the scope of what most cyclists are able to do themselves unless they're pretty deep into it.

And tune ups are not something that my newer mechanics are allowed near!

Ours covers these bases...

Complete cleaning: drivetrain, cassette, chainrings, chain, rims dressed and brake pads deglazed.

Wheels trued, tensioned and equilibrated. Hub bearings adjusted if applicable. Tires inspected.

Frame checked for rust, corrosion, or other damage as well as alignment. Headset and BB bearings checked.

All cables removed and cleaned and checked for wear-*especially at the brifter*. Cables reinstalled, or replaced and lubricated.

Every fastener on the bike checked for looseness.

Pretty thorough, really. It is, of course, your choice whether to trade some of your money for our time, so you can keep more of your time. Some people enjoy wrenching, some not. My repair board is absolutely FULL of bikes from people who apparently don't, and feel like it's a good trade.....

rumrunn6

what's YOUR time worth?

don't ask us what someone else does for their service fee. ask them.

BikeWise1

You really expect a shop to "replace numerous components and the wheels" AND do a freakin' tune up for $90?

wrk101

+1 What is your time worth? $90 is not much, given shop overhead, taxes, insurance, etc. A lot of bike shops around here have gone out of business, so apparently, its not a great way to get rich.

Do it yourself? Sure. But do you have the knowledge/time/tools/aptitude/space/access to parts, etc.?

And what bike? And does your bike have any issues? And what is in their scope of a tuneup?

The tune up detailed above is well worth $90 IMHO. Now, I have not paid someone to service a bike for me since 1974. But I enjoy working on bikes, have all of the tools, etc.

+1 Add replacing a few components? No way, price is going up.

catmandew52

That's still cheap when compared to a car!
How much tuning did they have to do?
What does there standard tune up cover?

Tire inflation.
Chain stretch, lube.
Derailer adjustment, shifter function.
Brake inspection.
Wheel runout, spoke tension, hub bearings and pedals.
Skewers/axle bolts correctly tightened.
Cable and housing inspection.
ALL bolts/screws/nuts correctly tensioned.
Thats what my LBS does.
And it takes about an hour.
$90/hr for labor is not out of line.

Ask!

clockwork247

if they're not replacing part you can do it yourself, I watched someone put together my 1st bike and learned alot... adjusting breaks, derailers, oiling things up, truing the wheel... you can do all that at home by watching youtube... bike has no engine, once you see how it works it's just common sense.

in this economy paying someone 90 USD an hours is alot... if you own a 10k bike then it's probably ok, if you're like me and own a 75 dollars bike, then probably not.

RonH

When I left the bike shop in 2009 they were charging $75 for a tune-up. With prices going up on everything, $90 sounds about right.

Can you do it yourself? Sure, if you have all the necessary tools (more than just wrenches and screwdrivers) and the knowledge/skills.

reptilezs

90 dollar tuneup here is 1.5 hrs of labor. we will do anything and everything to make it run a good as possible without putting parts, but does include wiping the frame and wheels.

HillRider

I edited my posting to correct that. For some reason I thought the OP read $900, not $90, so I had to assume a lot of stuff was replaced. Then I saw my error.

FastJake

OP - what do they do? Ask them. I'm sure they'd be happy to tell you.

+1

That's one of the reasons I do it myself. Besides the fact that I think it's fun and I enjoy it, I'm not making anywhere near $90/hr. Maybe if I were I'd think differently.

I know the shops need to make money too, and that's why they need to charge what they do. But like clockwork247 said, it would seem pretty silly to spend $90 on a tuneup for a $75 bike. Plus, most of the bikes I buy are in such terrible shape they need a complete overhaul, not just a simple tuneup.

fietsbob

They hire people pay, wages ,shop rent, taxes, insurance, electricity and heat,
and a burglar alarm cost and bank loan for inventory stocked, .. overhead.

the difference between DIY, just buy the parts and tools,
and hiring a business operating... 'professionals'.

dedhed

Seeing as you're in WI. here's what $90 bucks gets you in Milw. Of course you just missed the sale price.
https://www.facebook.com/note.php?not...12953555413304

BikeWise1

True, and while the idea of paying someone else to do a brake job on my car is anathema, because I have the space, knowledge and tools required to do a complete job, including replacing and bleeding the fluid and even rebuilding calipers if necessary, I totally understand why many people opt to trade their money for another person's time. I further understand that a certain amount of overhead, including liability for consequences of a bad job or part is included in the cost of said time.

I also find it interesting that people think bikes are always easier to work on than cars. Cars live in a bolt-on world. Water pumps and distributor caps, and, well, most everything else on a car bolts right on and, unlike a derailleur, requires no adjustment of their operating parameters in order to function. Imagine a world where the input and output volume of a water pump had to be adjusted for the car every time the part was changed! There would likely be a lot more broken down cars, and fixing them would probably cost a lot more.....

mechBgon

Tangentially, I advise not walking into a shop and asking to have your bike "tuned up," because the grom you're talking to may just go "OK" and sign you up for a full tune-up, when all you really need is one wheel trued and a rear shifting adjustment.

Your best bet is to ask them (preferably one of the actual mechanics) if they have a couple minutes to look your bike over for issues, and tell them what issues are on your mind ("it makes a weird clunk when I pedal" or whatever). If there's enough stuff that needs work, a tune-up may be cheaper than doing it piecemeal.

Mechanics I've known are generally on your side; they don't want to throw your money away just going through the motions when it's not necessary.

Oh, and "can i do this myself?" What HillRider said: generally yes, with some learning and tools. Park Tool has helpful how-to info: https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help If you want someplace to start, look at derailleur position/alignment & adjustment, and adjustment of cable-operated brakes.

JonathanGennick 

That's a lot. That $50 sale price that just ended was an excellent deal.

dedhed

Except for the fact I wasn't paying attention and that is some shop in Ontario, Canada!!! not our Ben's
https://www.benscycle.net/

Orbit.SF

Thanks for all the info guys!

Wasnt expecting anyone to say anything.

deacon mark

i don't make $90 an hour but I can see the price as ok. Frankly if you are a serious cyclist I think you should do your own tuning. I repair guitars for a living and play them too so I have all the tools. For about $200 I bought some bike specific tools and can do most things. In the end I figure I save money and I don't rely on someone else and taking the bike in the shop. I also learn to build my own wheels and I must admit for me all this is fun. Doing your own work at least you know what has do on and what to expect.

waynesworld

While this is true, automobiles often require quite a bit of disassembly to get to the part you are trying to replace. And even then, you likely will have issues regarding space and such. It's not that easy to get at a water pump, clutch, whatever. Put a bike on a repair stand, and the derailleur (brakes, whatever) is right there.

Having said that, your price probably is reasonable for the services you mention. Not all shops provide that with a 'tune up'. Unfortunately, that term is very subjective.

orionz06

Don't forget that at $90 per tune up most shops will tell you they have a backlog of work. Seems like the market will bear it just fine.

fietsbob

Repair backlog comes with the better weather ,
They do have a help them, promptly enough, ethos,
for the Thru Cycling Touring folks around here.

How's it, repair backlog, out there, when there's snow on the ground?

orionz06

I imagine that would depend on the region and the types of riders. Might be time to sell trainers and if that is the case people are still putting some hard "miles" on their bikes.

Homebrew01

A shop near me has 3 levels of "tune-up" ..... basically the "regular" , "super" and "super-duper" ....... so find out what you're getting for $90 .... might be a rip-off, or might be a great deal - which will also depend on the condition of your bike.