How Much?
The average hourly shop rates tend to float around $90 per hour. However, depending on the shop this rate can be more or less.
Ever heard the term "flat rate" and wondered exactly what it meant? Instead of paying by the hour for various services, the dealer uses a predetermined industry standard to charge you ahead of time. For example, if they already know that replacing your battery takes an hour, they're safe to charge you for the hour and know that they'll it get done. What this also means is that whether the job takes 30 minutes or two hours you'll be charged for the hour you paid up front.
In general, most dealers use the Honda service standards to set their flat rates. These various flat rates are based on an average amount of time it takes a Honda mechanic to remove and install a part on a new bike. The mechanic does the process 10 times to get the average that will then set the flat rate for the given process.
Trouble Shooting
As a rule of thumb this is the most time-consuming process because finding the problem is oftentimes harder than actually fixing it. Be prepared to pay a bit more when having a dealer find your problem. This is where being honest about any work you've performed will help them narrow it down.
WTF!?Of all the bizarre wrenching scenarios these two take the cake. Mach 1's Greg Bunting recalled a couple unbelievable occasions:
True Ratbike"When a customer complained that his VFR would crank but not run he brought it in for service. When everything checked out, a closer inspection of the intake tubes revealed tons of dog food stuffed inside. When the airbox was removed a family of rats came busting out and went running all over the shop! Inside the airbox were 4 rats, tons of cotton, heaps of dog food and the makings of one cozy nest."
True Widowmaker"I was working on an old ATC that had been sitting for years. Not paying particular attention I ripped off the seat and tank only to disturb several sleeping Black Widow's nests. Instantly the entire bike and work stand were covered with deadly black widows that were pissed off and ready to bite! So be careful the next time you break into your old clunker."