[SKELTIS]

To get the bike road ready, I'm having work done so I don't ruin anything for summer -
Can someone give me a accurate and fair quote for a carb cleaning?

I was quoted the following (for work on a '75 CB 500T)

-Carb cleaning and jetting: $225
-oil change: $60
-exchanging of bars (cleanly hiding cables within): $65/hr = $195

TOTAL: $480.00

Any info would be helpful...

Thanks.




VINCENT SKELTIS STUDIO, LLC
649 MORGAN AVENUE, SUITE 3-F
BROOKLYN, NY 11222

 

[monkey]

dude

for that kind of money you can buy some awesome clip ons and brand new carbs( mikuni's or somethng).... do the work yourself and buy another bike.

i hate giving people money.

matt

 

[SKELTIS]

Yeah, I get it dude - but if you read the entire post, this isn't about being a cool grease monkey for me, it's about riding ALL SUMMER LONG, and, until winter when I won't be riding in NY snow, I'd rather not screw up anything on the bike and be unable to ride it the next 8 weeks.

So, again, is it a fair quote for the work?

VINCENT SKELTIS STUDIO, LLC
649 MORGAN AVENUE, SUITE 3-F
BROOKLYN, NY 11222

 

[jbranson]

As shop quotes go it doesn't seem out of line to me. But...it's hard to imagine dropping $480 on a bike that's probably worth about $480...nothing against your bike at all....mid 70's small Japanese bikes just aren't valued real high.

But yeah...removing, cleaning, installing carbs...that can take a while. Exchanging bars can be time consuming...which is what shops have to take into consideration. The oil change seems a little steep though.

Hell...just finding a shop that will work on a bike that age is a chore these days. I'd drop $480 to have that work done on my truck any day....so if you are that fond of the bike, the price doesn't seem out of the ball park to me.
JohnnyB

 

[ttilghman]

yeah matt, shut up, i effin' hate cool grease monkies.

but skeltis, clean carbs and bars won't mean the bike runs great all summer. and if you want to ride an old honda, which just about everyone on this forum does, it's good to get a few tools and get to know the bikes. they seem to run forever, but can always use some adjustment here and there and the carbs aren't rocket science, just a bowl of gas and some tiny holes. now if you're just gonna be a cool poseur monkey and ride over to the Ear or Moto and never get out of the boroughs, then you'll be good with a single oil change and clean carbs.. if that's really all that's causing problems right now. but if you want to get the bike up into the catskills or just over river and into the woods, then you may want to learn how to loosen the bolt at the bottom of the motor. there's a top mechanic friend of mine up in manhattan (he's on this forum as alskee750) who'd help you get your bike in top shape in exchange for a vat of JBWeld..the quick-dry mix. he's great a loosening bolts.

either way, best-
tt

 

[SKELTIS]

The cost did seem steep, but regardless of the bikes worth, (800 original miles and not a spec of age on her) I want to keep her in tip top shape and not F anything up before I get the chance to ride it to winter and back.

Eventually (this winter) I'll (as tt said) "turn some bolts," and get a little dirty making some cosmetic changes to the seat pan, fenders and exhaust - until then, why run the risk of messing something up before some fun is had. (and yes, with a bike in such great condition, I'm only using used part from other bikes to make cosmetic changes, and storing the original mint parts I remove from the bike.)

Either way, JohnnyB, thanks for the heads up and tt, could you send me your Manhattan monkies email address or contact info -


VINCENT SKELTIS STUDIO, LLC
649 MORGAN AVENUE, SUITE 3-F
BROOKLYN, NY 11222

 

[texmawby]

vincent,

i believe tt was being very sarcastic about alskee being a top wrench.

either that or he has been drinking the miracle-gro again!

tex

p.s.- dom, you know i loves you baby!

"dude, my boots feel like they are filled with rain slushies!"

 

[SKELTIS]

Tex,

No matter - a slow process of knowing the bikes ins and outs will take some time, wrench monkeys help or not...

Thanks again.
Vincent

 

[alskee750]

Skeltis,

Yes, like Tex said tt was being scarcastic! If you bring your bike to me I can strip every bolt you have on it w/o a problem. Ask these guys I'm "Amazing" at that shit. I've recently discovered what a good set of screw extractors can do when you run into a stripped bolt.

Seriously, I'm not no mechanical doctor but I'm learning slowly and as you'll see you have to start learning how to turn a wrench when dealing with these bikes. But the process is worth it if you keep on trying and not give up. One more thing Skeltis, there is "NO" stupid question. If you dont know ask, I've learned the hard way!

Ride bro, that's what it's all about. By the way tt is great in a garden but sucks at the track! Biatch!

Tex you racing on the 12th?

Alex



"Will alskee750 race on June 12th? It looks like it's going to happen, yes I think it's going to happen." Think of the old school batman when your read this.

live and learn

Edited by - alskee750 on Jun 04 2006 1:47:10 PM

Edited by - alskee750 on Jun 04 2006 9:07:16 PM

 

[SKELTIS]

Tex, Alex, tt,

Where's the race on the 12th?

-Vincent

 

[jbranson]

Vincent,
The race is up a NHIS at Loudon NH, north of Concord 15 minutes. You want to see some old Honda twins getting thrashed this is the place to go, lots of fun. And you'd get to see what these bikes can do when pushed to the limit.
JohnnyB

 

[texmawby]

dudes, gonna have to pass! things in my life got pretty heavy lately!

will be at the track later this summer.

september summit is gonna be UGLY!

consider yourselves WARNED!

-kinda loud tex

"dude, my boots feel like they are filled with rain slushies!"

 

[SKELTIS]

Thanks Johnny, I'd love to make it to one or two this summer. Please keep me posted and I'll as well check back in the race forum for other dates- working 11 -17 of this week.

Vincent

 

[jbranson]

Vincent,
The NH race schedule can be found here:
http://www.race-uscra.com

It's the web site for one of the clubs that a lot of guys here race with. Stop up any time, you'll love it.
JohnnyB

 

[SKELTIS]

Thanks for the info Johnny! I'll def make it out there.

Look for the poseur on the mint 500T!

Thanks again.

Vincent

 

[jbranson]

Vincent,
When you make it to the track stop by my pit. I'll be in the infield, along the road that runs parallel to the main straight. Bright blue fifth wheel trailer on a dark blue GMC, blue canopy.
Hope to see you sometime this year....once you see the racing you'll be hooked.
JohnnyB

 

[SKELTIS]

Already hooked on something, not sure what it is...I just can't keep myself away from the bike.

I'll see you this summer for sure. Do me a favor if possible, and just drop me an email a day or two before your racing - I'm out of town often and work freelance, it's not always at the forefront of my mind to check this stuff, but I'd certainly wish it could be - I just don't want to miss a date on a day when I have off.

Checking the dates now, but drop a line if you remember.

I'll see you there.
Thanks again,
Vincent

 

[ttilghman]

Vincent-

sorry for the somewhat hard welcome to the forum. matt was just givin' sound advice and i was lookin' for a chance to slap on alex. i try to pose at the Ear from time to time but just lack the McQueen swagger or the hot bike.

so did you make it up to the track this past weekend?

best. tt

quote:
Thanks for the info Johnny! I'll def make it out there.

Look for the poseur on the mint 500T!

Thanks again.

Vincent

 

[texmawby]

got nothing....

tex

p.s. - i'm on all sixes!

"dude, my boots feel like they are filled with rain slushies!"

 

[texmawby]

i mean sevens!

texy

"dude, my boots feel like they are filled with rain slushies!"