profit makers

[grog]

priced new front tyre yesterday. i know wholesale to them is $150. ducati shop 270, suzukii shop 255. new tyre shop 185. a day needed in first two, 15 minutes the tyre shop. just shows what can be done at a reasonable profit margin. always check your options. 

[VladTepes]

Indeed. Was that a shop up your way mate or in Brissie?

[Andre]

Learned years ago that the margin should be 10% to give a reasonable profit for a good run business. The new tire shop gets 23%, which doesn't include all the other costs, but figure they are over the 10%. The other shops with 70-80% are either badly run or, most likely, gauge their customers.

I bet the new tire shop handles the tire change for much less $ than the others. Here the dealer repair shops charge 100€ an hour and then double the time it took them to do the work. To top it off, the work is often done sloppy.

[Tony Nitrous]

Not all bike shops or tyre fitters buy in at the same price.
Some get a better deal from the manufacturers or importers than others.

Some places charge more because they can, they either have a strong customer base or a great reputation, others only offer the service as part of a package along with bike sales and servicing. They don't need to live off the sales.

I have two local tyre guys I use.
Neither is a cheap as the big Team / Pro chain stores but they are reliable, educated and trustworthy. Things I have found lacking elsewhere.

[KiwiCol]

Good point there Tony, "Reliable, Educated & Trustworthy"  You need these things when someone is working on your bike.

[grog]

these blokes just a local tyre shop, they repair wheels also. no shop back ups or dealer help. they dont service bikes or repair. top of range tyre tools, just know the job and doing it. they dont have any huge buying power, just provide a great price/service. apex at warana. trust them, i do.

[Teufel]

I bought a cheap manual changer a few years ago. I had to weld on poly grips and get a better bar, but for the time I save well worth it.
But I do a lot of track days and just did my first race yesterday so it's been a great investment.
I would say I use it a couple of times a month.
Maybe worth thinking about, especially if you have friends nearby.

[Kiwifruit]

Teufel.....so how did you go on at the races ?

[Teufel]

Thanks for asking.
It's a wake up call.
I have done at least 65 track days, so it is hard to bring out the aggression needed after being told "it's not a race and it's not a practice" every riders briefing.
This time it IS a practice and that is followed by 4 RACES.
I need to work on starts and not back off when you all jam up in turn one. Just pick a line and screw everybody.
I finished the day pretty much where I qualified 15th out of 34. That'll do for now.
I really have to forget that I'm 61. I have been riding in the fast group at track days for a couple of years now, so it's time to man up.
It's a program to give people like me a shot at racing without all the usual rigmarole.
It's called "race your mates" at Queensland Raceway and "Club Racer" at Morgan Park, Warwick.
I'll definitely do it again and then decide if I want to spend the endless fortunes it costs to actually race in a championship.
Now that would be cool. But I'd need a quicker bike. A much quicker bike.

[Sweaty]

Good onya Teufel & nice result 
I'm sure there were a lot of young hero's on much quicker sports bikes as well.

[Tony Nitrous]

My B-King normally gets new tyres at both ends, matched pairs fitted by a tyre shop.

If the rears still have useable tread I hang onto them.
My 14 and Busa get them. I normally fit them myself.
Old Skool, a few car tyre levers and some cut garden hose on the rim.

[Kiwifruit]

Sounds like a good effort Teufel.
Well done.
Enjoyed my TWO track days, but a bit like my school reports....... must try harder !

[Teufel]

Thanks, Sweaty and Kiwifruit.
I think I should be clear. I would never get to the pointy end of the fast group on a 1400.
I run at the front of group 2 on the 1400.
For the race and quicker track days I have a GSXR 1000. I have done quite a bit of work.
It does 190 on the dyno. It has Ohlins, Brembo etc.
In the next couple of months it will become a 1200 as I am building a spare motor with 6mm longer crank throw and 76mm pistons
I think it comes out to 1180cc. I am hoping for 215ish and a big whack more torque. It's a 2006 model.