Something to think about for potential Ducatistas

I happened to be at our local Ducati dealer recently and noticed that while the average service shop labor rate in our area is around $130 an hour, the Ducati shop’s rate was $325!  If I was in the market for one, I’d be sure to order a service manual at the same time I ordered the bike.

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7/18/2025 4:57pm

That's the ticket. I never in 54year took a bike to a shop. I have had cylinders bored and cranks pressed though.

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Dave v3.0
Posts
686
Joined
7/15/2022
Location
Ozark, AL US
7/18/2025 6:21pm

Dealers have service departments that work on dirt bikes?😂

That's what the garage at home is for...

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7/18/2025 6:24pm

When you go in for service and ask for a estimate and they say, "if you have to ask then you cant afford it"  🤣

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7/18/2025 6:24pm Edited Date/Time 7/18/2025 6:24pm

The reason why manuals are super in depth. The owner racer does the work.

The Shop

jmo443
Posts
1840
Joined
4/5/2019
Location
NY US
7/18/2025 6:32pm

It’s crazy most shops can’t even put a bike together out of a crate let alone do any real work. 

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7/18/2025 6:48pm

The shop I work at right now charges $200/hr for labor and we work on all different bikes (of course those of us doing the actual labor see very little of that).  That is up significantly from a year ago, and I am surprised people are paying that.  

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7/18/2025 6:53pm
The shop I work at right now charges $200/hr for labor and we work on all different bikes (of course those of us doing the actual...

The shop I work at right now charges $200/hr for labor and we work on all different bikes (of course those of us doing the actual labor see very little of that).  That is up significantly from a year ago, and I am surprised people are paying that.  

Whats your rate now if you willing to divulge that?

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mxnick
Posts
1009
Joined
12/4/2007
Location
Nor Cal, CA US
7/18/2025 7:29pm
I happened to be at our local Ducati dealer recently and noticed that while the average service shop labor rate in our area is around $130...

I happened to be at our local Ducati dealer recently and noticed that while the average service shop labor rate in our area is around $130 an hour, the Ducati shop’s rate was $325!  If I was in the market for one, I’d be sure to order a service manual at the same time I ordered the bike.

What dealer is that? 

rf928
Posts
67
Joined
1/17/2020
Location
CA
7/18/2025 7:53pm

I was shocked the base owners manual for my CRF450L dual sport included a section for taking the cylinder off. No need to go to a shop. 

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7/18/2025 8:19pm
The shop I work at right now charges $200/hr for labor and we work on all different bikes (of course those of us doing the actual...

The shop I work at right now charges $200/hr for labor and we work on all different bikes (of course those of us doing the actual labor see very little of that).  That is up significantly from a year ago, and I am surprised people are paying that.  

Whats your rate now if you willing to divulge that?

A year ago the shop rate was $110/hr, but they also used to have specific fees for certain jobs like tire changes and oil changes, now everything is based on the $200/hr rate, no matter what you have done.  

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