Quote from: pt33 on May 20, 2008, 08:23:01 PM
The SSSA and the suspension swap seems pretty custom to me, not bolt on by any means....

Custom exhaust, takes time and skill to do it right.

Just sayin'

I hate to play Monday morning QB here, but the stuff i mention above; I would not take my bike to get that done by a guy who charges $55/hr and has to clear his billing with his g/f.

The fact that he charges $55/hr, says to me that there is a big possibility that it actually took the guy 40-50+ hrs to get that done. 

You get what you pay for 

I wish hope that this turns out for the better 

g' luck 

A couple pieces to note here, some relating to this post and others to other posts:

The closest Duc dearlership is 3 hours away, just so everyone knows.

This mechanic HAD good references in the community.

As of this spring, the opinion of him has changed for many people besides me.

He wasnt running his girlfriend in the operation for me until the shit starting hitting the fan, so how am I supposed to know that.

The shop is actually very large (and not a garage on a house, haha), just very dirty, and as a hard, honest worker who has an unclean workplace I have never faulted anyone for that

Putting on a SSS to a 695 is the equivalent to putting on a SSS to an 800 and then swapping the front sprocket.  It was documented on the old board by both me and Mr. Wayne, his with pics and he did his in his old garage and spoke to its relative ease. It isnt rocket science and if I had known it would turn into this ordeal I would have convinced a friend to mess around in his garage and try it with me.

The only reason the exhaust is "custom" is because he convinced me NOT to return the one I had and get the bolt up for the 800, saying multiple times he could do it as cheap or cheaper and give me the same product.  You can't charge someone more after you assure them that.  Thats not "custom".  Thats called "practice".




The bike still isnt complete and he has an electrical unit (yellow end with red on it) that he hasnt found a mate for and has no idea what it goes to.  God help me

You need to get your bike out of there. He *will* keep it until you pay him.

"The bike still isnt complete and he has an electrical unit (yellow end with red on it) that he hasnt found a mate for and has no idea what it goes to.  God help me"

I'm sorry, but that is hilarious!

I have been getting very upset reading this thread and its not even my bike. But your comment at the end of your las tpost with the "god help me", made me laugh my fricken ass off

Honestly it sounds to me he's been putting your bike on the back burner and that his GF is trying to charge you for time on the bike that never happened. 

I'd have to say at this point, you should cut your losses and get the bike out of there. It doesn't sound like they're going to get it done for you.

They should have provided you with some sort of overall estimate, and verbal is binding.  After they went through the two deposits you made, they should have then given you another estimate and would need to have recieved authorization, either written or verbal, for them to continue to proceed, if they didn't have this, they're eating it.  In some states, such as UT, they allow for an additional 10% to cover for shop supplies (although this really should be built in to their hourly labor rate).  Ask them to substantiate all the time for that labor costs.

Quote from: bigtime on May 20, 2008, 05:49:59 PM
I still don't know what you meant by "GSXR swap out" for the suspension, but don't under estimate how dangerous a bike can be when the wrong supsension pieces are forced into places they don't belong.  The fact that the bike is tall on the side stand and leaning is a symptom that the rear could be too high. 

The GSXR swap just indicates swapping the monster forks for the GSXR ones, they are the same size, just require shimming of the axle, and spacers for brake rotors. It's a very common swap amoung monster owners with no ill effects other than some complaining about a overly stiff and perhaps harsh ride.

Justin

make the beast with two backs. I'm going out and buying some tools.
Best of luck dude. Get an itemized invoice that you can take to other shops and ask them if they think the time spent on certain things is reasonable. If he can't provide you with an itemized invoice, tell him you can't provide him with money.

Quote from: A.duc.H.duc. on May 21, 2008, 05:49:01 AM
The GSXR swap just indicates swapping the monster forks for the GSXR ones, they are the same size, just require shimming of the axle, and spacers for brake rotors. It's a very common swap amoung monster owners with no ill effects other than some complaining about a overly stiff and perhaps harsh ride.

Justin

Yes, and I changed my oil weight and am running with a spring that should match my weight well.

It sounds like the fate of your bike rests in the hands of your mechanic's girlfriend's hands (as does the fate of your mechanic's b@lls).  I think you need to pull the ol' prisoner's dilemma on the guy, and get her as far away from the decision-making process as possible.

First, I think that your mechanic knows that he'd be screwing you by charging that amount - otherwise he would not put the blame on her.  The reason he's trying to do it, is because if you're pissed, he'll never see you again - if she's pissed, no sugar tonight in his coffee.
So, try to get some one-on-one time with the guy and   c a l m l y   review where you stand.  Take a very much "hey, I am not trying to screw you here, man. I just want my bike" attitude - even if you feel like caving his head in with pieces of your unassembled bike.
If he says "but my girlfriend...", say "I understand, but with all due respect to her, I made this deal with you, and not your girlfriend".  In situations like this "I understand" are the most powerful two words in the English language.  And ask him in your most believable, hat-in-hand, sincere, man-to-man way to honor his agreement.  In other words give him a reason to disagree with his ballbuster of a girlfriend - hopefully, he's moral, just whipped.
Give it a shot.  It's free, and unlike lawyering up first, there is no penalty if you are not successful - you can always get one if this doesn't work.  Good luck...

You'll need to confirm the legality, but recording all future conversations would be a good idea.

You can document everything with no worries. In most states, only 1 person has to know a conversation is being recorded (hence police wire taps with informants), if you want to record phone calls.

Quote from: someguy on May 20, 2008, 08:59:48 PM
You need to get your bike out of there. He *will* keep it until you pay him.

+1, I wouldn't let the bike sit in this guys hands another day. Go get your bike and have a professional finish the work!

Do you really think he is just going to let me stroll off with my bike without paying that astronomical bill first?

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe that he can legally keep it.

Your property, go reclaim it. Dispute his bill. If he has no work license, you owe him squat.

ATO-  what is a work license?  How do you know if a business has one?  And what specific steps would you suggest in taking my bike back?

BTW, my current course of action is getting an estimate on the "6-8 hour" part of the work by a professional custom ducati builder who is well known for his award winning work, and believes that I am a victim of price gouging