🛠️ Why That Job Costs What It Does (And Why We’re Not Getting Rich Off It)
Let’s talk money. Not because we love it — we’d all rather be riding — but because every now and then someone’s surprised when a job ends up costing a bit more than they expected. So here’s a peek behind the curtain.
💵 Our Workshop Rate: $140/hr
We charge $140 per hour for labour. That’s not beer money — but it’s also not outrageous.
That hourly rate covers:
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Our time and experience
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All the tools (and some pretty fancy ones)
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Diagnostic gear, lifts, dyno costs
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Workshop rent, insurance, electricity (ever run a dyno on 3-phase?)
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And occasionally… fixing something we didn’t break
We’re not here to gouge anyone. We just need to keep the doors open, keep the dyno spinning, and keep fresh coffee in the machine. Your bike’s happiness depends on it.
🔍 Diagnosis Isn’t Just Plug-and-Play
Got a weird misfire, intermittent cutout, or that “just doesn’t feel right” thing going on?
Modern bikes might have computers, but we can’t just plug in a laptop and let it tell us what’s wrong. This isn’t a Netflix tech doc — it’s detective work. And sometimes, it’s messy.
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Fault codes? Sometimes vague, sometimes a red herring
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Electrical gremlins? Welcome to a game of hide-and-seek with your multimeter
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Intermittent problems? We may need to replicate it — on the road, dyno, or lift
We don’t charge for guessing. We charge for knowing where to look, testing it properly, and not throwing random parts at it.
🧰 Repairs Take Time (Especially the Right Ones)
There’s always the “can you just have a quick look?” question. And sure, we’ll try — but sometimes a quick look turns into pulling half the bike apart just to get to the problem.
Whether it’s a seized fastener in an awkward spot, a stripped sump plug thread, or trying to match a wiring loom someone’s already “had a go at” — we take our time because it has to be done properly.
We’re not trying to upsell. We just know what happens when you rush a job or ignore the signs of something bigger.
📦 “Can I Supply My Own Parts?”
Short answer: Yes — but with a few caveats.
We’re always happy to fit quality parts that customers bring in, but here’s the full picture:
✅ Pros:
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You might get a killer deal online
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You know exactly what you bought
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It saves us time looking for the right bits
⚠️ Cons:
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Sometimes it’s the wrong part (not all eBay listings are honest… shocking, right?)
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Cheap knock-offs can waste our time and your money
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Missing bolts, no install instructions, or “this doesn’t quite line up”
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If it goes wrong, it’s on you — not the supplier, and not us
Fitting a part with zero documentation and hoping it works is like assembling IKEA furniture with a spanner and a prayer. We can do it — but it takes longer.
🔧 “Why Do Parts Cost More If You Supply Them?”
When we supply a part, it’s:
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Guaranteed to be correct
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Backed by a warranty
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Backed by our time and fitting guarantee
Plus, we often get trade pricing — which means if we’re doing the install, we can pass on some of that saving by discounting the labour. Yep, that’s right. Sometimes it costs less overall when we supply and fit. Win-win.
🏍️ We Love Bikes. But This Is Still a Business.
We’re not here to sell you stuff you don’t need. We genuinely want your bike to run better, ride safer, and go harder. That’s why we’re in this.
But we also need to pay the bills. Every hour spent wrestling with an ill-fitting Amazon part is an hour we could have spent tuning someone’s dream bike.
TL;DR:
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We charge $140/hr — not because we’re rolling in it, but because that’s what it takes to keep a good shop running.
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Diagnosing problems properly takes time, tools, and know-how.
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Bring your own parts if you like, just know the risks.
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Let us supply them and we can often save you time, risk, and maybe even some cash.
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We want the same thing you do: a bike that runs right, rides better, and gets you grinning under your helmet.
Need a quote, got a gremlin, or just unsure what’s worth fixing?
📧 Email us at admin@mdg.bike
🛠️ Or drop by for a yarn and a look.