Modern Vespa

The below is a quote from someone I know received for a 10k service on their 2022 Sprint 150. I have my opinion of this but will hold it for now until maybe others weigh in.

"$895 that includes oil, filter, drain and replace transmission fluid, coolant flush, inspect/adjust valves, bleed brakes, replace brake fluid, new spark plug, new air filter. update mapping for ecu. We may have to replace the belt and rollers, but we would need to inspect them in order to determine if that's the case, that would be an additional cost.

Replacing the front tire including labor would be $375

Replacing the rear tire including labor would be $475. We would also have to replace the bushing in the exhaust collar as well, that is $95. if the clamp has to be replaced that is $45."

And add $195 for it to be delivered back to me in <state> when finished.

I love the audacity of this statement

For context, I think I've replaced my tire myself, my first time ever doing it, in like an hour altogether, including mounting and balancing, while watching football at the same time.

Even if a shop for some reason took just as long and charged $120/hr... what front tire are you getting for the other $255???

They're going to flush and replace the air?

Sounds like a place to avoid at all costs!

They don't want the job.

Let's compare:

When I change the front tire I spend maybe five minutes removing the wheel. I take it to a shop, along with the new front tire that I bought from Revzilla for $70. The chop charges $25 to remove the old tire from the rim and install the new tire. I drive home and spend another five minutes to put the wheel back on. Total cost $95.

Rear tire about the same but it takes around twenty minutes to get the wheel off and back on. The tire is a little more expensive as it is larger. But still only $105. total.

Yes, I could save $25 per wheel if I removed the tire and mounted the new one, but I have tried that and gladly spend the money.

Oil changes only cost around $25 for oil and filter. They take twenty minutes.

My only experience with service at a Vespa shop was miserable. They overtightened the drain plug, ultimately stripping the threads in the crankcase. Never again.

Bill

Agreed.

With nitrogen I hope!

Aside from the that, the belt and rollers being optional suggests they don't know what they're doing.

This kind of sounds like a motorcycle shop quoting a service estimate on a Vespa that they've never seen before.

It is a Vespa dealer in a major east coast USA city.

I bet they have a really good coffee machine.

It would probably be helpful, and more to the point here, if other owners would quote what their shop charges for the same services.

O.S.

The hourly rate at motorcycle shops has gone up a lot over the last few years, and this might be ballpark for the service now. Adjusting the valves and draining the brake fluid and bleeding the brake stand out as particularly time consuming. Some of the services are not services the Sprint requires. A decent tech should be able to get through this in about three hours.
If they're getting this, and have a line around the block of people waiting for service appointments, then it's what the market will bear.
It really does sound like they are trying to discourage the customer.
Is that the place the customer bought the bike?

It is the place that she bought the scooter from!

True rates have gone up but $895 is quite a lot. My breakdown of the service is about 3 hrs at $125-150 is $375 to 450 for labor. That leaves $520-445 for parts. From the description, this would be:
oil
filter
air filter
spark plug
brake fluid
gear oil

I don't think this adds up to $445-520. Of course, a coolant change is mentioned for an air cooled scooter so maybe there is some magical fluid someplace in the scooter.

Then there is the cost for the tires!

I am also curious about the bushing in the exhaust collar and clamp. That sounds like something on a GTS 250 or 300 as when I took the exhaust off of my Sprint it was 2 header bolts, no bushing to replace or clamp.

They either don't want the work which is surprising as they don't make much on the sale and go for service. But this pricing is ridiculous and certainly gives Vespa's a reputation of being expensive to service.

Hope it is an espresso machine!

You could buy a really nice espresso machine with just one service like that!

One of the MV moderators (I'm not saying which one!) has a really nice Breville Nespresso machine that costs about that much in US Pesos.

How much does that cost to get serviced?

I'll let you know after I break it.

on tires i've always charged 1/2 hour on the front and an hour on the rear. so for a front tire you'd be looking at $40 plus a valve stem and the cost of the tire. obviously if something else is needed and more work involved, the price is going to reflect that, but adding a exhaust gasket or knocking in a swing arm bearing isn't going to up the ante by $200

a full service would probably be around 280 labor, plus parts.

I've certainly written tickets in the $800 range for a comprehensive service with tires, but that also included things like brake pads and rotors, or removal of broken off fasteners.

when you're at $300 for tires and $350 for a service anything else at $120 an hour it adds up fast.

to me, those prices are way out of line. but if the market bears it, then that's the rate and they'll charge it.

Heh. Our Delonghi Magnifica was given to us as a non-worker three years ago. $15 of parts and it's given great service ever since.

You'll be fine.