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How much works you expect to pay for:

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[#13535257]

Stripping mechanical brifters and brakes/cables/bar tape

Fit new brifters

Fit new hose to said SRAM brifters

Internal hose and cables

Cable kit

Fill.and bleed x2

Piston replacement and diaphragm replacement in hrd brifter

Fill and bleed re bleed after piston replacement


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 8:04 am
 Bazz
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To be honest, it sounds borderline cheaper to replace than repair. That's got to be a couple of hundred quid.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 8:34 am
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Bike shop quote I had for repairing after accident - not quite the same but included replacing fork/headset/bars/one brake removal and reinstall/bleed - labour was only £60 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 8:42 am
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I can see that being £150 on labour alone


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 9:04 am
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I would think that that's half a days work at least so 4hrs at £30 per hr is £120 plus parts. 

Possibly more if I have under estimated the time.

It would take me longer.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 9:06 am
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It all depends on whether it is headset or handlebar cable routing for one. Most of that sounds like faff that a DIYer, like most on here, would do to save a few quid. If it is a shop, surely it is cheaper and better to just replace the whole lot? Whip it all out and fit a new brifter/brakeset. If cable routing isn't an issue, it sounds like 2–3 hours of work if you replace everything with new, so: hourly rate x3 + parts cost.

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 9:21 am
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I think FuzzyWuzzy is in the ballpark, I'd also be expecting 1/2 a days labour for someone efficient but would also accept that being a full day's labour. 

Plus parts. obviously. 

I assume someone is outraged you're charging more than 20 quid and a packet of biscuits as 'It's only a bicycle'


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 9:23 am
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A packet of biscuits?


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 9:47 am
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Fit new brifter, then fix the same brifter? Customer or shop supplied? If the latter I’d expect all that part to be warranty. Still not completely understanding though


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 10:07 am
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what the heck is a brifter?!


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 10:43 am
northernsoul reacted
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All parts Inc broken ones provided by the customer who baulked at the 90 quid charged 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 10:48 am
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If fitting new levers, why then this:

Piston replacement and diaphragm replacement in hrd brifter

Sounds like a right faff though. How long do you think it would take you to do? I fitted new levers a while back and it took me the best part of an hour just to wrap the tape.

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 10:49 am
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Posted by: bikerevivesheffield

All parts Inc broken ones provided by the customer who baulked at the 90 quid charged 

Not the answer I was expecting lol

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 10:50 am
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All parts Inc broken ones provided by the customer who baulked at the 90 quid charged 

£90 seems fair enough for all that faff for a shop to charge. 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 11:01 am
AD and hightensionline reacted
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I'd say £90 was very reasonable for all that faff.

Would have thought like others around £150.

 

Posted by: v7fmp

what the heck is a brifter?!

Drop bar combined BRake & shIFTER

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 11:04 am
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Posted by: bikerevivesheffield

All parts Inc broken ones provided by the customer who baulked at the 90 quid charged 

I'd expect to be able to do that in about 3 hours as a competent home mechanic after doing it once before (minus the piston replacement) so that seems cost seems very reasonable for a professional with overheads.  What did they think was a reasonable hourly rate?

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 12:39 pm
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90 for all that! You're too cheap. 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 12:51 pm
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I was thinking at least £100 labour.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 12:58 pm
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Posted by: v7fmp

what the heck is a brifter?!

One of the most annoyingly contrived portmanteau words in cycle speak. 

It's up there with referring to wheels as "hoops". 

Got some new hoops and brifters for my whip, what do you reckon.?

🤬

To answer the original question, 2-3hrs labour so what, £120ish? Maybe a bit less if parts bought from the shop in question.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:02 pm
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If the customer thinks that’s expensive for that amount of work hope he doesn’t need a dentist. 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:22 pm
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I think that is far too cheap, especially if there’s no profit from parts. When I was working I would not fit parts provided/sourced elsewhere. If you, as the mechanic, are providing them then you know the source, they will (usually) be a correct fit, any warranty issues can be dealt with (including recalls) and also there will be profit - that can keep the labour cost down.

I think the labour cost of what you have described should be at least £140, - 3 1/2 hours


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:35 pm
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sounds like your customer needs mechanical brakes. 

 

But also - was he not quoted prior. 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:38 pm
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Brifter?

Brake/shifter combo? Please tell me it's true. It's taken me all morning to figure out.

 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:50 pm
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If I was a shop... I wouldn't touch that work... those SRAM hydro levers... an excellent way to waste a lot of time swearing.

£90 seems dirt cheap.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 1:53 pm
 mert
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Christ, i'd have probably charged 100 quid at mates rates and i'm not even an official shop/service location or anything.

Would have been £150 plus here at anywhere decent.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 2:52 pm
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Posted by: kelvin

If I was a shop... I wouldn't touch that work... those SRAM hydro levers... an excellent way to waste a lot of time swearing.

I would definitely be like that. I'd only touch it if I'd done it before, agreed a cost with the customer before doing the work and offered a 'new xyz can be supplied and fitted for £x and would be the better option' opinion.  


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 3:14 pm
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£150 was my guess before I was your answer. Just fitting a brifter is some work, particularly if you need to retape the bar as well. £90 is a bargain.


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 3:51 pm
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Posted by: dirkpitt74

Drop bar combined BRake & shIFTER

What's a 'Drop bar'? 😝 

I'm off to put some tyres on my 32" hoops. 🤣 


 
Posted : 23/04/2026 7:41 pm