Project Management
Handling a project all on your own, you’ll likely need to send out all the various parts and pieces to individual shops and independent specialists. Then, you have to manage where each individual piece of the project is. It’s a real “catch 22″. If you send sections of the project out one at a time instead of all at once, the project takes years. If you send things out all at once, you then have to manage each resource simultaneously. That in itself can be more work than you really want to manage, and can be exceptionally frustrating. The primary reason is, many shops have poor communication skills. They seldom call you to tell you where things are at, so you are always chasing them down to find out what is going on. They are most often behind schedule, largely because they make promises they can’t keep. On top of it all, some simply do a poor job. This forces you to get the work done yet again, causing delays and sometimes increasing overall project costs. The worst part is that many have a habit of billing you more than you expected. These are not worse case scenarios… they’re the most common of experiences.
THE IMPORTANCE OF SERVICE
Restoration Werks has one of the more unique and valuable services in the industry… it’s the way we do business with people.
Before I did this as a job, I had years of frustrating experiences with my own restoration projects. I learned the hard way how most “professionals” in this industry do business. Lack of communication, and higher than estimated bills are virtually epidemic in this industry. If you are new to restoration as a hobby, it is possible to be ‘taken to the cleaners’ on your project, no matter what it is. I surely was! Dealing with painters and platers in particular can be enough to end your interest with restorations all-together. My early experiences as a hobbiest stuck with me, and ultimately were the deciding factor in my decision to start my own shop.
Because of this, I try to make it a point to treat people the way I would like to be treated. It’s a simple thing that is often ignored in the industry. And unlike most claims about customer service, mine is not just marketing hype. In short, I try my best to make it easy to do business with my shop. I want a long term relationship with my customers, regardless if they continue to do restoration projects.
Customer service is the cornerstone of project management in my shop. Management on full and partial restorations is the type normally normally reserved for large budget vintage aircraft or custom cars. We provide it for all our customers regardless of how much they spend. One way we do this is simple… we call you regularly with complete status reports and allow you to make the decisions on how your hard-earned money will be spent. I often steer people away from spending more money on things that will not really matter for the usability and value of their machines. On longer term, full restoration projects we automatically give you regular status reports at the start of every week. Any potential issues are addressed early and options are always presented so that you can make the most informed decisions. On the smaller projects, we simply turn it around fast for the right amount, as promised.
DIY, BUT DON’T GO IT ALONE
Whether it’s an everyday problem you are having with your machine, a part you can’t find or you just simply have some questions, call me at Restoration Werks. There may be times when you just feel stumped by a problem you hadn’t’t expected, and that’s where I can really help. A particularly valuable service I offer is helping you to do your own work. This is wholly unique in this industry. If you want to handle your own restoration project, I’ll be glad to support you. I can be the resource that helps you along the way as you need it, selectively with no strings attached. Restoration Werks can act as your central resource for knowledge and guidance on your project. I certainly don’t know everything about all motorcycles, but certainly can help you find the variety of talented people who do. Put simply, I can best help you by helping you make informed decisions. This can be done at any stage, but is particularly useful in the initial stages of your project. However, regardless of when you want to get me involved, I can evaluate the scope of your project, discuss your expectations and develop a realistic cost projection, timeline and course of action for you to follow. This service alone could potentially save you hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars.
WHAT ELSE CAN I PROVIDE?
For full restorations, I usually deliver a portfolio of photos, records, receipts and other documentation. This way, your machine has more provenance that not only is a good reference for you in the future, but adds a great deal to your investment should you ever decide to pass your machine on to the next owner.
Restorations are extremely time consuming. Even if you have the knowledge, skills and equipment to do it all yourself, it’s a rare thing to actually have the time. Proper work requires research and immense attention to detail. The average finished project takes years for an individual to finish. Most are sold before completion. One advantage of turning over some or all of the work to me is that you’ll be on the road much, much sooner.
OUR PROCESS
My process varies from project to project, but always has commonalities. The reason it varies is because every machine comes in a different condition. Some need more cosmetics than engine work and vise versa. Some come with many parts missing and some come complete. A basic example for a full restoration is shown below. However, be aware that this process is not strictly linear… there is a lot of overlap.
PHASE ONE
- Evaluation
- Review recommendations with customer – set initial budget estimate and initial schedule.
- Agreement – work order contract signed by all parties
- Work Begins
- Teardown & Inventory – (photograph extensively during process)
- Parts Order – create full listing for parts that need to be replaced or acquired. Begin acquisition.
- Work Schedule – organize parts that need specific repairs, painting, plating, and refinishing so that items go in batches according to schedule. This helps progress in an organized manner and saves time and money.
- Revise Budget & Schedule – review with client for adjustment and approval.
- Set Agreement – client signs off on any revisions to initial Agreement.
PHASE TWO
- Engine Work Begins
- Transmission Work Begins
- Metal Repair & Pre-Paint / Plating / Coating Prep
- Fiberglass or Plastic Repair & Pre-Paint Prep
- Chassis Repair & Refinishing
- Dry-fit – Fitment and check of components prior to paint, coating and plating.
- Electrical System
- Wheels
- Fuel System
- Fasteners
PHASE THREE
- Reassembly Begins
- Rolling Chassis Assembled
- Electrical Assembled On Frame
- Engine & Transmission Assembled In Frame
- Tuning & Testing
- Delivery Of Machine & Documentation To Client
HOW MUCH DOES ALL THIS RESTORATION STUFF COST, ANYWAY?
There is a very common misperception that having someone restore your motorcycle costs too much… or at least more than you could do it for yourself. In most cases, this simply is not true. Besides, most people that try to finish their own projects, simply never do. The cost of a restoration varies enormously, based primarily on the make and condition of the machine and your specifications. A ‘ground up’ or complete restoration that delivers a machine finished to original specification or better could cost half as much a new modern motorcycle. In some cases, depending again on the machine and an owner’s specification, the cost will equal or even exceed the price of a new motorcycle. A good way to think of it might be that you could either have a new Harley, or a well restored old one. You could either have a new Triumph or a well restored original. You get the idea. It’s all relative to what you are looking to do. In essence, each restoration is a bit of a custom in that you can choose to correct any of the machine’s original failings. One of the most important things is to start with a good example, and have a clear vision and purpose defined. This way we can best set realistic schedules and budgets up front.
Give me a shout anytime…