Have just spoken to Jake Robbins who has been hard to reach lately. Jake is okay and is still in business. In fact, he's continuing to develop the company with a new website and now has his son onboard.
The fire in the building next door to his workshop did knock him back a lot. Stock was damaged and sooted, etc, but the equipment is okay. His neighbour wasn't insured, so Jake's been carrying the financial burden for the damage and has been desperately trying to re-capitalise the business.
He's working on a number of projects, including the long-awaited remanufactured Speed Twin forks (complete with original-type tapered tubing). He's just received the new castings, which he says look good. Cast in the UK, too. It sounds like he could make a few bob building quality heavyweight BSA forks. Maybe he'll get around to that sometime.
Anyway, he's okay and chatty - and apologises for poor communications. But he's got a dodgy mobile phone signal at the workshop, and has no internet access. But he knows that he needs to improve communications.
Here's his new web address: www.jake-robbins-vintage-engineering.co.uk
email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com
He's done four sets for me previously (M20 x2, 5SW Triumph, BSA WB30) and I was happy with the result on each occasion...Hopefully he has maintained that standard through his 'problem period'..
Regarding price was that a 'quote' or an 'estimate'?...A 'quote' should be adhered to...Saying that though, an 'estimate' that is 70% out isn't too good either.
Also could you outline exactly what he has done for that price?...
I currently have to get a set done for my own M20 but an over extended time frame is not an option as the bike has to be rebuilt, ready and run in before May next year...Frankly, I'm worried about the current situation bearing that in mind, but from previous experience I feel he is the 'best of the bunch' (and it's a small bunch! 
)...
Let us know whether he makes the dispatch deadline this time..I have six weeks max. to make a decision....Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
Hi Darren, it's worth remembering that this kind of work is subject to variables. The changing cost of materials. Supply issues. Undiscovered problems. Machining difficulties. It's not an exact science, and I'm sure the original estimate Jake gave you was given in good faith.
Also, in percentage terms, the difference between £400 and £670 is considerable. But in hard cash terms, for this kind of work, it's not huge. It doesn't take many extra man hours to rack a lot of extra cost.
If, for instance, he spent another day on the forks at a fairly modest £12 per hour, there's almost a hundred quid spent right there.
That said, this is a simple consumer rights issue that can (theoretically) be solved very simply. If you've got a contract with him, verbal or otherwise, then demand to pay the price quoted. He might accept that. He might not.
In legal terms though, most courts would accept a certain business quote variance - and that can be considerable depending on the circumstances. A garage might quote on what appears to be a minor engine job only to later find that a full strip is required.
But yes, you should have been advised beforehand. So just take it up with Jake and haggle it out.
Trouble is, as Ian said, there aren't many people in the UK you can take forks to for repair. And as the pool of expertise shrinks, you often end up with the guys who are good engineers, but need to polish up their business skills, etc.
I'm not a particular friend of Jake's, by the way. I know him a little, mostly on the phone, and we've got a feature on him on Sump. So I'm not defending him outright (he can defend himself). But as I said, we do need to give the few remaining classic experts a little latitude.
However, if you feels it's gone beyond a certain point, you have to vote with your wallet.
email (option): dannydefazio@sumpmagazine.com
..Refurbishing old components is a nightmare...
One unforseen problem can cost you hours of work which it is difficult to charge for at a realistic hourly rate. And there are always lots of problems when you try to turn something that is worn, damaged and well past its 'sell by date' back into something 'new'...(which is what the customer expects)...
In reality its not possible to put an accurate figure on the time a job will take when there are so many 'unknowns'..particularly if you haven't even seen it....
[/quote]
you should try doing whole bike restoration work.
drove me to the edge, not the work the customers, almost cured me of bikes completely.