VAT on everything Richard, even on postage charges. What's more, they make the seller of anything act as unpaid and much put-upon tax collector as well, with big sanctions for not doing their job for them. I got very used to simple sales tax (like what we used to have in the UK when I were a boy) when I lived your side, even if it sometimes got added at the checkout and varied a bit between states.
I agree with Black Sheep on the main Q here. In about 50K miles my t/s main shows little wear. Thou and three-quarters when last measured (a while back, at about 30K miles).
A mate with a Notrun has recently spent rather more than your estimate on a full job on a Commando that seized, but he had crank damage, rod damage, piston and bore damage, valve trouble and needed a camshaft too, and an oil pump and and and etc 'n all. Doesn't take long to ratchet up the £/€/$ on parts and then double it by getting a specialist to do all the work.
I'm currently fighting a minor piston seizure job on my own 650SS Notrun . . . luckily minor by comparison as the bores honed good with no problem, so just new pistons, ex valves and a few ancillaries & odds and sods. Even so, still a few hundred of HMQ's devalued currency . . . . and a bit of time.
Good Luck GB!
