Over the past couple of years I've become pretty handy with a wrench, and am thinking about a career change.


I have been taking a study by mail class(It's better than I expected, as long as you have a bike to work on, just reading and taking tests isn't enough), and working on my husbands bike and my own for the hands on.


Any suggestions for further training? I know Triumph has classes, does anyone know if you have to work for a dealership to take them? I live in NYC, and so far I haven't found any schools out here.

Over the past couple of years I've become pretty handy with a wrench, and am thinking about a career change.


I have been taking a study by mail class(It's better than I expected, as long as you have a bike to work on, just reading and taking tests isn't enough), and working on my husbands bike and my own for the hands on.


Any suggestions for further training? I know Triumph has classes, does anyone know if you have to work for a dealership to take them? I live in NYC, and so far I haven't found any schools out here.

Over the past couple of years I've become pretty handy with a wrench, and am thinking about a career change.


I have been taking a study by mail class(It's better than I expected, as long as you have a bike to work on, just reading and taking tests isn't enough), and working on my husbands bike and my own for the hands on.


Any suggestions for further training? I know Triumph has classes, does anyone know if you have to work for a dealership to take them? I live in NYC, and so far I haven't found any schools out here.

Hi, AbbyNormal.

A couple of years ago, I also got the idea of becoming a motorcycle mechanic. I contacted "MMI" (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) after seeing an infomercial. They have two campuses (one in Arizona and one in Florida). Costs were about $10K per year for a two year program. They had financial assistance and so forth just like any other school. After speaking with a representative (she was very polite), I decided against MMI. Why?

One of the reasons that I wanted to switch to motorcycle repair was to relocate from Metro D.C. area. When I asked MMI representative where the good places for motorcycle mechanics were, she said that where I lived was one of the best places in the country. So, I checked the local job market for motorcycle mechanics in this are. Unless someone died or a new dealership opened, jobs are few and far between for motorcycle mechanics even in a supposed good market. Maybe part time and seasonal, but not full time and year round. What to do?

I decided on a compromise. My idle thoughts turned toward action when I was told that I likely would be laid off from my regular job. I enrolled in a two year night school program at a local community college. Not motorcycle mechanics, but auto mechanics. The tuition was much less; jobs are more plentiful; and much of what I'm learning lends itself to motorcycles as well as to automobiles (I've diagnosed and fixed a couple of problems on my Legend that I otherwise couldn't have, and I've been able to help some others).

Ironically, after finishing my first year, I my regular job was taken off the excess list. So, I don't have the same urgency to complete the auto program in two years. It was a little too much for someone my age to go full time night after a full day at work. So, while I intend to finish, I'm only taking two courses instead of three this coming semester.

Moral: Check out the job market, tuition and alternative programs at different schools. Good luck whatever way you go....Jerry

[ This message was edited by: jerrysussman on 2003-07-31 06:05 ]

Hi, AbbyNormal.

A couple of years ago, I also got the idea of becoming a motorcycle mechanic. I contacted "MMI" (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) after seeing an infomercial. They have two campuses (one in Arizona and one in Florida). Costs were about $10K per year for a two year program. They had financial assistance and so forth just like any other school. After speaking with a representative (she was very polite), I decided against MMI. Why?

One of the reasons that I wanted to switch to motorcycle repair was to relocate from Metro D.C. area. When I asked MMI representative where the good places for motorcycle mechanics were, she said that where I lived was one of the best places in the country. So, I checked the local job market for motorcycle mechanics in this are. Unless someone died or a new dealership opened, jobs are few and far between for motorcycle mechanics even in a supposed good market. Maybe part time and seasonal, but not full time and year round. What to do?

I decided on a compromise. My idle thoughts turned toward action when I was told that I likely would be laid off from my regular job. I enrolled in a two year night school program at a local community college. Not motorcycle mechanics, but auto mechanics. The tuition was much less; jobs are more plentiful; and much of what I'm learning lends itself to motorcycles as well as to automobiles (I've diagnosed and fixed a couple of problems on my Legend that I otherwise couldn't have, and I've been able to help some others).

Ironically, after finishing my first year, I my regular job was taken off the excess list. So, I don't have the same urgency to complete the auto program in two years. It was a little too much for someone my age to go full time night after a full day at work. So, while I intend to finish, I'm only taking two courses instead of three this coming semester.

Moral: Check out the job market, tuition and alternative programs at different schools. Good luck whatever way you go....Jerry

[ This message was edited by: jerrysussman on 2003-07-31 06:05 ]

Hi, AbbyNormal.

A couple of years ago, I also got the idea of becoming a motorcycle mechanic. I contacted "MMI" (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) after seeing an infomercial. They have two campuses (one in Arizona and one in Florida). Costs were about $10K per year for a two year program. They had financial assistance and so forth just like any other school. After speaking with a representative (she was very polite), I decided against MMI. Why?

One of the reasons that I wanted to switch to motorcycle repair was to relocate from Metro D.C. area. When I asked MMI representative where the good places for motorcycle mechanics were, she said that where I lived was one of the best places in the country. So, I checked the local job market for motorcycle mechanics in this are. Unless someone died or a new dealership opened, jobs are few and far between for motorcycle mechanics even in a supposed good market. Maybe part time and seasonal, but not full time and year round. What to do?

I decided on a compromise. My idle thoughts turned toward action when I was told that I likely would be laid off from my regular job. I enrolled in a two year night school program at a local community college. Not motorcycle mechanics, but auto mechanics. The tuition was much less; jobs are more plentiful; and much of what I'm learning lends itself to motorcycles as well as to automobiles (I've diagnosed and fixed a couple of problems on my Legend that I otherwise couldn't have, and I've been able to help some others).

Ironically, after finishing my first year, I my regular job was taken off the excess list. So, I don't have the same urgency to complete the auto program in two years. It was a little too much for someone my age to go full time night after a full day at work. So, while I intend to finish, I'm only taking two courses instead of three this coming semester.

Moral: Check out the job market, tuition and alternative programs at different schools. Good luck whatever way you go....Jerry

[ This message was edited by: jerrysussman on 2003-07-31 06:05 ]

Big Topic! Suggest you talk to as many bike mechanics as possible if that's what you want. You may find their income levels vary widely. One thing for certain is that you will want to be in a market where there are lots of bikes and you will have to be where you can work on ATVs, snowmobiles and other small engines if the local weather isn't suitable for year around riding. If you just want to be a mechanic, suggest you look at John Deere's programs - some dealers will underwrite your schooling and a good mechanic can make $40,000 or more plus good benefits.

__________________
Unsafe at any speed. First Terranaut.

Big Topic! Suggest you talk to as many bike mechanics as possible if that's what you want. You may find their income levels vary widely. One thing for certain is that you will want to be in a market where there are lots of bikes and you will have to be where you can work on ATVs, snowmobiles and other small engines if the local weather isn't suitable for year around riding. If you just want to be a mechanic, suggest you look at John Deere's programs - some dealers will underwrite your schooling and a good mechanic can make $40,000 or more plus good benefits.

__________________
Unsafe at any speed. First Terranaut.

Big Topic! Suggest you talk to as many bike mechanics as possible if that's what you want. You may find their income levels vary widely. One thing for certain is that you will want to be in a market where there are lots of bikes and you will have to be where you can work on ATVs, snowmobiles and other small engines if the local weather isn't suitable for year around riding. If you just want to be a mechanic, suggest you look at John Deere's programs - some dealers will underwrite your schooling and a good mechanic can make $40,000 or more plus good benefits.

__________________
Unsafe at any speed. First Terranaut.

You should really talk to a graduate of MMI or one of the others. Some really hated attending those and really got nothing out of it. Another factor, check the schedule they offer in accordance with your current situation.

One person I know worked on bike, now he sells them and gets paid more. You like to work on a bike as a hobby right? Take your hobby and make it your work and it will probably no longer be as fun.