Becoming a bike mechanic?

[Ride Fast Live Long]

Im looking into doing a 3 year course to get into a Bike mechanic apprenticeship. Whats the work like for it and is there any point in going for that career or simply better to stick with being a car mechanic. Any advice would be good i.e business, money, opertunites etc etc.

[Mully]

See if you can get some work experience in a shop.

According to KB - all bike shops are run by rip-off merchant wankers.... So, good luck.

[Muppet]

See if you can get some work experience in a shop.

According to KB - all bike shops are run by rip-off merchant wankers.... So, good luck.

Good advice, but as I have learnt from being on this planet for 40 odd years, there are wankers in every job/club/sport/neighbourhood and I've had 'em all. Makes a stronger person IMHO.

[onearmedbandit]

See if you can get some work experience in a shop.

According to KB - all bike shops are run by rip-off merchant wankers.... So, good luck.

Now now Mully, its not the dealers, it's the importers.

Anyway, if it's a passion go for it. If it's to make money, well plenty of bike mechanics here whinge and moan about how little they make.

[Brian d marge]

Im looking into doing a 3 year course to get into a Bike mechanic apprenticeship. Whats the work like for it and is there any point in going for that career or simply better to stick with being a car mechanic. Any advice would be good i.e business, money, opertunites etc etc.

No

as a bike mechanic , with wee bits of paper from the factory , changing tyres get old real quick

if you do want to stick at it , widen your chances , do an NZCE ?? in mech Engineering , then IMHO look at where you want to go what aspect of being a mechanic , and focus ( Electronics ,play a major role these days )

On saying that , nutting out a tough , problem with a bike is really satisfying , but the money is oil and tyres ...IMHO

Stephen

[gammaguy]

ive been a professional motorcycle mechanic for years,worked on old shitters,new Beemers,everything in between.

I find the work satisfying,the customers usually OK and the bosses(when I had them)not too bad,bearing in mind they are often jealous of you because you know stuff they dont.

Truth is working for yourself is the best thing to aim for,because there will be times when you and the boss will have a difference of opinion on key issues.Mechanics tend to be opinionated bastards.:yes:

You wont make a million dollars,but you should at least be able to keep your own bike in tip top shape,and of course you are going to be in the right place at the right time to get good deals on bikes for sale.

Truth is there are a lot worse ways to make a living,but if you dont absolutely LOVE bikes and want to eat sleep and breathe them(including when you are not at work)then get a job in another industry.

If this still sounds like you,the industry is always looking for keen mechanics,and like me it can take you all over the world if you are good enough and really want to do it

good luck!

[RentaTriumph]

Now now Mully, its not the dealers, it's the importers.

Anyway, if it's a passion go for it. If it's to make money, well plenty of bike mechanics here whinge and moan about how little they make.

With bike shops charging $80 an hour for mechanical repairs and half the time the "boy" is probably doing the repairs then you would expect as a trade certified mechanic to be getting at least $30 an hour on wages. That is after accounting for the boss of the shop having to allow for ACC levies etc over and above your $30 an hour.

[imdying]

Im looking into doing a 3 year course to get into a Bike mechanic apprenticeship. Whats the work like for it and is there any point in going for that career or simply better to stick with being a car mechanic. Any advice would be good i.e business, money, opertunites etc etc.Get an electrical engineering degree. When you get bored of fixing bike injection systems for peanuts, you'll still have a skillset that allows you to do something else for good money.

[clint640]

My pick for a good career on the spanners would be Diesel Mechanicing. Less idiots to deal with & better money. Work on your bikes for fun :niceone:

Cheers
Clint

[st00ji]

im a car mechanic. got into cos i liked cars, but working on them all day mostly killed that bug. hence the bikes :)

wishing i had gotten into heavy diesel stuff now, might still make that switch at some point.

$30 an hour would be sweet, the big franchises charge $120 / hr or more, and im pretty sure even their top guys are making less than that

[rebel]

If you want to be on tools, another vote for heavy diesels. A lot more to learn, a lot of jobs involve doing it the 'old' way ( rebuild/rekitting components instead of replacing). The same can't be said for light automotive, when I was a 3rd year heavy diesel apprentice I was on more coin than an old school mate who qualified at a local prestige car franchise. Add to that you'll most likely get your tracks and rollers, forklift tickets as well as HT licenses, it is what you make of it, once you get these tickets the opportunities are endless, leave the bikes and cars to weekend hobbies IMO.

[cbfb]

http://www.careers.govt.nz/default.aspx?id0=103&id1=J48344

http://www.competenz.org.nz/apprentices/overview/

[Brian d marge]

Agreed then ..

My preference is towards a mechanical degree /NZCE

if you are good at Electrics , go Electrical . NZCE /degree

if you are more inclined towards getting your hands dirty , Diesel

Finally and bike are cool , we all like bikes ,,,but ,,,

then try as a bike mechanic

I must say , after doing my ,Mech Eng I know WHY and HOW a part break , because I studied it ( and I am very glad I did , wish I had done it earlier )

a lot of Mechanics and Machinists don't know, ( because they didn't have to study it )

They are probably very good at their Job , but its a different skill set ..

Stephen

and another thing , the doorbell has just rung and the post man has given me a large box , this mean that the part for my race bike is in my hot little hands ,,, its so exciting its like Christmas!!!! ( hope its fits !:eek:)

[rebel]

I must say , after doing my ,Mech Eng I know WHY and HOW a part break , because I studied it ( and I am very glad I did , wish I had done it earlier )

a lot of Mechanics and Machinists don't know, ( because they didn't have to study it )



Quite incorrect, after doing time on the floor (real world experience), you get to know why some things fuck out after seeing the end result (not from sitting in a class room).

[scott411]

as someone that employs them, most of the advice you will got already is pretty good,

there is more money in other stuff as listed above, the $30 an hour is a top rate at the moment around the big cities, but $22-$28 is pretty normal around,

good work enviroments normally and if you love bikes it does get you through,

however it does tend to kill the love at times working around them all the time,

[Elysium]

If you want to be a Ducati mechanic I think you have to go to Italy?

Rumours I've heard is that Ducati send out Emissaries around the world to scout out potential recruits to learn the ways and secrets of Ducati. Apparantly only one out of 1000 will make to be chosen as a recruit. Through selection, training and conditioning, Ducati mechanics are physically, mentally and spiritually superior to any other bike mechanics out there.

Intense indoctrination and conditioning strengthens the recruit's resolve and increases mental capabilities, honing them into dedicated and merciless bike mechanics. After more general training, they join Ducati as full brother-bike mechanics.

Not all recruits survive the brutal training of course, and not all are accepted.

Does this help?

[Brian d marge]

Quite incorrect, after doing time on the floor (real world experience), you get to know why some things fuck out after seeing the end result (not from sitting in a class room).

Sorry Ive had to deal with the end result far to many times from people who think they know

I agree with real world experience , but it needs to be grounded with the class room

and example , a coat hanger , bend it back and forth , it will break you will hear people talk about it work hardening

not once will they mension fatigue


The opposite is also true , straight from university lots of theory , no experience

but great when they do get experience and are flexible enough use it well

you might want to be a bit more flexible with that view ..

Stephen

[rebel]

Sorry Ive had to deal with the end result far to many times from people who think they know

I agree with real world experience , but it needs to be grounded with the class room

and example , a coat hanger , bend it back and forth , it will break you will hear people talk about it work hardening

not once will they mension fatigue


The opposite is also true , straight from university lots of theory , no experience

but great when they do get experience and are flexible enough use it well

you might want to be a bit more flexible with that view ..

Stephen

No worries, next time we rebuild a diff or gear box I'll call in a mechanical engineer with uni degree to tell us what parts to replace.

[crazyhorse]

Im looking into doing a 3 year course to get into a Bike mechanic apprenticeship. Whats the work like for it and is there any point in going for that career or simply better to stick with being a car mechanic. Any advice would be good i.e business, money, opertunites etc etc.

Make sure you find a bike shop that doesn't lose its franchise - like my son's did -he's now half way without finishing it as there aren't many apprenticeships around at the present moment.

Good luck :)

[Brian d marge]

No worries, next time we rebuild a diff or gear box I'll call in a mechanical engineer with uni degree to tell us what parts to replace.

bit of an overkill ,

next time you use the brakes on the bike be glad that it was a uni graduate who chose the correct materials

stephen

[White trash]

If you want to be a Ducati mechanic I think you have to go to Italy?

Rumours I've heard is that Ducati send out Emissaries around the world to scout out potential recruits to learn the ways and secrets of Ducati. Apparantly only one out of 1000 will make to be chosen as a recruit. Through selection, training and conditioning, Ducati mechanics are physically, mentally and spiritually superior to any other bike mechanics out there.

Intense indoctrination and conditioning strengthens the recruit's resolve and increases mental capabilities, honing them into dedicated and merciless bike mechanics. After more general training, they join Ducati as full brother-bike mechanics.

Not all recruits survive the brutal training of course, and not all are accepted.

Does this help?

"You can ride my wing anytime".........

[Motu]

next time you use the brakes on the bike be glad that it was a uni graduate who chose the correct materials

Used to be a wing mirror designer,then moved onto window regulators - now he does motorcycle brakes.Catches the train to work everyday.

[Brian d marge]

Used to be a wing mirror designer,then moved onto window regulators - now he does motorcycle brakes.Catches the train to work everyday.
Shhhhhhhhh dont tell

got a bit pissed last night , dont worry they wont pick it up in the drawing ....


Stephen

and actually if you meet the one who design the cars at the big H ,,,,You WOULD catch the train

No thats not fair , on reflection I have to say the Engineers I meet are pretty dam good and know their stuff , the corporate structure does leave a lot to be desired though

[Brian d marge]

can I add one last thing

that friggen workshop in winter is F##$%#$$ freezing

mines small but is all carpeted and insulated , it took ages for the heat to warm the place up

Sod that , Im back in the office

transfer the files over and do it at home .... brrrrrrr

Stephen

[Voltaire]

Going from the aging biker poll, combined with the eye watering ACC/Rego costs I'd be worried about lack of customer base in a few years.

I worked with a clever bloke with a mechanical degree....he said he was useless with tools.....what we call a paper engineer....quite common in these days of small properties with no sheds for blokes to play in.One of my sons will be expert at killing aliens and social networking....:eek:

As for Ducati mechanics.... as far as I can tell there is nothing mystical about them that needs special training, as long as you can use a zero thou feeler gauge... :innocent: Maybe the newer ones have more elektronikz on them.....if its Italian that would be a worry.

( special tools are handy too...)



I started off as an Electrician....then into refrigeration.....now sitting in an office in front of PC all day.........sigh....