Quality af Bike Mechanics

[grego]

After reading all the input in the Thread: """accident repairs,"" posted yesterday, and many other postings in other threats complaining about bad service, lousy repair jobs etc.. I have decided : """I am going to become a Motorbike mechanik """ myself.

Can anybody tell me to which University I will have to go and how many years it will take me ???

Thanks in advance

Now, where is the fucking smily-face what has got the tongue poking through the cheeck?????

[FlyingDutchMan]

I do all repairs myself. Never had any special training ya-de-da. Much cheaper, and only things need repairing get repaired. Might take a bit more effort, time and swearing, but the more you know about your bike the better IMO. I do realise that doing this isn't for everyone.

On the other hand, having things come back from repairs with loose & missing bolts is bloody poor work. And just how many years does it take to learn how to put every back on what was taken off?

[Motu]

And you are going to be so much better than all the other mechanics out there I suppose? Get ready to enter the most thankless job in the world...

[beyond]

Yep, not an easy job.
When I was first married with kids, I did all my own mechanical repairs on cars and motorbikes. Pulled and recoed the motor on a Mach 1 Cortina,
1275GT Clubman, Honda SL125, Suzuki T350 and Yamaha RD350.

This was out of necessity and I was meticulous and went by the manual.
Always had bits left over and forgot to do something important. The bikes and cars always ran okay, so go figure??? :)

Rather not go there now. Get everything done. Had enough of the seized bolts, the shit and oil and the the problems that go with every job you start.
Some problems were almost impossible to find and took loads if time.

[Shaun]

I read some one saying it is a thankless job? I guess these mechanics making all these cock ups are not getting paid?

Pride is the problem!! in fact that is the whole problem with the country, NO PRIDE.

Anyone wanting any suspension or mechanical work, ie services, chains, sprockets, tyres, brake pads etc might want to keep an eye out for a new bike mechanical buisness that is starting up soon where they come to you with there transportable workshop.

This buisness will be operating 2-3 days a week in Auckland and will be taking bookings for other parts of the country as soon as it is up and running.

The work will be done by the owner operator with a high degree of pride and respect for the customer and there machine.

[soundbeltfarm]

who's doing the mobile bussiness?
not from hawera are they?

[Shaun]

Just say MOTO-DYNAMIX and no, they are not from Hawera

[Lou Girardin]

And you are going to be so much better than all the other mechanics out there I suppose? Get ready to enter the most thankless job in the world...

2nd most these days.
I enjoy fiddling with my bike, but I'd hate to be doing it for a living.

[soundbeltfarm]

Just say MOTO-DYNAMIX and no, they are not from Hawera

sorry ,
thought it may have been something else,
as i seen hawera motorcycles name change and didn't know if it had been sold and thought you meant robert taylors suspension horse float
hope it all goes well for you man.

[Shaun]

Thanks Karl, Hawera motorcycles has been sold! Robert Taylor is still there and is still the Ohlin's importer. Fuck, it will be good for Hawera customers not having to deal with (A)the tosser there

[soundbeltfarm]

Thanks Karl, Hawera motorcycles has been sold! Robert Taylor is still there and is still the Ohlin's importer. Fuck, it will be good for Hawera customers not having to deal with (A)the tosser there

AMEN to that.

IM glad it doesn't seem to be like father like son with Zane

[JWALKER]

im not sure about a full time course, but i am thinking of doing the same thing and stotts correspondence school, run a motorcycle mechaninc course
http://www.stotts.co.nz/

[Motu]

We all have a job and are doing the best we can in whatever it is - do you think only the brain dead become motorcycle mechanics? I'm not sure what training motorcycle mechanics get these days,they went on different courses than us car mechanics in the old days.Skills and knowledge are the same,there used to be some interchange of jobs - cars,trucks,bikes,outboards...we all got into each others fields,but these days I stay away from the high tech bikes,it's getting into a specialised area now.

[limbimtimwim]

im not sure about a full time course, but i am thinking of doing the same thing and stotts correspondence school, run a motorcycle mechaninc course
http://www.stotts.co.nz/I was thinking the same, at $920 for the course, you could save yourself quite a bit of money in the long term. 'bound to learn something useful.

Mind you, I have managed to get away with having a Haynes manual and a lot of rude language. Most recent swearing episode because Honda decided that to remove ones oil filter, it makes sense to have to swing a radiator out of the way... Yes of course Mr Honda, so sensible. Kick you in the nuts Mr Honda.

[Sniper]

JWALKER has showed me the leaflet for the course and it seems to be damn cool. Hopefully I won't need to worry about my bike getting taken apart.

[grego]

And you are going to be so much better than all the other mechanics out there I suppose? Get ready to enter the most thankless job in the world...

You did not read the last sentence of my post that refers to the smilie with tongue in cheek.
I could possibly find more fun in emptying the magazine of a 22 into my foot than become a bike mechanik.
Loosen up.............

[Ivan]

im not sure about a full time course, but i am thinking of doing the same thing and stotts correspondence school, run a motorcycle mechaninc course
http://www.stotts.co.nz/


I'm doing the Weltec course this year it is the only proper motorcycle mechanics course in New Zealand the next one is in America, I worked once aweek at a bikeshop it was good lots of fun and a good job people saying most unthanked they always seemed to have a smile even when i did wipe out a CR125 on a LT80 (not my fault).

So I have decided i am going to become a mechanic and might eventually start my own buisiness

[Motu]

You did not read the last sentence of my post that refers to the smilie with tongue in cheek.
I could possibly find more fun in emptying the magazine of a 22 into my foot than become a bike mechanik.
Loosen up.............

Tongue in cheek??? Gosh,sounds interesting....please explain....

[grego]

Tongue in cheek??? Gosh,sounds interesting....please explain....

Do a google search, educate yourself.........................

[Brian d marge]

Motorcycle mechanic Dat me dat iz dumbest carrer move I ever made
WHy? Its a sunset industry, Years ago you were motorcycle engineers , with skill thats were handed down and practiced day after day , Anyone remember making a surface plate with a scraper ???
Now its oil and oil filter , chain and sprockets and out the door ,
Punctures i like , quick easy and makes money, Electrical I like uses the brain ... but try charging for a week of thinking
Race bike prep I like, because its a test of your overall skill and knowledge
I did my training in england , started of working at a bike shop and studying my city and Giulds 3 year course then I worked for Honda and did every damn course they did at the time then worked a few bike shops in a couple of countries
Finally did my NZCE ( mech) in NZ ...That was something I should have done a long time ago, I thought a bout Uni , but I am a mechanic and the NZCE was the right choice
Then I came over here and worked as a bike mech for a few years, Then gave it a rest as the working conditions here are crap ( read long hours one day off a week and crap money )
Now I earn good money and can play with bikes in the morning , ( I can finally do all the stuff I wanted to do , like design parts , make mistakes and gain a bucket load of experience, another thing I should have done 10 year ago !)

At the end of the day ??? I love bikes , I am very happy , just being around bikes .. People I like, just love chatting to different people about bikes
Rich???? No a big NO ,,,you will always have pocket money but money ,,you can kiss that good bye

Shaun.
I have an immense pride in my work. I get a great satisfaction seeing the peoples faces when for example their bike has stopped and they have taken it to a bike shop who has said No , and I fix it and knowing me never charge for it !. You cant get a better feeling in the world than that .
On saying that I have worked for too many arsehole bosses who for example... worked oversea during their big OE , or raced a few years Know absolute Jack about bike but walk around intimidating everyone ,
I swore I would NEVER work with such people again EVER,
At the moment I have a great employer , very supportive and a pleasure to work for ( now I know how some people enjoy working )
Finally Its taken me 20 years to actually realise HOW I work and what I enjoy about bikes, and that means specialisation. Most mechanics are clueless about either Electrics or Supension ( Especially electrics ) So If you specialise, you get an easier life ???

Good luck I hope my ramblings give you something to think about, Do the course anyway ,,,its an investment either way you look at it ,, but raise your sights become an engineer ,,,Then go back to working on bike as a specialist

Stephen

[JWALKER]

I'm doing the Weltec course this year it is the only proper motorcycle mechanics course in New Zealand the next one is in America, I worked once aweek at a bikeshop it was good lots of fun and a good job people saying most unthanked they always seemed to have a smile even when i did wipe out a CR125 on a LT80 (not my fault).

So I have decided i am going to become a mechanic and might eventually start my own buisiness

nice, do you get paid at all, while doing it?, cause im quite intrested in doing it full time, instead of doing a crap job where i have to wear a suit ad tie

[grego]

To brians message : Amen to that !!!
Typically here in lovely NZ people do a 6 week course and then they are "Engineers". All you then need is an old shed and a card board sign and bingo: You are a qualified engineer ready to perform crapp-maintenance work. If it would not be for "warranty requirements " I would also do all the work myself, as I used to do when I was younger. Once my bike is out of warranty it will never see the inside of a bikeshop again.It is one of the reasons I bought a 2 cylinder naked bike and not a fully faired 4 cylinder with latest high -performance technology.

[nadroj]

AMEN to that.

IM glad it doesn't seem to be like father like son with Zane
Any idea who Roberts new partner is?

[Bonez]

I was thinking the same, at $920 for the course, you could save yourself quite a bit of money in the long term. 'bound to learn something useful.

Mind you, I have managed to get away with having a Haynes manual and a lot of rude language. Most recent swearing episode because Honda decided that to remove ones oil filter, it makes sense to have to swing a radiator out of the way... Yes of course Mr Honda, so sensible. Kick you in the nuts Mr Honda.

Poor Mr Honda is probably turning in his grave.

I feel your pain. Fortunately I haven't graduated to such "advanced" technology, prefering "old school", air cooled engines. I do find Honda genuine workshop manuals, combined with haynes and clymer, ones usefull. Haynes and Clymer, at around $10-$15 second hand, usually have the odd wee tip that don't require the ubequious "special tool" to carry out said task. This interwebthingy is a wonderous tool for finding information as well.

In saying that I know where my limits are. So for more specialist stuff it's off to the experts. And no, they're not drips under pressure...................

I do tip my hat for mechanics/engineers in general. They do have to deal with some real fuckwits who expect them to move heaven and earth to have their proplems fix right NOW!!!!