Getting a foot in the door for the world of motorcycles (jobs!)

[zeocen]

Hi!

Pretty much what the topic says, after being fascinated by bikes at a young age and finally deciding to get one at the ripe age of 24 I've pretty much decided it's become more than a hobby, rather a passion/obsession (that's okay, right? ...guys?) and having no mechanical history other than putting some bits and pieces on my bike as they fall off, I was wondering just how hard it was to get my foot in the door for working on motorcycles?

Not sure if this is the appropriate forum, or even an appropriate thread - so sorry in advance if this is the case. It's just that I'm "in between" jobs at the moment and this has always been in the back of my mind, scratching its claws at the door, getting louder and louder as the years tick by :P

Hell, I would even wash motorcycles for a living it's that fun to be around them!

[jade]

Im sort of in the same boat as you, obsessed I guess - 4 years into my boatbuilding apprentiship which allows me to paint my own shit and make my own fairings...
I wouldnt mind being a mechanic tho - be alot better for my health

[zeocen]

I'd love to paint etc, but again.. not knowing where to go to start and all that.

:(

[Jeaves]

i would start with an automotive "trade cert" course at your local polytec .

just a quick search http://www.boppoly.ac.nz/go/programmes/by-subjects-a-to-e/automotive/certificate-in-automotive-engineering-service-technician-level-3/

then see if you can get one of your local bike shops to take you on as an apprentice.

[mynameis]

This is the shit you'd need to do :

http://www.weltec.ac.nz/automotive/1mc.php

Ever wondered how much the poor bastards get paid in NZ.

Um I wouldn't do it!

[degrom]

This is the shit you'd need to do :

http://www.weltec.ac.nz/automotive/1mc.php

Ever wondered how much the poor bastards get paid in NZ.

Um I wouldn't do it!

How mush would that exactly be?

[NighthawkNZ]

What looking around as a helper hand at the various bike shops, not just on the machnical side but also in the accessories department, and actual bike sales...

It may not be exactly what you are after but its a foot in the door, and its not as if you are going door knocking as the people come to you so the are already wanting a bike or parts etc... (make it a lot easier than cold selling)

Then while you doing this do the trade cert stuff... killing two birds withthe one stone...

[sels1]

Ever wondered how much the poor bastards get paid in NZ.

Um I wouldn't do it!

Many wouldnt, but some people work in occupations because they love to do that type of work/be in that enviroment, regardless of what they are paid. Generally they are much happier people than those enslaved to the $!

[granma2]

Polytech is a good start.
A lot of bike shops will want you to have some mechanical knowledge or ability. The reason for this is if you make a stuff up,( like leaving a nut in the bottom end of a motor.) it doesnt cost them a lot of money. This can be as simple as restoring an old bike, repairing a kids bike or racing a bucket, classic, clubmans. motorcross etc. A lot of the old race bikes require constant maintenance and so you gain basic experience at your own cost...not the shops. The bikes dont cost heaps of dollars and most info can be found on the net, library, fellow bike enthusiasts on how to do things.
My partner has built himself a bucket racer and finished first at the Road Race Spectacular in Taupo, end of Dec. He never ever thought he would be able to do it. With a little help from a friend and lots of research, he got to it. Took 3 months, but well worth it, as he learnt so much. Now he wants a 250cc or 400cc to fix up.
Take walk around some of the local bike shops and see what they require.
Never give up on your dream though, because it is always possible.
Good luck.

[jeremysprite]

I've been thinking of taking this dream one step further - opening my own store.
(zeocen do you mind if I hijack your thread)
Any managers/owners of bikeshops out there?

[zeocen]

Hijack away, but you have to hire me when you open!

;)

[degrom]

I think the best place to start is your own bike. If you have mastered most of the basic skills move onto more advanced stuff. Always be the person that asks what and why a thing works like that. (Take a GN apart and you will know plenty,put it back together and you have the job!!!)

There is no better way of learning thing than to do them.

[degrom]

Yes... Almost forgot!!!

Best way to learn is to share your knowledge. You never know what you might learn from a biginer that has the same passion as you about the bike!!!

[Brian d marge]

Polytech is a good start.
A lot of bike shops will want you to have some mechanical knowledge or ability. The reason for this is if you make a stuff up,( like leaving a nut in the bottom end of a motor.) it doesnt cost them a lot of money. This can be as simple as restoring an old bike, repairing a kids bike or racing a bucket, classic, clubmans. motorcross etc. A lot of the old race bikes require constant maintenance and so you gain basic experience at your own cost...not the shops. The bikes dont cost heaps of dollars and most info can be found on the net, library, fellow bike enthusiasts on how to do things.
.

I would add to that NZCE is a very good course , showing you how stuff works ..HOW/WHY they doo stuff

While you wont work on the latest /any bikes ..YOU WILL know why the factory use this material /part etc and IF in future years you are tired of working on bike ,,,AND YOU WILL ... you can still use that higher knowledge

IN the mean time buy as was said ( a older race bike - that still is aplicable to todays market ....)

Such as a cbr400 .600 cr 250 usd forks ... etc

then Just do it

pull shocks apart ,, put them back together .. untill you can do them easily ...

The certificates will get u in the do ... good work ethics and experience will keep u inside

Stephen

wishing he had chosen computers or flower arranging ...anything but bikes !!!!

[Lou Girardin]

Don't worry about working with bikes.
Get qualified, get a good job, make lots of money, and then play with all the bikes you want.

[Ghost Lemur]

Don't worry about working with bikes.
Get qualified, get a good job, make lots of money, and then play with all the bikes you want.

Couldn't agree more.

Never mix your passion with having to deal with "Customers". Nothing will ruin it more. If you can get a job involving your passion which doesn't deal with customers then jump at it (and tell me what it is).

[Motu]

Many wouldnt, but some people work in occupations because they love to do that type of work/be in that enviroment, regardless of what they are paid. Generally they are much happier people than those enslaved to the $!

Considering the skills and knowledge they posess mechanics are very poorly paid,and yet everyone complains about how much they are charged while earning considerably more per hour than the mechanic.Owning your own workshop is even worse,I earn less than the guys who work for me.I'll never be rich doing this - but there is nothing else I want to do...I don't have a career,but my job is my life.

I remember a tutor I had - he had achieved the pinacle of a career in motor mechanics....he shifted up from ChCh to be service manager of one of the biggest dealerships in Auckland.On the same day he started so did a young salesman half his age - he looked at the company cars each was given,his was a second hand Hillman Hunter,the young guy had the top of the line Mitsubishi with all the extras,his Hunter didn't even have a radio! When he asked the big chief about it he was told - ''The workshop loses money,no matter how well it is run,this young guy can make us a thousand dollars a day...that's why he is paid more then you''.

I have no advice to offer other than what my father told me - ''I hope I never see you doing this for a living,you can do anything in the world you want for a job,but I don't want you to be a mechanic''......

[mynameis]

Many wouldnt, but some people work in occupations because they love to do that type of work/be in that enviroment, regardless of what they are paid. Generally they are much happier people than those enslaved to the $!

Common sense really that's why you have bike mechanics around.

[mynameis]

Considering the skills and knowledge they posess mechanics are very poorly paid,and yet everyone complains about how much they are charged while earning considerably more per hour than the mechanic.Owning your own workshop is even worse,I earn less than the guys who work for me.I'll never be rich doing this - but there is nothing else I want to do...I don't have a career,but my job is my life.

I remember a tutor I had - he had achieved the pinacle of a career in motor mechanics....he shifted up from ChCh to be service manager of one of the biggest dealerships in Auckland.On the same day he started so did a young salesman half his age - he looked at the company cars each was given,his was a second hand Hillman Hunter,the young guy had the top of the line Mitsubishi with all the extras,his Hunter didn't even have a radio! When he asked the big chief about it he was told - ''The workshop loses money,no matter how well it is run,this young guy can make us a thousand dollars a day...that's why he is paid more then you''.

I have no advice to offer other than what my father told me - ''I hope I never see you doing this for a living,you can do anything in the world you want for a job,but I don't want you to be a mechanic''......

Yeap well said Motu, that's what I was blabbing about before, if you actually know some mechanics personally or workshop owners you'd know better and how much money they make.

Again I think too much of something is not good and if you love bikes and work and deal with bikes everyday you would at some point get sick and tired of it.

Two guys I know (very well known in Auckland) 20 years plus and 8 years of experience, don't like their jobs anymore yet I pester them to work on my bike :D lol

[Toaster]

I was wondering just how hard it was to get my foot in the door for working on motorcycles?


All the best with that dude, good luck!

I had the same obsession with the porn industry, but they rejected me because I was just a big cock.

[Animal]

There is no better way of learning thing than to do them.

You've hit the nail right on the head there, my friend!

[scott411]

Don't worry about working with bikes.
Get qualified, get a good job, make lots of money, and then play with all the bikes you want.

spoken like someone that has been in the industry for a while,

the motorcycle industry does not pay very well but you get good side benefits,

if this does not put you off, try looking in kiwi rider, thier are jobs in thier for parts staff or warehouse staff for wholesalers,

thier are plenty of jobs for parts staff and warehouse staff that do not require technical knowlege,

[zeocen]

Cheers scott, I might look into that!

I don't really care about the pay, if I can support myself and a bike then that's enough money for me for now :)

[rwh]

I remember a tutor I had - he had achieved the pinacle of a career in motor mechanics....he shifted up from ChCh to be service manager of one of the biggest dealerships in Auckland.On the same day he started so did a young salesman half his age - he looked at the company cars each was given,his was a second hand Hillman Hunter,the young guy had the top of the line Mitsubishi with all the extras,his Hunter didn't even have a radio! When he asked the big chief about it he was told - ''The workshop loses money,no matter how well it is run,this young guy can make us a thousand dollars a day...that's why he is paid more then you''.

Yes, I've seen that kind of argument before - and think it's a bit flawed. After all, they're a business; they're there to make money. If the workshop is losing money, why not close it down? Because it backs up the sales team, presumably - the sales guy wouldn't be making the thousand a day if he didn't have the after-sales support.

The real reason, of course, is "Because you'll take the job at that price, because everybody else undervalues you just as much as we do".

Richard

[Motu]

The workshop at a dealership loses money because it does warranty claims,of course they get reimbursed,but not for the time they actualy spend sorting the shit out.Sort of customer services really,not vehicle repair.

I once had my own motorcycle repair business - I lost my enthusiasim for bikes,they were just my job.By not not working on bikes I can use my skills in the same industry to play with knowledge in my hobby....

[JimO]

you will never NEVER make "fuck off" money working with your hands you need to be playing with other peoples money for that, and that includes building trades as well as motor trades.

[Finn]

you will never NEVER make "fuck off" money working with your hands

Tell that to Eric Clapton.

[zeocen]

Sorry for bumping an old thread, but I've been thinking about it for a while now and the want for a job in motorcycles isn't disappearing :dodge:

I just have no idea how to go about this, I took Scott's advice today and went to get a Kiwi Rider mag to see if there were any situations wanted in there, only to find that 21478 shops didn't have Kiwi Rider mags! I settled for Motorcycle Trader instead and there wasn't much in there :(

I really want to start off this road of motorcycles, eventually leading into painting etc (it's been a passion to paint pretty much anything ever since I can remember.) but I really don't know where to start?

Are there any bike painters in the Auckland area that could tell me how to get my ass into gear, or even just working in a parts/warehouse area would be awesome.

This message was brought to you buy a shameless bike enthusiast with nothing to lose :Punk:

Thanks!

[Indiana_Jones]

it's become more than a hobby, rather a passion/obsession (that's okay, right? ...guys?)

Obsession is a word used by the lazy to describe the dedicated lol :D

Best of luck finding that job

-Indy

[Rizla]

Well if you dont want to actually work as a mechanic but still would like the knowledge of how to repair bikes, etc etc, you could do a STOTTS correspondence course for MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS. I have looked into this as I was also interested to do the same thing and then found out, like many have mentioned in this thread, that the pay is to poor.
With Stott's, you can learn in your own time, from home, while still working. For some it is expensive, but for $820 as full payment, I thought this was cheap to give you the knowledge that will save you $$$$ in all the years ahead of owning a bike. Ofcourse they offer payment plans aswell. Give them a bell on 0800500 567. They will send you all the usual stuff on this course. Dates, prices etc.