Biking shaping your career?

[Spyke]

Just something to ponder over :slap:.

After mind searching for yonks and yonks about what type of career i'm likely to choose it occured to me that all the things I want to do help me in some shape or form by giving me something useful to do with motorcycling, eg fitter turner (hand made parts woohoo), mechanic (obvious)

I want to ask. Did being a biker, in any shape or form guide you to where you are now in the form of your career/job? what career/job? and is it enjoyable to you or do you do it for the pirks of riding?

I'll start, I am at high school and currenty getting paid nothing for it. biking didn't have an input into it but it is enjoyable because i have plenty of time to play and tinker on my little TS185, I have hopefully lined up work experience at a motorbike shop which is directly related to my passion motorcycling, i'm hoping it will be enjoyable (which i think it will). :woohoo:


your turn :rockon:

[Katman]

I have my own motorcycle workshop so yes, my passion for motorcycles led me to my career.

(And, I enjoy going to work every day).

[jade]

I am 22, a boat builder of 6 years, carbon fiber race yachts, cut my teeth building team nz boats, everything on my bike is carbon and
ultimately I hope to build composite bike parts lighter and stronger than anyone else, motogp, aprilia's superbike team, but mostly casey's bike, all of it, like his new frame
my other goal is to have 3 completely carbon aprilias in my garage, fairings, tanks, subframes the works.. my 250, my 500 and the rsv4 which already comes as carbon but Ill make my own rear end..
so in answer to your question, being a biker didnt guide me into this career, but its worked out bloody well and being a biker will guide me into the career I want, for now Ill stick with the boats, I can travel and catch the motogp in different locations... bikes soon..

[Big Dave]

Good for you.

Building your skill set is the first step. That's always easier to do if you enjoy it. Work out what part/job in the industry appeals to you most and target your learning and efforts that way.

You know, physics is more important than ancient history to an engineer.

Then be prepared to change direction if you find a better one.

Also understand it's bloody dangerous. most of us that have been in it a while have scar tissue of some sort.

If I was a bike shop owner I'd like to read your original post in a letter or email. What you wrote would be worth running the tape over.

As for me.

No - I've shaped biking to suit my career. :-)

[Spyke]

If I was a bike shop owner I'd like to read your original post in a letter or email. What you wrote would be worth running the tape over.



Meaning it sucks so bad? sorry for my shitty gramma/english if thats the case. :third: not fully on my priority list but it should be i guess.

If you don't mind me asking how did you shape biking to suit your career?

[Katman]

Meaning it sucks so bad?

I think you'll find Dave meant it in a good way.

[Spyke]

I think you'll find Dave meant it in a good way.

cheers katman :not:
I'm a learner. Now i know what the whole running the tape over thing is.

My bad for taking it wrong!!!! :Oops:

[Big Dave]

My aussie manner - meaning what you wrote was good and would be worth a closer look.

As to the shaping the industry - I work in the bike media - it's always all about us.

I know the next question is 'how did I get into the bike media?'

A: By building a suitable skill set, by treating people like I'd like to be treated and with a lot of luck.

[Pedrostt500]

I brought my first new bike when I was at high school yep a TS 185 ER woohoo, left School and got an Apprentceship as a car mechanic, in a country garage, so did a little of every thing mechanical, now work as a Fitter Welder.
Yep big dave is right any future employer would be happy to read about you project build, ( in a good way.) it shows you are keen. you have a problem solving ability, and you can work methodicaly.
Don't worry about spelling mistakes thats what dictionaries are for, and spell check.
Fitter Turner, Tool Maker, Diesle Mechanic, are good trades worth considering and generaly always sort after for trades people in the respective industries, and pay well.

[CookMySock]

my other goal is to have 3 completely carbon aprilias in my garage, fairings, tanks, subframes the works..I'm tempted to build a foam/epoxy bucket racer, wheels, frame, and suspension included. It'd be light I reckon.

Steve

[danchop]

i was top of my 6th form in accounting,economics and geography and got a $10000 grant to study at university in accounting,couldnt bare the thought of having no income at university to buy cars and bikes i left school at 7th form to start work in the anz bank and work up the ranks from there,but 2 years into it i chucked the tie in and went to work in the local honda shop and have been in the motorcycle industry in some form or another ever since,by nowhere near the financial gain,ive had a good time

[Motu]

all the things I want to do help me in some shape or form by giving me something useful to do with motorcycling, eg fitter turner (hand made parts woohoo), mechanic (obvious)


USEFUL to do with motorcycling - not IN motorcycling is where you want to aim.Personally - I have worked as a motocycle mechanic a few times...and I hate it.To spend your days working on bikes,and then to come home to a shed full of motorcycle projects is no fun.What you need (and I think your original thought) is a set of skills that earn you a living - that you can apply to motorcycles.

Nothing can destroy a passion so well as doing it every day forever.Some like Dave can make their living from motorcycles - but his skills are not about motorcycles...he has just learned how to apply them to something he loves.

[Katman]

Nothing can destroy a passion so well as doing it every day forever.

Working for myself though has restored my passion entirely.

[hayd3n]

yea my skills come in handy but mostly for others

[quickbuck]

Motorcycling shaping my career?
Well, not this one... Career shaping my motorcycling would be closer to it.

Well, I rode before starting my career, but over time it has given me more funds and time to continue with my passion of motorcycling...
From Afternoon group rides to Long tours to Racing... My career has allowed it all.....

It even provides me with the time to begin my next career.
That is most likely going to be more directly involved with motorcycling... All going to plan....

[vifferman]

But of course it has! I spend most of my time on bike forums now.:blank:
I'm almost a professional bike forum contributor (and in my last job, I basically was - spent about 90% of my time on KB and other forums...)

I was passionate about motorcycling before I had a job, and that's what drove me to get a job so I could buy one.

A few years ago, I spent a small wodge of money on a one-day course to help me find my ideal job (coz I was working in the computer software industry and wasn't happy). I walked out before the end of the course, because I realised that all the things I really liked doing, I could do as hobbies - I didn't need to do them full-time as a job. (It's also often true that someone who is doing what he loves as a job is truly blessed. :niceone:)
But in fact, although I could quite happily be a full time motorcycle journalist or whatever, having your job and hobbies/passions separate is sometimes - as Motu alluded to - a Good Thing.


Like sex. f'rinstance. I bet you'd get sick of sex eventually if you were a porn star...

Oh - and I don't have a career. I just go from one job to another, and don't plan things or look too far ahead. Probably why I've ended up with a job that's just a job. Like most people, I don't live to work, nor work to live. I get my satsifaction and whatnot outside the workplace.

[wbks]

I am 22, a boat builder of 6 years, carbon fiber race yachts, cut my teeth building team nz boats, everything on my bike is carbon and
ultimately I hope to build composite bike parts lighter and stronger than anyone else, motogp, aprilia's superbike team, but mostly casey's bike, all of it, like his new frame
my other goal is to have 3 completely carbon aprilias in my garage, fairings, tanks, subframes the works.. my 250, my 500 and the rsv4 which already comes as carbon but Ill make my own rear end..
so in answer to your question, being a biker didnt guide me into this career, but its worked out bloody well and being a biker will guide me into the career I want, for now Ill stick with the boats, I can travel and catch the motogp in different locations... bikes soon..Sorry to go a little off track, spyke but I have to say that sounds like a frickin awesome job! My stepdad used to do carbon fibre bodywork for a few racecars in aus and recons he got payed well apart from being a few screws loose from inhaling too many fumes of course haha. How did you get into doing boats to begin with?

[CookMySock]

Run your own business from home, and get lots of staff, then you can piss off and ride whenever you like.

Steve

[racerhead]

Ive worked as a marine technician for the last 5 years and am about to leave this job because I dont get enough time to do the thing I enjoy like riding my bike and hopefully going to start racing soon. But one thing this job has done for me is teach me mechanical skills so I can work on my bikes so this is a big bonus. So hopefully going to be starting a new career in the new year which will give me time to follow my passion. If anyone has a job for a multi talented marine technican or heavy diesel mechanic Im your man;)

[bgd]

No influence on my career at all. But the journey to work is much better than it used to be.

[slofox]

Just something to ponder over :slap:.

After mind searching for yonks and yonks about what type of career i'm likely to choose it occured to me that all the things I want to do help me in some shape or form by giving me something useful to do with motorcycling, eg fitter turner (hand made parts woohoo), mechanic (obvious)

I want to ask. Did being a biker, in any shape or form guide you to where you are now in the form of your career/job? what career/job? and is it enjoyable to you or do you do it for the pirks of riding?

I'll start, I am at high school and currenty getting paid nothing for it. biking didn't have an input into it but it is enjoyable because i have plenty of time to play and tinker on my little TS185, I have hopefully lined up work experience at a motorbike shop which is directly related to my passion motorcycling, i'm hoping it will be enjoyable (which i think it will). :woohoo:


your turn :rockon:

No........

[lostinflyz]

mines the reverse. started off thinking bikes were for homo's when i started studying engineering. Then the people around and the courses lead me to have a go and now its the about the only thing i think off. while i didn't choose a career for bikes im very fortunate to be in the right industry to possibly go play with motorcycles. YAY!

and i certainly choose my job partially based alot on location and the people there that are bikers and racers. but unfortunatly you do have to add up other things.

Either way the nice thing is that there isn't anything that you cant learn somehow. So while being a mechanic is cool (still wish i just did that) and you will learn things quicker and be better versed it may or may not suite you for 40 hours each week.

[Bren]

what's a career? I just work to earn a dollar or two....Granted I am just in Stores (warehousing), but I love it!

[SARGE]

Just something to ponder over :slap:.

After mind searching for yonks and yonks about what type of career i'm likely to choose it occured to me that all the things I want to do help me in some shape or form by giving me something useful to do with motorcycling, eg fitter turner (hand made parts woohoo), mechanic (obvious)

I want to ask. Did being a biker, in any shape or form guide you to where you are now in the form of your career/job? what career/job? and is it enjoyable to you or do you do it for the pirks of riding?

I'll start, I am at high school and currenty getting paid nothing for it. biking didn't have an input into it but it is enjoyable because i have plenty of time to play and tinker on my little TS185, I have hopefully lined up work experience at a motorbike shop which is directly related to my passion motorcycling, i'm hoping it will be enjoyable (which i think it will). :woohoo:


your turn :rockon:




heres the thing man .. i love bikes .. have for as long as i can remember ..

when i first got to NZ .. i found getting sa gig difficult so i turned to what i know .. bikes ..(blowing shit up wasnt a viable career choice in NZ)

i was a respected and fairly successful bike salesman for years.. got to ride the latest and greatest.. Gixxers, R1's, MV Agusta's, etc..

then i came home to my 92 FJ1200 (which is no slouch in itself...)


its like being a gynecologist in Hollywood.. you spend all day in Angelina Jolie's pink bits for money.. ..


then you go home and your wife is on the couch eating bon bons and watching Oprah..get my drift?




dont combine your love with your job unless you own the bloody place...it kills your passion for what you love and the way you make your living..


i also work every day with mechanics.. a fair portion of them cant WAIT to stop spinning spanners and getting filthy for a living.. dickhead foremen, hi pressure,..job stability, trapped between the customer and the service writer/ salesman..

go take a mechanical engineering degree course.. learn to design them..then what you ride can come from your heart..



go take a journalism course.. get a gig with a bike mag...

get a marketing degree..work in the YamaSusNda marketing department...

work SMART.. not HARD..

your mileage may vary..

[Bren]

.

work SMART.. not HARD..




Best advice ever!!!!

Wish I had done that many years ago!!!!

[AlBundy]

no........

+1

.................

[Spyke]

Cheers for all your input guys, I can see what some of you mean by killing your passion :weep:. It's good to hear what you guys do as it gives a little perspective into the real world.

Computers could be the way to go. I was thinking of getting background in motorcycling mechanics and then working my way to doing engine management systems or efi. Has anyone been close to that line of work?