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

[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 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

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

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

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.