Benefits of motorcycle mechanic?

[MX_Ryda_192]

I'm doin a paper on motorcycle mechanic's job. I need the retirement and benefits, and I'm having a hard time finding em. Anyone know of any?

[CycleWriter]

I'm doin a paper on motorcycle mechanic's job. I need the retirement and benefits, and I'm having a hard time finding em. Anyone know of any?

That's because there really aren't many. Most positions in the auto/moto repair business require the employee to setup their own retirement plan, and the few that offer health benefits only pay part. Factory dealerships pay better and have better benefits than independent shops, but many shops hire mechanics as sub-contractors and pay them a percentage of the hourly rate as billed to the customer. Usually it's only the entry-level mechanics who get a regular salary or hourly wage. Some shops operate much like a hairdresser shop where the mechanic basically pays a fee for the workspace and is expected to bring in customers. Motorcycle mechanics are still among the underpaid and the job is not yet looked upon as a career, but more as a stepping stone to a job as a service manager or shop owner. The higher paid among them typically work in multi-line dealerships and have skills beyond just motorcycles. The few who make it as high-paid, factory race team mechanics have a huge dose of luck to go with their skills. It's more of a right place, right time, and who you know sort of thing. Most motorcycle mechanics are in the business because of passion, not earning potential. Unfortunately, if money is your goal and you like twirling wrenches, you'd be better off becoming a Mercedes technician.

[hondoman]

I second that. what a mouthful and very very true. About 18 years of wrenching behind me. No longer doing it lost the passion.

[joethunder]

Dont overlook all of your buddies calling to have you work on their bikes for free. ?

[4SEVEN3]

if money is your goal and you like twirling wrenches, you'd be better off becoming a Mercedes technician.

? .........been there done that!!!!!!!!!!!!

Im a "motorcycle technician" I work on JetSkis and 4-wheelers (and wear may other hats at work too, service manager, sales, parts, janitor, ect).

Ive just started in the industry after getting burnt out on cars (worked on Mercedes, Acura, Honda, and Porsche). I do it for the passion, though I do get paid well and im Hourly wage instead of comission like in the auto industry and other MC tech shops. This insures quality work, and thats all we turn out. No lying, no 1/2ass attempts to fix something. I dont let anything go out the shop door that I wouldnt ride myself.

The paticular shop I work for is Suzuki/Kawasaki and family owned. They offer medical, but I declined as Im on my wifes policy. I had a 401k from a previous employer and will continue to make contributions of my own. It really all depends on what the company is offering (most mc shops are small buisness oriented) and what you negotiate at time of employment offer. Nothing is set in stone.

[CRF_173]

OK so I REALLY want to be a factory race team mechanic. I've taken all my schools motor classes and the guy from MMI came and talked to us. I'd really like to go there, but how hard is it to get a factory job out of a place like that? I realize Im not gonna be a factory riders mechanic, like race day guy, but Im talkin like week day stuff. Pretty much anything, Id do the bitch work if it meant I'd have a chance at being a riders mechanic. It's just always been my dream but I have heard a lot of people discourage it...

[Rip Wheeler]

I'm doin a paper on motorcycle mechanic's job. I need the retirement and benefits, and I'm having a hard time finding em. Anyone know of any?

Ah, no one makes that good of money as a motorcycle mechanic unless they end up working for OCC or something. Do auto techs, ie dealerships. Between 80-110K a year, usually a 401K, medical dental, paid holidays. Not as many or as much as a goverment job, but the pay is much better. If you are a union technican, ie a domestic brand, expect to make around 40-50K max. Bennies will vary between shops. Independet shops, especially small ones, you on your own on retirement!

[CycleWriter]

OK so I REALLY want to be a factory race team mechanic. I've taken all my schools motor classes and the guy from MMI came and talked to us. I'd really like to go there, but how hard is it to get a factory job out of a place like that? I realize Im not gonna be a factory riders mechanic, like race day guy, but Im talkin like week day stuff. Pretty much anything, Id do the bitch work if it meant I'd have a chance at being a riders mechanic. It's just always been my dream but I have heard a lot of people discourage it...

The majority of the factory mechanics are former racers who didn't quite make it to the big show. What they did during their racing careers is network with people in the industry so that when they finished racing they had a sizable number of industry contacts from which to make phone calls to. Not many have formal training from places like MMI, instead they have years of practical experience and a knowledge of how the industry works. Many have previous relationships with a factory (race sponsor) or a couple of top riders that get their foot in the door. Again, it's often a who-you-know, right place, right time thing.

As for MMI and such, personally I have only slight regard for their graduates. I have hired many over the years and rarely been anything but disappointed with them. These schools focus so much on theory and not enough on the actual needs of a front line mechanic. For instance, the Harley course teaches things like cylinder boring and head machining. These are jobs that most shops farm out so they have little practical value to a student unless you are going to work in an automotive machine shop. You'll get a good education on how to turn wrenches, but what really makes a good technician is the ability to troubleshoot and diagnose accurately. Although you need a level of mechanical aptitude, wrenching is often the easy part. I also see little wisdom in spending $30-40,000 on tuition for a job that has an average starting salary of under $20,000 a year. You'd be better off serving as an apprentice in a shop and getting some OJT without the burden of student loans.

Don't get me wrong, a career in motorsports can be very rewarding, but if you're comparing it to other careers that require college-level tuition and training, you'd either have to have a tremendous passion or talent for it or you'd be better off considering something else.

[CRF_173]

Aaahhh damnit. Maybe I should look more into cars...I really would love to be a race team mechanic, but Im thinking maybe a benz or porsche mechanic. Theyre making pretty good money. And I could stay local and just go to Lincoln Tech in Indy for that.

[RCannon]

What about going to regular college? You can still turn wrenches if that is what you want to do. It is a real pain to go back to school later in life.

[xrmarty]

It is a real pain to go back to school later in life.

Yes. It is.

[CRF_173]

I really dont want to go to a regular college. I hate high school now, I cant wait to get to fourth period so I can work on engines. The only reason I even try in my other classes and still get C's and B's in them is so I can race. Maybe not a mechanic, but i REALLY want to work in the motocross industry. What about the people that go out and promote the product, like a sales rep or something? Thatd be fun. What do you have to do to be one of those?