i have been thinking about going to wyotech for there motorcycle program then becoming a mechanic but iam not sure on the wages and if its a good job to have. i love working on bikes and everything in general, iam a mechanic in the army and iam getting out soon and looking for a career. so can anyone help me out with making my decision. i know iam not going to be rich by no means being a mechanic but i dont want to be broke neither.

 

I went to MMI , and became motorcycle and watercraft certified back in 97'. I worked at a few different shops, the first shop fresh out of school, as an apprentice I started at 7.00 an hour!, I learned alot at the first shop, did that for almost a year, then I went to another shop for a year, It was strictly personal watercraft, learned alot there, That shop paid 12.00 an hour, I then went to another shop as the PWC technician and was getting paid 14.00 an hour. I worked there for 2 years, after a while I realized I could make more on my own, then over a 5 year period I had my own small businesses reparing MC's and PWC's.

The thing with that, for me, there was alot to it, and the insurance, bay rental, hoping to have enough customers, and time to make money in the short cape cod summer months. So its great to have the knowledge, and be able to have a trade to fall back on, but I had to switch it up, and get a real type career without the up and down struggle, I work for an agency that helps rebuild after Natural disasters, I have to travel around the country, but its worth it.

Well good luck on your decision man, I say go for it, its a great feeling when you can diagnose a problem , properly fix it, and get paid to do it. Even if it just becomes something to fall back on.

 

were here.

 

you wont be paid good. Be a doctor or a lawyer

 

i feel the same way, i want something i will enjoy doing but i dont want to have to struggle when i know i can make money somewhere else. motorcycles has always been a hobby for me but iam not sure if it will pay the bills. iam getting out in a few months so i need to decide soon. i have a few jobs offers already making good money so iam not sure if i should take them and keep the bike thing a hobby. trades are always a great thing to have. iam also thinking about going to a 4 year college but still not sure on that either.. so many choices and not enough time lol

 

After working at a shop for about 4-5 years I can say that it has gotten to where I almost hate motorcycles. I like riding mine but thats about it. I've thought about doing something else so I can get the love back

 

iam the same way, iam a mechanic in the army and when i get off i use to like to work on my truck but now i dont want to work on it after a long day of working on ****.

 

IM NOT A TECH BUT IVE BEEN WORKIN AT A BIKE SHOP FOR LIKE 2 YEARS NOW AND I LIKE IT. ITS NOT A DEALERSHIP SO ITS REALLY LAYED BACK AND I CAN STUNT IN THE PARKING LOT ON BREAK OR IF HOT GIRLS COME IN! WWW.RAMCYCLES.NET

 

I would not do it unless you already have a good shop to work for. Still do not expect to make good money. Get a trade were you are needed by the general public all the time. IE electrician,HVAC these trades pay good money. I went to mmi and got certified. After some thinking I am eventually going to go to a trade school for a more reasonable trade. Although being a motorcycle mechanic is good trade to have.

 

you all make very good points. after thinking about all of this it seems like iam going to keep motorcycle's to a hobby and get a good paying job to support my hobbies lol.

 

it all depends on where you are at and how the shop pays. at the shop i work at the mechanics get commision on everything over base(20 hours) so if you have a good week and can pump certain **** out fast it can be pretty lucrative, but if you work slow or get a bunch of **** jobs you only get base. which at our shop is 450 a week. for watercraft if you can pump them out it isnt anythingto make 800 to a 1000 a week during the season. but then again the economy now has us working less and less. last year at this time we had 4 people in the shop that were moving 15 to 20 or more units a week and couldnt keep up. this year we have two and moving about 5 to 10 units a week. that includes services and repairs.

 

keep it as a hobby, mechanics dont make **** unless your independent or your at a good dealership busting your *** on flat rate. i went to wyotech for automotive then got in with a performance shop, was fun but didnt pay the bills. but i was able to use that degree to get where im at now and thats building aircraft carrier engines. i guess im still in the mechanical field but its so much nicer not workin on cars and i actually enjoy doing my side jobs now

 

its tough to survive on just doing simple maintenance and repairs. customs and race related bikes seem to bring in a lot more money, at least at our shop. Although it is tougher to find the customers nowadays that have the pockets to pimp out their busas and drop $25000 into them like its nothing.

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