So you've been watching Sons of Anarchy for the last several years and have finally figured out what you want to do with your life. All of the signs are pointing to a career as a motorcycle mechanic, and you're already starting to picture yourself wrenching bikes and listening to Lynyrd Skynyrd in the afternoon sun. But before you start sowing patches onto your jacket, you need to figure out the right steps to take in order to reach your goals. Here is some useful information for anyone looking to become a motorcycle mechanic.
First and foremost, you have to graduate high school and get your diploma. While there technically isn't an educational requirement for becoming a motorcycle mechanic, it is doubtful that you will be able to get hired without at least a diploma. If your high school has a mechanical program, it's a good idea to sign up, as it will give you a better idea of the type of work involved, and allow you to see whether or not it's a good fit. Another way to get a head start on your lazy high school friends is to get a part-time job at a motorcycle shop after school or on weekends. While you may just start by sweeping floors and helping unload bikes, you will be able to observe and learn what goes into day-to-day operations.
After finishing high school, you basically have two choices on your path to becoming a motorcycle mechanic, each of which carries some potential risks. The first option is to learn the skills needed "on the job." This would involve starting at the bottom at a shop, as mentioned above, and having an experienced mechanic and shop owner take you under their wing and show you how to preform the work. The best part of going this route is that you will get paid while you learn, maybe not much, but it's certainly a good thing.
There are, however, some major drawbacks. The first, and most obvious, is that it's fairly difficult to find someone willing to hire you, train you, and give you a job afterward. Motorcycle repair is not an enormous industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there were 14,960 people working as a 'motorcycle mechanic' as of 2013, and nearly 25% of all motorcycle mechanics were employed in just 5 states; CA, FL, TX, PA, and NY. This makes finding a mentor willing to take a risk on you challenging. The other drawback is that if you're trained on the job, you may run the risk of not having a more formal education on your resume. While you may be a perfectly competent tech, you may very likely run into a problem getting hired without some documented formal training when you leave the shop where you've completed your 'apprenticeship'.
The second, and more common approach for how to become a motorcycle mechanic is to attend a formal training program. You can find motorcycle training programs at some community colleges in the country, as well as various certification programs. The most well-known motorcycle mechanic training program is the Motorcycle Mechanic's Institute (MMI), located in Phoenix, AZ, and Orlando, FL. The courses vary in length and cost, but training will typically run from 12-24 months, and can cost upwards of $25,000. According to MMI, they offer "factory-authorized training," which is an advanced-training program offered that allows students to take a manufacturer-approved course load. This includes the leading manufacturers such as Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, Suzuki, BMW, and Honda. According to the school's website, as well as a cursory search of various online forums, this type of formal manufacturer training is the best way to increase the likelihood of employment by a dealer, or shop upon graduation, but it's important to keep in mind the cost of such an education, and to survey the potential employment opportunities before spending tens of thousands of dollars on an training, whether the money is being borrowed or not. Some other motorcycle training programs that are fairly well-known are Wyotech in Wyoming, and Power Sports Institute in Ohio.
So what kind of salary can you expect as a motorcycle mechanic, assuming you are able to comfortable secure employment? According to the BLS, the mean (average) hourly wage for a motorcycle mechanic was $17.02, and the mean annual wage was $35,400. Broken down by percentile, the annual wage for the bottom 10% was $20,930, for the median (50%) it was $33,590, and for the top 90% it was $53,330. Keep in mind that this information is collected throughout the country, and you may earn significantly more, or less, depending on the demand and economy in your area.
So if your dream is to become a bike tech, keep these things in mind. You should start as early as possible, to test out whether or not you really enjoy the work. Offer to help at a local bike shop, even if it's not work that puts a wrench in your hand. And after graduating from high school, take a look at the availability of jobs in your area, or where you want to live before making the big financial commitment of going to school. But if it's something you really want to do, don't let anything get in the way of following your dreams. Without aspiring motorcycle mechanics like you, there wouldn't be millions of bikes on the road, and millions of biker driving them with a smile on their face.
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