Are you looking for a career in an exciting field? If you’re good with your hands, a quick study, a lover of two-wheelers, and interested in the inner-workings of small-engines, you can pursue a motorcycle mechanic job.
Also known as a motorcycle technician, they primarily perform repair and maintenance tasks, and sometimes they may rebuild engines and transmissions.
A large percentage of individuals who have secured careers in the motorcycle industry are truly satisfied with their career.
They get to learn indispensable skills that can translate into other industries, work on motorcycles of all makes, models, and styles, earn a decent living, meet people from all walks of life, and expand their learning opportunities and earning potential to the max.
With advantages like this, you might be eager to pursue motorcycle mechanic jobs.
In order to make the most informed decision for your future, however, it is important to consider both the pros and the cons. Below are six of the most important aspects to consider:
1. Your Talents and Skills
Before jumping into any career, you should have at least a basic understanding of how much its duties relate to your talents and/or skills.
Any job will have aspects we don’t like and/or aren’t good at, but it’s more enjoyable if a majority of its duties align with your natural skills and personality – and chances are it’d be a good fit for you.
To start a motorcycle mechanic career, some of the skills you’ll need include:
- problem-solving and critical thinking skills for repair and troubleshooting;
- social skills for effective customer service;
- time management, which is crucial for any project manager;
- a willingness to continually learn and adapt as technologies, tools and processes evolve over time and become more advanced.
2. Vocational School Vs. On-the-Job Training
When working on any complex machinery, training is an absolute must.
You’ll want to consider how you learn best, whether in a classroom setting or hands-on training environment. Further, the type of training required will essentially depend on the types of motorcycle mechanic jobs you’re planning to pursue.
If you’re interested in starting out at an indy shop and have some of the basic skills described above, you could get hired and receive on-the-job training.
However, if you’re looking to find a motorcycle tech job at a major dealership or planning to open your own shop, you’ll want to go to vocational school to obtain the specific education and certifications.
Of course, you could still open your own shop by putting in the time at an indy shop to gain the sufficient experience and credibility you need to earn people’s business.
3. Hobby Vs. Work
It can be extra rewarding, but it is not without hard work.
Maybe you worked on motorcycles as a hobby over the years or you just have a love of bikes and believe it would be nice to know how to fix your own. While this is a great motivator to get you in the door, just like any professional career from the first day of school you’ll be expected to work hard every day.
Some individuals can compartmentalize, but sometimes a hobby loses its enjoyment when it becomes a job. One should reflect if pursuing professional motorcycle mechanic jobs could potentially burnout a beloved hobby.
4. Opportunities in Other Industries or Self-Employment
Becoming a motorcycle mechanic is a flexible career choice. After you’ve gone through training and had some years of on-the-job experience, you can essentially go off and do your own thing.
You could save the funds to open your own shop and work independently, or perhaps fix bikes for others at their homes. Both of these increase your earnings potential.
With the training and experience you learn once you are a motorcycle mechanic, you can also expand into other arenas like industrial or outdoor power equipment or marine equipment.
5. Favors Warm Climate
Depending on where you live, pursuing a motorcycle mechanic career may not be as stable or lucrative. Not to mention that finding openings near where you live may be difficult.
Obviously, population factors in, but business will also be generally slower in areas with long, cold winters.
So, if you want to increase your chances of getting hired and/or having a full-time motorcycle mechanic job, consider the climate in which you live. If you should relocate somewhere with a relatively mild and shorter winter season.
6. Wages and Work Environment
Last but not least, it is recommended that you consider the work environment and average salary of positions in your desired area.
On average, motorcycle mechanics at a shop or dealership can make about $35,000 a year.
As for the working environment, a shop dealing with engines means you will be regularly handling chemicals and fumes. All jobs come with some risk involved, so this may or may not be a problem for you.
Out of those who pursued any motorcycle mechanic jobs, the majority have loved the industry and the many perks that come along with it.
Be that as it may, when deciding on any career path, it is always best to learn as much about both the pros and cons so that you can make the most informed decision for your future.