Motorcycle Mechanic Job Description | Find Automotive Schools

Overview of Motorcycle Mechanics

Motorcycle mechanics may sound specialized but there?s much more room to branch out with this career for those with the passion. A good way to look at the Motorcycle mechanic job description are mechanics that are technically small engine mechanics. They work on all types of small engines on anything from ATVs to mopeds.

And the work goes much further than engines. In the average day in the life of a mechanic you work on all aspects of small vehicles. You?re the go-to person that customers come to to perform maintenance, fix problems and generally care for all parts of motorcycles and other vehicles including but not limited to:

• Engines
• Cosmetic body work
• Brakes
• Transmission assemblies
• alignments
• and more

The variety of vehicles you?re likely to see on an average day depends on the type of mechanic shop you work for. There are two types of mechanic shops: independent shops and dealerships.

At a bike dealership you?re likely to get paid a little more than the average mechanic at an independent shop. But at a dealership you?ll be restricted to dealing with the type and brand of bike that the dealership sells.

At an independent bike shop, you?ll see a wider variety of vehicles and get a lot of experience. For that reason independent shops are a great place for motorcycle mechanics to work when they?re just starting out.

Your work at whichever part of the industry you decide to go into can be as varied or as specified as you want. Love Harley Davidsons? Devote your career to them. Love being surprised by what comes in the door? Go independent. The possibilities are vast.

Education Requirements

What do you have to do to be a motorcycle mechanic? Besides a passion for the field you?ll need a bit of training and education. Motorcycle mechanics with training in the industry earn more and have higher employment rates than their self-trained counterparts.

Many technical colleges offer 2 year associate?s degrees or certificates in motorcycle mechanics or small engine repair. In some schools you can even choose to specialize in a specific brand of motorcycle if you have your eye on a career in a dealership.

Students learn their craft through course work, lab work and garage work. Students learn the ins and outs of small engine mechanics and then they apply that knowledge in a garage with lots of help and supervision.

As students get a little more information under their belt they?ll be placed in scenarios just like they would encounter on the job. Instructors will hand over small engines or other components and ask students to identify the problem and fix it to demonstrate their knowledge and proficiency. Or students will be asked to estimate the cost of damage on a bike.

And its not all engines. Motorcycle mechanics graduate prepared to tackle all things small engine. They?ll muck around with oils and dissect carburetors and fuel assemblies. Or they?ll adjust suspensions and clutches, diagnose electrical problems or replace drivelines.

Motorcycle mechanics looking to continue their education at the end of their program can get certification from manufacturers if they want to specialize in their bikes.

Benefits of a Career in Motorcycle Mechanics

The future for careers in motorcycle mechanics looks really bright. As gas prices continue to spiral out of control, it stands to reason that more and more people will trade in their gas guzzlers and clunky 4-wheelers for motorcycles. And this means lots more work for motorcycle mechanics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 9% increase in employment opportunities between now and 2018.

Work is plentiful and the wages aren?t bad either. On average, according to the Bureau of Labor?Statistics?the average hourly wage for mechanics is roughly $17/hr. Wages for motorcycle and small engine mechanics earning a salary is closer to $34,000 per year.

The best place for a qualified motorcycle mechanic to look for work is in large cities all over the country. The state of California out-hires most other states because the coast is a great place to ride. California also has some of the most competitive wages in the united states. It pays its motorcycle mechanics an average of $36,000 to $39,000 per year which exceeds the natural average by a considerable margin.

Best Locations To Work As A Motorcycle Mechanic

California shares that distinction with most of the coastal states like Washington, Texas, Maryland, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Landlocked states like Iowa, Arkansas and West Virginia hire bike mechanics but they pay much lower than the national average: between $24,000 and $29,000 per year.

What you earn as a motorcycle mechanic depends largely on your experience, training and where you live. So be prepared to pick up shop to find greener pastures if you?re looking to earn well above the national average.

And there are other ways for you to earn more. Almost every motorcycle mechanic starts their career working for someone else. But they don?t have to do that forever. Many motorcycle mechanics eventually open their own repair shops. That way they can be their own boss and set their own hours.

Motorcycle mechanics with more of an artistic streak can take their passion in a different direction. Once you?ve mastered the ins and outs of motorcycle mechanics you can start to construct your own. Many mechanics work for independent or established designers. Some even successfully establish their own brand of motorcycle and introduce it to the marketplace.

Source: http://findautomotiveschools.com/motorcycle-mechanic-job-description

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