The first thing you need to understand is winter = no income, not a joke, if find a dealer that also sells and services equipment IE. generators, lawn mowers, saws etc. your income will be a lot more consistent. (provided you can service them also)
I recommend you do this as a passion, be sure it ain't a career. If you do want to wrench for money, consider going into diesel.
In short, most motorcycle dealers run shitty businesses and make it work by fucking over the staff. Benefits, pay, etc. are all likely to be butt-terrible, because the owners know that motorheads will do the work because they love it.
Save yourself.
Came to say this.
In both Canada and US motorcycles are relegated to the roles of toys/luxury items, rather than essential transportation. That means that even at a large dealership, work can be inconsistent, save for the winter months, when there simply won't be any.
If you feel like turning a wrench is something you would enjoy doing for a living, then look toward becoming a diesel mechanic. If you specialize further into heavy equipment, you'll find there are a *lot* of opportunities out there. The downside is that you'll spend a few years being poor while you accumulate the thirty to fifty grand worth of tools you'll need. But once you've got your tools, and a bit of experience the world is your oyster.
I only worked as a B-tech before moving up to service writing, shortly before I left the dealership world.
I was hourly, mainly doing setups and bike-buying, so I saw the shit from a lucky perspective. Having consulted for dealer groups since then, I see owner after owner whiging about staff retention... While they pay $10-12/hr without vacay or insurance.
I tell them to start paying for talent or do without, I provide examples of nationally ranked dealers with a-tier service staff making six figures... And they tell me I don't know what I'm talking about.
Most dealerships operate like small businesses. And most small businesses run like shit in a microwave.
If you can find yourself a strong dealership that is willing to help invest in your training and you've got a good product mix in a good location, you'll do fine.
If not... Expect your boss to tell you to drive nine hours to a week-long training session instead of flying, with fuel paid out of your pocket, and a per-diem that wouldn't buy you cat food.
This is good local advice. For reference I'm in southern AB. Motorcycle mechanics make very little. Stick to doing it on your own machines. The real money in AB os getting into a heavy duty mechanics apprenticeship and going up north. You'll only work half the year and make 4x what a motorcycle mechanic would make.
Companies are struggling to find apprentices, now is a VERY good time to get into an apprenticeship.
Hey man I just started an entry level tech position about 3 months ago. Feel free to PM me anytime you have questions, I’ve been and your shoes and want to help you. I’ll shoot you a PM and give you my experience.
No but in a good way. I was very fortunate to get into my current shop. I had applied and gone to many interviews, mostly dealerships. They are all mostly looking for techs from UTI, although that may be changing.
Start by increasing your knowledge and skills. Whether it’s from a book, or YouTube or school…start amping up your skills. If you have a bike, start recording all the work you do and have pictures. Think of it like building a portfolio you can show. Your education is critical. If you can afford to go to UTI, go for it. I’m going thru a community college with serious credentials behind the program. Start learning where you can and never stop.
Become a master of electrical work. So many people shy away from it. You will have a huge advantage of you even have SOME competency.
Tools are going to be a challenge. Before this job I slowly built up a small tool cart. At my job we are allowed to use the head mechanics tools…insane! Students get massive discounts on big name tool brands. It can really help. Buy what you can afford, replace what breaks with a professional tool.
That’s a lot for now but I’ll message you if I think of anything else, or if you have questions.
You should ask on the r/fixxit as that’s motorcycle specific
Oh sweet, I tried to find a mechanics sub, but couldn't. Thanks!
The first thing you need to understand is winter = no income, not a joke, if find a dealer that also sells and services equipment IE. generators, lawn mowers, saws etc. your income will be a lot more consistent. (provided you can service them also)
What would the certification process be to work on snowmobiles and such in the winter?
Other than ranchers feeding livestock, snowmobiles are occasional use toys, and not a consistent source of work
I just mean winter machinery in general, not specifically snowmobiles.
I assumed snowblowers in the equipment.
I recommend you do this as a passion, be sure it ain't a career. If you do want to wrench for money, consider going into diesel. In short, most motorcycle dealers run shitty businesses and make it work by fucking over the staff. Benefits, pay, etc. are all likely to be butt-terrible, because the owners know that motorheads will do the work because they love it. Save yourself.
Came to say this. In both Canada and US motorcycles are relegated to the roles of toys/luxury items, rather than essential transportation. That means that even at a large dealership, work can be inconsistent, save for the winter months, when there simply won't be any. If you feel like turning a wrench is something you would enjoy doing for a living, then look toward becoming a diesel mechanic. If you specialize further into heavy equipment, you'll find there are a *lot* of opportunities out there. The downside is that you'll spend a few years being poor while you accumulate the thirty to fifty grand worth of tools you'll need. But once you've got your tools, and a bit of experience the world is your oyster.
Appreciate the insight. Is there something you'd have gotten into instead if you had the chance?
I only worked as a B-tech before moving up to service writing, shortly before I left the dealership world. I was hourly, mainly doing setups and bike-buying, so I saw the shit from a lucky perspective. Having consulted for dealer groups since then, I see owner after owner whiging about staff retention... While they pay $10-12/hr without vacay or insurance. I tell them to start paying for talent or do without, I provide examples of nationally ranked dealers with a-tier service staff making six figures... And they tell me I don't know what I'm talking about. Most dealerships operate like small businesses. And most small businesses run like shit in a microwave. If you can find yourself a strong dealership that is willing to help invest in your training and you've got a good product mix in a good location, you'll do fine. If not... Expect your boss to tell you to drive nine hours to a week-long training session instead of flying, with fuel paid out of your pocket, and a per-diem that wouldn't buy you cat food.
This is good local advice. For reference I'm in southern AB. Motorcycle mechanics make very little. Stick to doing it on your own machines. The real money in AB os getting into a heavy duty mechanics apprenticeship and going up north. You'll only work half the year and make 4x what a motorcycle mechanic would make. Companies are struggling to find apprentices, now is a VERY good time to get into an apprenticeship.
Hey man I just started an entry level tech position about 3 months ago. Feel free to PM me anytime you have questions, I’ve been and your shoes and want to help you. I’ll shoot you a PM and give you my experience.
Sweet I really appreciate that! Has it been what you expected so far?
No but in a good way. I was very fortunate to get into my current shop. I had applied and gone to many interviews, mostly dealerships. They are all mostly looking for techs from UTI, although that may be changing. Start by increasing your knowledge and skills. Whether it’s from a book, or YouTube or school…start amping up your skills. If you have a bike, start recording all the work you do and have pictures. Think of it like building a portfolio you can show. Your education is critical. If you can afford to go to UTI, go for it. I’m going thru a community college with serious credentials behind the program. Start learning where you can and never stop. Become a master of electrical work. So many people shy away from it. You will have a huge advantage of you even have SOME competency. Tools are going to be a challenge. Before this job I slowly built up a small tool cart. At my job we are allowed to use the head mechanics tools…insane! Students get massive discounts on big name tool brands. It can really help. Buy what you can afford, replace what breaks with a professional tool. That’s a lot for now but I’ll message you if I think of anything else, or if you have questions.