time for a change
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,598
Likes: 14
From: navarre ohio
people talking about only making $12-14 an hour..not likely.. i wrenched on bikes for 13 years,was making 10.25 when i quit in 07..i was talking to the head tech (a friend of a friend)at a local dealership,a month ago,he said they hire new grads in at $7.25..
..it is a fun job at times but no money,and once your hobby is your job,the last thing you want to see after work is another motorcycle.i didn't even register my bike for 2 years.it just sat in my garage..i was one of 3 out of about 14 people in the service shop that owned a motorcycle.that was when i decided to get out..i wish i stuck with the hvac i gave up to be a motorcycle mechanic..would of been making 4 times the money doing less work,a lot of times i would work from 9:45-8:00 sometimes 6 days a week,best i ever brought home is $24k a year
..it is a fun job at times but no money,and once your hobby is your job,the last thing you want to see after work is another motorcycle.i didn't even register my bike for 2 years.it just sat in my garage..i was one of 3 out of about 14 people in the service shop that owned a motorcycle.that was when i decided to get out..i wish i stuck with the hvac i gave up to be a motorcycle mechanic..would of been making 4 times the money doing less work,a lot of times i would work from 9:45-8:00 sometimes 6 days a week,best i ever brought home is $24k a year
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 180
Likes: 0
From: taxachusetts
after reading all your advice and looking back to old threads (some on other sites too) financially i should stay with electrical. as much as i hate my job im allready making 15 hourley and close to 30 an hour if its a goverment funded job. and should have my lisence within the next year an a half(not bad for being 20) thanks for all your replys sounds like you all kept me from shooting myself in the foot!
its crazy how much dealers charge for service compared to what they actually pay! i guess ill just try to learn what i can from local shops so i can work on my own bike.
its crazy how much dealers charge for service compared to what they actually pay! i guess ill just try to learn what i can from local shops so i can work on my own bike.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
I'm an electrician and my advice is----if you stay in the electrical field get some education that will keep you in a climate controlled atmosphere. I'm from GA. and I wire mostly new construction on elementry and middle schools. It's cold as hell in the winter and hot as hell in the summer. Take this with a grain of salt-- the longer you stay in the trade the more dependent you become on it. I love my job but after 20+ years in the field it's not as fun as it was at the beginning. Don't let me stop your decision, just my 2cents worth.
Supporter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,724
Likes: 234
From: Altoona, Pa.
Glad to see your decesion there. Might try to look at your job and see if there might be something you can do to look at it a bit more differently and enjoy it a bit more. Few do actually LOVE their jobs so dont think things at work will always be 100%
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 559
Likes: 0
From: Sherman, TX
If it was fun all the time it wouldnt be called work. I spent a lot of years wrenching on cars and loved it for the first 2, now I refuse to even change my own oil.
I am glad you decided to stick with a field you can make a decent living at. I am surprised to hear how little bike wrenches make, I made a lot more than 15 bucks an hour working on cars. Flat rate can work with or against you but a good wrench should be able to make full flat rate or more.
I am glad you decided to stick with a field you can make a decent living at. I am surprised to hear how little bike wrenches make, I made a lot more than 15 bucks an hour working on cars. Flat rate can work with or against you but a good wrench should be able to make full flat rate or more.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
Decent paying jobs are hard to come by these days. As already mentioned, I would stay with your current job unless you're totally unhappy doing that type of work. Starting off motorcycle mechanics can't possibly be making more than well established electricians.
Do some research and find out more about the motorcycle mechanic job market before making any major job change decisions.
Do some research and find out more about the motorcycle mechanic job market before making any major job change decisions.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: Just south of Chicago, Illinois
After I got out of the Navy I tried working on bikes, etc. The pay sucks and the hours are even worse. I couldn't even save enough money to buy a scoot. Now I'm a plumber making a decent wage and I can wrench on my bike and my friends' bikes in my spare time. Making the big bucks in the auto world is like trying to play pro ball. Looks cool on TV but less than 1% make it there.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 453
Likes: 9
From: Wherever, MI
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