Motorcycle Mechanic Certification
Looking to possibly start classes in January. In the meantime I'm reading The Essential Guide to Motorcycle Maintenance cover to cover and wrenching on a 2-stroke rat bike project.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 23,399
Likes: 8,509
From: Spartan Country, Michigan
Back in the mid 70's I went to work at an Olds dealer. I had just obtained my ASME certification. Then I applied for, and got, my state Master Mechanic License. One of the reasons the dealership wanted me was because of my certifications. At that time a shop needed on Master Mechanic to cover a couple of mechanics. I would cover that and that's what they wanted until all mechanics in the shop got their certificates. I felt "used" for that, but had a good career there. In today's world, I'm not sure I could survive with all the electronic and computers on cars now!!
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,125
Likes: 51,438
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Back in the mid 70's I went to work at an Olds dealer. I had just obtained my ASME certification. Then I applied for, and got, my state Master Mechanic License. One of the reasons the dealership wanted me was because of my certifications. At that time a shop needed on Master Mechanic to cover a couple of mechanics. I would cover that and that's what they wanted until all mechanics in the shop got their certificates. I felt "used" for that, but had a good career there. In today's world, I'm not sure I could survive with all the electronic and computers on cars now!!
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 11,581
Likes: 8,408
From: Inland NW
I was lucky enough to know the owner of a large class 6-8 truck dealership, and he started me there when i was a sophomore in high school after i got in a bit of trouble 
I worked in the shop after school and on weekends, cleaning up, and helping truck mechanics change clutches, do oil changes, brake jobs etc on class 8 trucks. There were 2 journeyman that took me under their wing, and they had me doing overhauls on Cummins, and Cat diesels by age 17. The rest is history.
I was an ASE Master Truck tech by 22 with factory certs in Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Volvo and drivetrain components to start a great career in my 20s.
THE BAD PART; as many mentioned here, the pay was rough to start (worse than now, in comparison) and I had a tool habit like no other. It took 10 years to catch up in pay because of my age, and 15 years to pay off $80K in tools (that was the price then)
I got into it all on the doorstep of electronic engine controls on diesels in the mid-90s, that is what helped me. Nobody believed it was the future, they were wrong.
Embrace technology if you are going to be a tech. It will only help you be successful, no matter how much you despise it in your personal life! I refused to get fuel injection on my personal vehicles until I moved to Alaska, then it became a necessary part of survival
I worked in the shop after school and on weekends, cleaning up, and helping truck mechanics change clutches, do oil changes, brake jobs etc on class 8 trucks. There were 2 journeyman that took me under their wing, and they had me doing overhauls on Cummins, and Cat diesels by age 17. The rest is history.
I was an ASE Master Truck tech by 22 with factory certs in Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Volvo and drivetrain components to start a great career in my 20s.
THE BAD PART; as many mentioned here, the pay was rough to start (worse than now, in comparison) and I had a tool habit like no other. It took 10 years to catch up in pay because of my age, and 15 years to pay off $80K in tools (that was the price then)
I got into it all on the doorstep of electronic engine controls on diesels in the mid-90s, that is what helped me. Nobody believed it was the future, they were wrong.
Embrace technology if you are going to be a tech. It will only help you be successful, no matter how much you despise it in your personal life! I refused to get fuel injection on my personal vehicles until I moved to Alaska, then it became a necessary part of survival
Update:
I really appreciate all the advice & perspective. After careful consideration I've decided to start on an automotive path. It's much easier to find entry level mechanic jobs (service/lube jockey) where you can get on-the-job training and progress thru certifications. It means starting at the bottom but that doesn't concern me. Got thru a phone interview today and have an in-person interview Thursday for a job at Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
I landed on this path because I think it will open the most doors and give me a chance to discover what I'm most interested in pursuing. I'm taking a massive pay cut to do this and we're selling our house because we can't afford the mortgage etc. if I don't get another corporate job. I don't want to go back and my family doesn't want me to either. So, this will definitely be an adjustment. For the first time I can remember I'm excited about work. I'll update the thread and in the meantime I'm practicing keeping my arms over my head for longer and longer periods of time.
I really appreciate all the advice & perspective. After careful consideration I've decided to start on an automotive path. It's much easier to find entry level mechanic jobs (service/lube jockey) where you can get on-the-job training and progress thru certifications. It means starting at the bottom but that doesn't concern me. Got thru a phone interview today and have an in-person interview Thursday for a job at Valvoline Instant Oil Change.
I landed on this path because I think it will open the most doors and give me a chance to discover what I'm most interested in pursuing. I'm taking a massive pay cut to do this and we're selling our house because we can't afford the mortgage etc. if I don't get another corporate job. I don't want to go back and my family doesn't want me to either. So, this will definitely be an adjustment. For the first time I can remember I'm excited about work. I'll update the thread and in the meantime I'm practicing keeping my arms over my head for longer and longer periods of time.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 740
Likes: 743
I was lucky enough to know the owner of a large class 6-8 truck dealership, and he started me there when i was a sophomore in high school after i got in a bit of trouble
I worked in the shop after school and on weekends, cleaning up, and helping truck mechanics change clutches, do oil changes, brake jobs etc on class 8 trucks. There were 2 journeyman that took me under their wing, and they had me doing overhauls on Cummins, and Cat diesels by age 17. The rest is history.
I was an ASE Master Truck tech by 22 with factory certs in Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Volvo and drivetrain components to start a great career in my 20s.
THE BAD PART; as many mentioned here, the pay was rough to start (worse than now, in comparison) and I had a tool habit like no other. It took 10 years to catch up in pay because of my age, and 15 years to pay off $80K in tools (that was the price then)
I got into it all on the doorstep of electronic engine controls on diesels in the mid-90s, that is what helped me. Nobody believed it was the future, they were wrong.
Embrace technology if you are going to be a tech. It will only help you be successful, no matter how much you despise it in your personal life! I refused to get fuel injection on my personal vehicles until I moved to Alaska, then it became a necessary part of survival
I worked in the shop after school and on weekends, cleaning up, and helping truck mechanics change clutches, do oil changes, brake jobs etc on class 8 trucks. There were 2 journeyman that took me under their wing, and they had me doing overhauls on Cummins, and Cat diesels by age 17. The rest is history.
I was an ASE Master Truck tech by 22 with factory certs in Cat, Cummins, Detroit, Volvo and drivetrain components to start a great career in my 20s.
THE BAD PART; as many mentioned here, the pay was rough to start (worse than now, in comparison) and I had a tool habit like no other. It took 10 years to catch up in pay because of my age, and 15 years to pay off $80K in tools (that was the price then)
I got into it all on the doorstep of electronic engine controls on diesels in the mid-90s, that is what helped me. Nobody believed it was the future, they were wrong.
Embrace technology if you are going to be a tech. It will only help you be successful, no matter how much you despise it in your personal life! I refused to get fuel injection on my personal vehicles until I moved to Alaska, then it became a necessary part of survival
thinking ahead like this, i'd go the ev technician route. i dont think many people will be working/tinkering on their own ev's (i know my comfort level with electrical is much less than with mechanical)
My self-indulgent "peace out" to cubicle life:
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2021
Posts: 740
Likes: 743
Appreciate the advice and going the EV route does seem to be the prevailing wisdom. My interest is in burning gas and making things loud, so that's where I'm leaning now. Experience will certainly help me decide. Right now I'm looking at it as a 47 yr old dude who is not going to outlive mainstream usage of combustible engine powered vehicles. Also, good luck charging your tesla when the world goes skynet and our new AI powered overlords take over. Small engine mechanics will be the heroes of the gas-powered resistance! (I'm only partially joking about this)
My self-indulgent "peace out" to cubicle life:
https://youtu.be/Xo_XTanlAqE?si=118bmJ3_baC_VVvu
My self-indulgent "peace out" to cubicle life:
https://youtu.be/Xo_XTanlAqE?si=118bmJ3_baC_VVvu
i think given time to mature, it will be a viable alternative...for someone else lol (if the gov would back off and let companies compete and come up with the best product possible)
Cruiser
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 118
Likes: 55
From: Ont.ca
Wrenching for a living is not a money maker(never really was) and really it's not likely to be a stable long term thing either.Used to be that if you had a license you'd always have a job but maybe not always where you wanted to be but I'd say with all the EV stuff coming out there'll be a lot less wrenching positions.I've been a Licensed Auto-Tech for 35 plus years and if I was goona go into trades again I'd be an electrician.
