Any Motorcyle Instructors on here?

[BoltonSte]

As title really, I have a couple of questions.

[phil24_7]

Why don't you ask the general populous on here as were a relatively smart bunch!

[BoltonSte]

Umming and Ahhhing if it's for me or not.

[Owenski]

Not officially but I'll gladly bark instructions at other road users who I feel fall below par ;)

[maviczap]

Ex part time CBT instructor, I can't offer much experience, but perhaps I can help?

[phil24_7]

From what I've heard from some instructors I know, it's long hours and the pays not great so it depends how much you want to do it.

[missyburd]

Think Dizz was considering this a couple of years ago, she went to spend a day with a school to see what it was like I think...maybe drop her a line...or keep it on here so other folk can make use of advice :)

[maviczap]

From what I've heard from some instructors I know, it's long hours and the pays not great so it depends how much you want to do it.

Yes, that's the nub of it.

I did it almost as a hobby, just a bit of extra pocket money, so it was fun for me (most of the time :))

But I wouldn't do it as a full time job, there's a lot of big costs involved, namely insurance. Which is why the guy I subbed for sold his business.

He's still doing it, but works for a big local firm

[Jayneflakes]

My other half is a Senior Motorcycle Instructor Trainer and trained riders and Instructors for fifteen years. Her last student was me ( You can use your imagination as to how I paid for my lessons! ) and with her help I Passed first time. I was more proud of passing my bike test than I was of getting my degree and promptly told her so.

She gave up training in the end because as the most senior person she was working all of the time from spring right though until the end of Autumn and then scrabbling for what ever she could get throughout the winter. The hours were long, she worked every weekend and most days during the week and then when she was not teaching, she was doing the paper work that kept the training centre running.

In all it is a hard job with not much financial reward. However, when ever we go to a biker pub in the region some one comes and says hello and informs her that she got them through their bike test and set them free as a biker. I love seeing that bit, but when she tells me about the numpties she was forced to train, the miles she put onto her precious bike and how in the end she could not afford to service the machine she so loved, I know that she made the right choice in giving up.

This sounds negative, but the sad truth is that she gave up out of necessity, not because she stopped loving the job. I think that part of her will always love the joy of seeing a struggling trainee start to get it right and then find their way with a bike and the beaming smile that produced.

[punkyp]

This sounds negative, but the sad truth is that she gave up out of necessity, not because she stopped loving the job.
Sadly, I fear this will happen to the school I learned with, the guy is a top bloke and was much better than the school I did my CBT with, I know with the cost of petrol he was having to but his prices up, but reluctant to do so for the fear reducing interest further.

Now with the new rules, I imagine that hasn't helped the situation, having to buy new bikes for the 46 bhp thing. Along with reducing the number of under 24s wanting to do their tests.

I have been doing my best to take mates as pillions and so far managed to get one to buy a 125cc and he'll be going to the school I used for his CBT this month.

On the flip side, car instructors are 10 a penny, and increasing fast, it seems.

[BoltonSte]

I pretty much think these responses have covered what I needed, but anyway, here's the gist:

It's looking like our site has only a couple of years left in it, so I'm thinking about the future and if I want to take a different direction, nows the time to train up. I've always enjoyed the training aspect of my job, and as an IAM observer (I know there's a big difference) I've really enjoyed being able to 'train' at something that I love.

I popped into a local Bike School the other day to try and get a feel for hours/pay etc, and got the distinct impression they were more after taking my money to get me trained, than actually giving me the answers I wanted.

1.) Hours
2.) Wage

My wage and hours aren't bad, so to jump ship would have to be comparable. Although they did say it would be worthwhile setting up on your own.

I've got a young family, and another on the way, but going off the above. I think this may be something I need to put on the back burner (don't want to sacrifice my time with them, been through that myself) and maybe look at once they are older and don't want to be seen with mum and dad...so when they're about 6 then.

FWIW, can someone in the know give me a rough guide as to the hours/pay thing? a.) for a school (which is where I would have started out) or b) if you do it yourself, accounting for the overheads.

Cheers for the info guys.

Ste

[dizzyblonde]

As far as wages go, you are self employed, even under a school.

You are out from 8.30am rain or shine, snow or thunder storm. Out until the slowest student is home. Yes, you spend a little time in the classroom, but not a lot in the grand scheme. The bloke who I went to said people thought they could do it one or three days a week, but at peak season it is a seven day job, in winter not so.
Wages werent fantastic imo. It certainly wasn't something I could fit around my family. All your kit gets covered by self employment, as does your bike as far as I can remember.

I've always trained others, supervised, overlooked people in all jobs I've ever done, I've also got the gift of the gab to help that, I'm not a quiet person, and tend to get the best out of colleagues I've trained, no natter how shy.

However.....my bikes weren't practical for it though!

I enjoyed what I saw, but the guy I spent the time with was old school and not just teaching to pass a test, something which is rare these days. I wasn't comfortable with changes that were coming into play, at that particular point in time, so gave it a miss.

Looking back, I think it would have become a chore, I'm very enthusiastic about my hobby, but I feel it would have taken that away and make me hate them.

[yorkie_chris]

As far as I remember Ste you're some sort of professional right?
I seriously doubt the wages will be anything like comparable.

Seems to me like despatching, except without the advantage of being able to ride like a tw*t.

The EU are slowly strangling biking, it's not a job I'd want to be trying to get into.

All your kit gets covered by self employment, as does your bike as far as I can remember.

Yes it can all be offset for tax, but remember you've still got to earn it to spend it!

I know my instructor was actually an employee, his "job" bike was owned by the school etc. but that is as far as I know a rarity in the field.

[dizzyblonde]

Put it this way, wages were very poor compared to my old job......and a damn sight harder to earn.

The place I went to, the bike you worked on was your bike.... Unless of course there was a spare going that day.

[missyburd]

For what its worth Ste, I think you'd be a fantastic instructor. From the times I've been out with you you've always looked out for me and given me advice when I've asked for it no bother. Very constructive stuff too. But like YC says, the wages can't be comparable to what you can easily earn elsewhere in a different field. And like you say, it's a careful consideration to make with a growing young family, self-employment can be a risky business at the best of times.

[BoltonSte]

As far as I remember Ste you're some sort of professional right?

That's just a vicous rumour ;), but yeah.

I seriously doubt the wages will be anything like comparable.

The gist I'm getting, problem is, we're looking like going tits up at work (gradually canning research) I'm in two minds, keep with what I do or complete change (and do various training whilst I still have a job). What I think I need to do is start looking at PT roles instead, far more up my street and what I used to do in the States.

Seems to me like despatching, except without the advantage of being able to ride like a tw*t.

The EU are slowly strangling biking, it's not a job I'd want to be trying to get into.

Wise words, and what 'm thinking, although, if they strangle enough instructors, it make pave the way later if there's a shortage and I don't find anything.

Yes it can all be offset for tax, but remember you've still got to earn it to spend it!

I know my instructor was actually an employee, his "job" bike was owned by the school etc. but that is as far as I know a rarity in the field.

Put it this way, wages were very poor compared to my old job......and a damn sight harder to earn.

The place I went to, the bike you worked on was your bike.... Unless of course there was a spare going that day.

Cheers for the insight Dizz...why Suzuki invented Bandits.

For what its worth Ste, I think you'd be a fantastic instructor. From the times I've been out with you you've always looked out for me and given me advice when I've asked for it no bother. Very constructive stuff too. But like YC says, the wages can't be comparable to what you can easily earn elsewhere in a different field. And like you say, it's a careful consideration to make with a growing young family, self-employment can be a risky business at the best of times.

Cheers Maria, that's nice to know, did Chris appreciate those techniques I taught you?:D

No, I try my best never to be serious

Aye, jack it for now and have a rethink.

Ste