Motorcycle mechanic Apprenticeship

[DarrenSV650S]

Has anyone done a motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship? I'm doing an electrical apprenticeship just now in my final year. But I don't really think its for me. I'd quite like a job to do with bikes and this seems perfect as I'll also learn about bike engines.
I'm not sure if I am too old though (21). But it could be an advantage in the employers eyes because I have had plenty of experience in a working environment and I'm not straight out of school.:roll:
Just looking for some info from people who have done this or who are mechanics. Do you think there is any chance of getting a job?

[Wideboy]

do they do motorcycle apprenticeships separate to cars? as for being to old one of the blokes i work with started his a 23, it justs costs more to put you through college etc i think

[yorkie_chris]

Do you really need an apprenticeship to do the work?

[rictus01]

not sure about the benefits of what I consider "to much" academic stuff, but formal work practises are worh their weight in gold, you can alway tell those who have been properly trained in the way they work.

Good luck with this, hope it works out for you.

Cheers Mark.

[yorkie_chris]

Never had any experience of how the acedemic training works, but IMO the only way to learn how to do a job is to do it. They can't train you for every situation you can possibly come across.

[DarrenSV650S]

do they do motorcycle apprenticeships separate to cars? I don't know to be honest. But I was thinking a bike garage could take me on and train me up

Do you really need an apprenticeship to do the work?
I don't know a lot about engines tbh. I suppose it doesn't need to be a formal apprenticeship but I definitely need some training

[yorkie_chris]

I'd be careful about it.

I started off with the cars knowing a lot of theory, knowing how engines and the rest work and how to work on it, but thats nothing to do with what you need.
Been playing around with cars for a while now, working on them over last year paid for the SV while I was at uni, and after that experience the last thing I want to do is work on cars! Scratting round under motors covered in oil and muck is no fun, it's cold, it's hard, it plays hell with your chest.
Good DIY and little job on the side for cash, but full time doesn't appeal to me at all.

Your opinion may vary, but try it before you commit to a long and expensive apprenticeship.

All IMO

Chris

[rictus01]

Likewise 2 years of rotating 8 hour shifts, fixing rovers and Bedfords was anything but fun, looked at it as a career but money isn't brillient either, Oh and you'll become the mechanic for the whole family & freinds crowd as well.

Most garages only do the replacement parts thing these days and not so much "fixing" stuff, alot can be learned by watching the old boys, they know stuff that's not taught anymore.

although good work practise and proper tool handling make any job a lot easier.

Cheers Mark.

[yorkie_chris]

Most garages only do the replacement parts thing these days and not so much "fixing" stuff, alot can be learned by watching the old boys, they know stuff that's not taught anymore.

Indeed, throwaway culture, fuel injection and kwik fit has killed off "mechanics" and made them all "fitters"

When you've to fix something on a budget its great fun, lets you be a bit creative

[DarrenSV650S]

I'd be careful about it.

I started off with the cars knowing a lot of theory, knowing how engines and the rest work and how to work on it, but thats nothing to do with what you need.
Been playing around with cars for a while now, working on them over last year paid for the SV while I was at uni, and after that experience the last thing I want to do is work on cars! Scratting round under motors covered in oil and muck is no fun, it's cold, it's hard, it plays hell with your chest.
Good DIY and little job on the side for cash, but full time doesn't appeal to me at all.

Your opinion may vary, but try it before you commit to a long and expensive apprenticeship.

All IMO

Chris
I know what you mean. I was wanted to be an electrician but the reality is not what I expected. Crawling in dusty attics and on top of ducting. Working in the freezing cold with metal trunking and tray when your hands are numb with cold.
But at least with bikes it is something I am interested in. And at the end of the day I will be able to work on my own bike and know what I am doing.

you'll become the mechanic for the whole family & freinds crowd as well. Yeh I am now the sparky for all the family and friends.

Most garages only do the replacement parts thing these days and not so much "fixing" stuff, alot can be learned by watching the old boys, they know stuff that's not taught anymore.
Yeh I'd have to try and find a good old fashioned place where they knew what they were doing and did things right. Not these cowboys you get that rip you off

[timwilky]

Indeed, throwaway culture, fuel injection and kwik fit has killed off "mechanics" and made them all "fitters"

When you've to fix something on a budget its great fun, lets you be a bit creative

Have you got that quite right. Fitters I served my time with were well capable of white metalling and scraping bearings etc. Your run of the mill garage mechanic is the replace/throw away. Try spending weeks with a tub of micrometer blue, a reground crank, newly metalled shells and you will gain respect for a true fitter when you hear that engine run without clunking

Or is there a repeat of the age old problem of titles being nicked. Everyone these days is an engineer including the guys who fix you bust vacuum cleaner.

[rictus01]

Or is there a repeat of the age old problem of titles being nicked. Everyone these days is an engineer including the guys who fix you bust vacuum cleaner.

think in this case that's the nail on the head there.

Cheers Mark.

[monkey]

He he he. I'm a refrigeration engineer/last year of doing my sparks too (Level three) but I know what you mean. I'd love to be a real engineer but after spending several years in college whilst working there's no way I'll spend years in Uni to get a degree. If I won the lottery I would though.

I wouldn't even think about doing a modern apprentice as the pay is abysmal (It was a few years back when I was coming of age). I started as a stores person and got made up to trainee maintenance engineer, then improver, then service engineer and know er... I don't really know! The word engineer/technician gets thrown around a lot and I'm the first to admit I'm not a real one.

I'm don't get why mechanic's are called fitters now. When I worked in a MAHOOSIVE bodyshop there were jobs for fitters but they were to take bits off cars, wait for panelbeaters to fix the cars and then they had to put the bits back. I wouldn't have anything fixed by someone calling themselves a fitter over a mechanic. I'd expect them to be good at taking fairings off though.

:)

[monkey]

I know what you mean. I was wanted to be an electrician but the reality is not what I expected. Crawling in dusty attics and on top of ducting. Working in the freezing cold with metal trunking and tray when your hands are numb with cold.

I've been in my current job now for more than three years and never bashed a single house and aren't likely to. There are spin offs from the usual sparks position. Have a look around.

But at least with bikes it is something I am interested in. And at the end of the day I will be able to work on my own bike and know what I am doing.

I'd like to be a porn star. I think you can see where I'm going with this. he he he.
:)

[Spanner Man]

Morning all.
Firstly finish that electrical apprenticeship, it'll be something to fall back on, if you do decide to move into mechanics & it doesn't work out. I say that from experience, as I never finished my engineering apprenticeship all those years ago. I was sick of the Factory environment, so I slung it, & went dispatch riding instead...The romance of the open road MY AR*E! P**S wet through most of the year!
Mechanics these days are really fitters, I don't know many 'youngsters' who can weld, drill out broken bolts, cut threads, or given the right machinery turn or mill.
I have been 'playing' with bikes for the last 30 years, & running my own repair business for the last 15, & can honestly say that I'm sick of the sight of them.
The satisfaction nowadays comes when a customer says, after say a service, 'Blimey Stew, I don't know what you've done to it, but it's like a different bike'. Actually doing the work is somewhat of a grind. The exception being when I have to get my 'thinking hat' on, & make something using my Lathe or welder etc.
The grass is always greener you know!

Cheers.

[DarrenSV650S]

Thanks for all your input guys. I'm definitely going to finish my electrical apprenticeship first or it would just be like throwing 4 years away.
I am going to look into an apprenticeship though and get some info. I don't know if it would be a formal apprenticeship (college time and a certificate at the end of it) or if I would just be learning the trade from a journeyman. Either way is fine with me though because I will have the skills at the end of it

[Warthog]

The grass is always greener you know!

Cheers.

I think you are bang on there, doing anything for 30 years straight is a hassle; my Dad is fed up of being a banker etc etc, you can't just chop and change cos something else looks better.

[jambo]

Go and talk to local bike shops, ask what they'd need to employ you, if no one says "this bit of paper" don't get it ;)

Best of luck. I specifically don't work on bikes for a living because it makes it my choice to do it and means I still enjoy it. Being told you have to do something takes a little of the fun out I find....

HTH

Jambo

[John 675]

i tried to d this matey and i couldnt find a single thing... there is plenty of courses but no jobs.. try searching Emtec in google its a mechanics college

[Dante]

Hi Guys,

I did a motorcycle apprenticeship with BMW. It was a 4 year modern apprentice course - with three weeks at work and then a week at college (with the car lads).

The quals you will get are NVQ level 3 in mechanical and electrical engineering - you'll need to learn about cages as well unfortunately.

I left after two years as it wasn't for me. I don't even adjust my own chain these days! (i never learned to do it properly as in my day all BM bikes were shaft driven apart from the F650!).

If you have any questions let me know.

Dante.

[Whitty]

Hi, I did a four year apprenticeship on buses, we were called fitters but we we had to repair or rebuild any component. Our central garage where we spent about a third of the four yr was massive with that many people I still didn't know half of them at the end of it! Another third was at a "pretend"workshop that used to be a garage but they kept it just for training! We even had our own fulltime storeman for 6 apprentices!! Everything was done there inc eng block repairs, fabricating, welding, electrical rewinds,full machine shop, fuel injection shop, etc. The apprentices we have now cannot do/use any of these facilities (even basic welding!) because nearly all the parts are "throw away items" plus they shut all the aforementioned departments and just send them to college now. The rest of the time was at our own area depots putting it into practice! I have now become a vehicle safety inspector cos I was fed up of it, also learn't to plaster and do that part time to pay for bike goodies:) P.S Wakefield college did motorcycle specific courses.