| Author | Message | ||
     His_and_her_buells |
Thinking of changing careers and thought Buell tech would be cool. Dealerships need someone who is actually passionate about Buells. I am currently a service tech on CNC machines (1,000 times more complicated than a MC) so my diagnostic and wrenching skills are there, just wondering if certifications are required to get your foot in the door. | ||
| Glitch |
http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.asp x Every tech has to have it... | ||
| Badlionsfan |
A pulse? | ||
| Jramsey |
The desire to be under paid and over worked. | ||
| Tramp |
This I agree with Mr. Ramsey- 100%. Incidentally, many HD/Buell (and most other) stealerships will hire you off the street without MMI or AMI cert.s, if you show decent aptitude, and the GM or SM feels you'd be a good fit. | ||
| Tramp |
The decision is up to the GM or whichever associate he delegates hiring to- the Mother Ship doesn't enforce any MMI-only rule, I have many friends who wrench at HD/Buell shops without MMI. That being said, however, MMI is an excellent manner by which to glean a comprehensive, hands-on education in wrenching on these beasts... | ||
| His_and_her_buells |
Is MMI pretty much the only school recognized? It's not going to be easy to be away at Phoenix or Orlando for an extensive period of time. | ||
| Thumper74 |
The Ohio Technical College has a powersports curriculum now. I think it's the only one in the midwest | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Theres the Wyotech as well, they have started a motorcycle course. I have discovered the dirty lil secret about working in the industry that you "like" you actually get to participate in that event LESS. It has happened to me again and again with language, cooking, fitness training and motorcycling. You are so buzy doing the biz of taking care of the customer, that your actual time doing the fun stuff is mitigated.... maybe its just my lil snow globe that keeps getting the flakes. | ||
| Jramsey |
H-Ds newest technical training is located in Frontenac Kansas which is about twenty minutes down the road from me. ITS A BIG STROKE JOB OF THE LOCAL JR.COLLEGE Its a joke they don't even know how to do an oil change on a H-D and don't EVEN try to talk to them about a Buell problem,they will tell you to talk to the closest local dealer which by the way doesn't even keep Sportster primary gaskets as a normally stocked item. | ||
| Slipknot |
Judging the sales personnel at HD dealers, I suggest that total ignorance, rudeness, goofy attire and head up your ass will get you in the door. | ||
| Jpb |
Lots of positive feedback and support for somebody looking to change careers!  Deric - poke around your dealers, try to talk to the current techs...see if they'l let you in on their shops 'needs'. Keep in mind that you most likely won't be able to work on Buells only... BEST OF LUCK! | ||
| Pammy |
Most shops will require that you be certified. We also know that certification doesn't mean a whole lot. There is a law that requires the shop to have certified techs on staff. There are no laws, that I am aware of, that require you to be certified by any 'specific' individual entity. There are just some that carry more weight on your resume...MMI being #1 and Wyotech being #2. Experience is the biggest motivator in the business. It takes a long time to make just decent money in this business. The goal has to be 99% passion. If it is your hobby and you like it, even love it...keep it your hobby. That will ensure that you never lose that passion. Best of luck in whatever you decide. (Message edited by pammy on June 01, 2008) | ||
| Loki |
didn't Wyotech buy out/merge with MMI? I have seen a change in the infomercials. | ||
| Phat_j |
It takes a long time to make just decent money in this business. The goal has to be 99% passion. If it is your hobby and you like it, even love it...keep it your hobby. That will ensure that you never lose that passion. pammy, i couldnt have said it better myself | ||
| Crusty |
Wyotech bought AMI, I believe. I think that AMI preceded MMI, but MMI cut a deal with H-D when they were struggling to survive. Harley's rise in sales and popularity brought MMI increased student enrollment as well. | ||
| Tramp |
If it is your hobby and you like it, even love it...keep it your hobby. That will ensure that you never lose that passion.  +1 SO well-said. "Turning pro" is many, many hobbies kills the passion- I've always called it, in snow sports, the "Hooker Effect" } | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
goofy pants and a fat ass, talk to my neighbor probly a great buell tach, huge ass..lol | ||
| Iamike |
In my job I had to have an FCC license to do the work. When I started studying for the test I found out that it covered 50 yr-old technology (like HD) that I wouldn't use in my job, but then the theory is the same. 30yrs. later I still love what I do because the technology is always changing. But what I find is that since I spend all day fixing things and solving problems is that I don't always want to do it when I get home. I love working on bikes but I also just want them to run. I also get paid very well for my job so even though it is a passion for me it also pays the bills so that I can enjoy my passsion for cycling. | ||
| His_and_her_buells |
Lots of positive feedback and support for somebody looking to change careers! That's OK, I've been on here long enough to know that no matter how serious of a question there will always be smarta$$ replies, often I'm one of them. I would love to keep it a hobby and do it on the side but I don't want to work on HDs or Metric, and there's only 2 other Buells in my city of 100,000+(not much of a market to make some side cash!). Maybe I'm just stupid that way. I'm really into turbo Dodges and have been for years. I help my buds with their TDs for free just because I love it even though they offer to pay . If others ask me to wrench on their car for pay that's not a TD, I almost always say no because it won't be fun for me. That being said it doesn't look like I can turn my passion for Buells into a career that pays decent (maybe sales?). Thanks for all the advice and replies. | ||
| Johntman |
Maybe you could go in as the do all "buell guy". Work on them when they come in... Sale parts to them when they come in... Sell them bikes when the come in.. | ||
| His_and_her_buells |
Maybe you could go in as the do all "buell guy". Work on them when they come in... Sale parts to them when they come in... Sell them bikes when the come in.. I'm going to consider that. I've found I definitely know more than every "Buell" salesman I've ever met. | ||
| Sarodude |
Deric- Maybe there's some opportunity for you to strike out on your own. Got tools, etc? -Saro | ||
| Ratbuell |
His-n-her...wha? TD's? Hmm...86 GLHS (#426?)under a pile in the garage, 87 CSX #133 bracket car, 89 CSX-VNT #135 in the storage garage, both options, 48k miles and Carroll's signature on the dash, and a 91 Daytona CS/AGS I bought new in 91 with 74k miles. Must be something about Mopars and Buells that go great together  I work at a Buell dealer, and I do still love my bikes and my job. However, +1 to CityX - I don't get to go on any of the big rides (not that I like riding in a big group anyway) and I rarely get to attend any of the "events" in the area unless we're hosting them. So, if the "lifestyle" is the important side of it for you and you feel like you'd be missing out if you couldn't attend stuff like that, I'd keep it a hobby. If you care more about the bikes and the technology and about just "doing it right", you should be fine with the career choice - and please, sign on; we need all the help and Buell passion we can get!! Also, you won't get a chance to be "Buell Only" in today's market. Even I "get" to work with HD customers more often than not, but I do have the luxury of being able to hand off HD'ers if a Bueller comes in the door so I can focus on the Buells. Our Buell tech is the same way - workload is definitely HD-heavy, but if a Buell comes in, it gets priority. Whatever you pick, just make sure it's something that lets you sleep at night and eat during the day. Beyond that...it's all academic | ||
| His_and_her_buells |
His-n-her...wha? TD's? Hmm...86 GLHS (#426?)under a pile in the garage, 87 CSX #133 bracket car, 89 CSX-VNT #135 in the storage garage, both options, 48k miles and Carroll's signature on the dash, and a 91 Daytona CS/AGS I bought new in 91 with 74k miles. Actually we did have his and her TDs for a while. If you ever want to sell the 86 GLHS let me know. I had 89 Dakota #29 that I bought in 96 w/17k miles! Let that one go when I got married(can you say regret). Only have a Rampage waiting for a transplant. A T3/T4, stage 5, 2.5 motor that was in my 11 sec Minivan, oddly enough the van came from MD. | ||
| Rick_a |
I work in an H-D/Buell dealership. We have a couple guys that work on Buells, not because they have any specialty (all students through MMI do a Buell course), but because nobody else will work on them. If we had a Buell only tech they'd be going hungry, as we don't see them with much regularity...mainly oil changes and the rare issue...unlike the Harleys where pipes, chrome, accessories, and big bore kits make for steady work. I agree with Pammy and CityX that a hobby should be kept a hobby. Make it work and it won't be as enjoyable, and you won't make as much time for it. As a parts guy I still get to enjoy some perks but at the expense of a decent paycheck. A lot of new mechanics get burnt out after the first year or so. Some of them go to other dealers hoping things improve, but the fact is it can be tough, demanding, and stressful business at times regardless of where you work. ...and regardless of how complicated CNC machines are, it takes some natural talent, constant study, and some experience to become proficient in the field. |
