I've been a diesel truck tech for 20 years now. I've been at a Kenworth dealership the entire time. I'm burnt out on it. I'm tired of being hot, sweaty, stinky, and dirty everyday. I think motorcycle shops are air conditioned and heated down here in the south Alabama and north Florida area so I was considering applying at a motorcycle and jet ski dealer. Is anyone a professional tech at one of these places? I got a few questions. Are you guys hourly or flat rate? What kind of money does a decent bike tech make? How ****ty Is the work? I work about 48 hours a week. I make about 60k $$ a year. I expect to lose some money but I can't go to half that. Any advice or thoughts on pursuing a bike/jetski tech job?? Thanks for any input.
is anyone on here a career motorcycle tech?
- Thread starter arikam
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ztied
Well-known member
Find a dealer ship that can afford to keep all employees yeaar round, when winter comes and repairs are slow some shops will cut hours or layoff.
BuellyBagger
Well-known member
I know how you feel arikam. I work about the same hours and gross about the same a year doing body work. Our shop isn't air conditioned either and the work is tough (all be it not likely as bad as diesel work). I've thought about motorcycle or boat work a few times, but am afraid it would have even more dead time than auto body. I do wish you luck finding something!
I found out today, a guy I know has a friend who works at the local Harley dealer. After 30k $$ of motorcycle college, they pay him $14 an hour. That's some weak ass ****. Gotta pay for school and your own tools and get a measly $14 an hour for it. Super lame. I'm gonna go talk to some local shops soon and check for myself but I'm expecting about the same results. I think I'll just go stock shelves at Publix for 10$ an hour. Work in a/c. Low stress.
There's a V-twin shop right down the street from me and all the guys are ex-harley techs. I get to hear all the gripes... It's crazy how much Harley charges and don't pay the guys S**T
Hourly pay is a rare thing to find in the technician industry, there just isn't that kind of year-round demand for boats or bikes.
I've been a ASE certified Master Tech for both Chevy and Ford dealers and I honestly prefer flagging hours. If you hustle you get paid. As long as it's a big dealer that has plenty of cars on the service lot:up:
Understanding all that... when I started my first shop I paid a base wage that was livable and gave commission for invoices as incentive and reward for kicking butt when we were busy. The slow months Nov-Jan sucked for me to pay their base wages without much income, but it sure paid in dividends with happy busy employees during the summer.
For your circumstance arikam, I don't think you'll find a tech industry that pays more than diesel. Blue collar blues... I totally get what your saying about being burned out without any options. I would hesitantly recommend doing your own thing, but it takes a special person to take a big risk like that and be willing to be 100% responsible for yourself and everything around you.
Hourly pay is a rare thing to find in the technician industry, there just isn't that kind of year-round demand for boats or bikes.
I've been a ASE certified Master Tech for both Chevy and Ford dealers and I honestly prefer flagging hours. If you hustle you get paid. As long as it's a big dealer that has plenty of cars on the service lot:up:
Understanding all that... when I started my first shop I paid a base wage that was livable and gave commission for invoices as incentive and reward for kicking butt when we were busy. The slow months Nov-Jan sucked for me to pay their base wages without much income, but it sure paid in dividends with happy busy employees during the summer.
For your circumstance arikam, I don't think you'll find a tech industry that pays more than diesel. Blue collar blues... I totally get what your saying about being burned out without any options. I would hesitantly recommend doing your own thing, but it takes a special person to take a big risk like that and be willing to be 100% responsible for yourself and everything around you.
I talked to my buddy today that takes care of my track weapon. He used to work at a Honda/Yamaha dealer but has left some time ago to be a union tin knocker because he now makes 100k in his paycheck and close 60k in his benny package. When he worked at the dealer he barely made 40k with a 401k and no health insurance. He also said MMI is a ripoff because once you actually get a job at a dealer they will send you to their own schools and continue to send you for updates. I would stay where you are and pursue a city or county job that is a public union shop being a diesel mechanic and you will be way better off.
