I could tell you a lot more by phone than by typing. If you want to give me a call our 800 number is 962-8372. Your friends and relatives are right about the seasonal thing and Toronto (or any city that has long cold winters). On the other hand there will be a shortage of skilled motorcycle mechanics in the coming years.
The long term goal that you have in mind makes a difference as well. If you plan on working for a shop or dealer you will probably find 12 month employment harder to find, but if you plan to eventually open your own shop and do it right you could do very well. Like any trade, you have to work in the industry for a few years to get the experience for better opportunities down the road.
I think the long term prospects are good for skilled mechanics in this field though. Good motorcycle mechanics are hard to find and will be in demand. And if you were able to relocate to a better location where motorcycling is an all season activity, like California, Florida, Texas, parts of B.C, etc. you would definitely have more stable employment. Even in Ontario if you work on a variety of motorcycles, ATV’s, sleds and small engines you could probably do well all year around.
Education, experience, location, and a long term plan are the most important factors in succeeding in this industry. More hands on motorcycle business experience, a good business plan and good financing will be needed to open your own shop eventually. If this is what you really want to do, I think the future looks good, but the first few years might be tough.
John
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Bikeyard,
I have a few questions, if you don’t mind. I'm a guy starting out with my future career path. I’m planning on going to school for (Motorcycle and Power Sport Mechanic at Centennial College). I was wondering if you have any advice, or if you could tell me how the business here in is Toronto is?
I talked to a few friends and relatives and they’ve told me that it’s a bad path to go down (That brought me down a bit), they say that there isn’t much work here in Toronto since it’s only a six season thing and that I’m just wasting my time with it. So I decided to do a little of my own research. Is there anything I can do to prepare, is there any kind of on job training. It would help out a lot if you could get back to me and let me know your thoughts.
I’m really passionate about motorcycles. I’ve been interested in Motorcycles since I could remember. If you could get back to me, I hope that I’m not wasting your time here.
Thank You.
You’re sincerely
Ogi.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Rule # 1
From: jon springer [mailto:avengercycle@msn.com]
Ya'll know that I always say that the first rule of bein a motorcyclist is ta never let anyone ride yer bike, unless it's the mechanic.
Well, yesterday Iwas pullin my newest bike, 04' YZF600, absolutely mint condition and only owned it fer two weeks, in ta the back of the shop soI could close up. I stopped at the bay door of my neighbor ta chat and he asks,"Can I ride yer bike?" So since I had a few beers and was feelin easy, I let him hop on thinkin he was just gonna do a couple laps in the parkin lot in front of the shop.Ta my surprise he heads right onto the street and nails the throttle and heads down the street.I started thinkin,"This is not gonna be good!" He makes a u-turn and comes back haulin ass and the street starts ta bend but guess what, he see's the bend comin up quick and decides ta go straight then nail the front brake as he see's the curb approachin and downs my bike! I haven't dropped one of my bikes in 15 years! Lesson learned, practice what I preach and make sure this don't happen ta you!
Fortunately he scrubbed off most of the speed before he downed my bike and just did a tuck and roll and just gotta lil roadrash and only did $800 worthof damage. Framesavers are a good thing!!!
Z-tupid
==============================================================
That has always been RULE # 1 with me too Zig. Long before I opened a bike shop I had learned that loaning a motorcycle is not like lending your car to a friend.
Being in the bike business has reinforced that rule a thousand times over the years. I can't count how many guys brought in damaged bikes for repair or to sell us as a write off, and when I asked them what happened they said " Oh, like an idiot I let my friend take my bike for a spin...".
With a car you have 4 wheels and a cage and seat belt. On a bike you have 2 wheels, surprising acceleration, super brakes, and controls and handling that act different on every machine. Add that to the fact that the new test rider wants to see how the bike performs and not look like a wimp when he rides away, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I have actually lost a couple of friends who were offended by my #1 Rule in the past, but I didn't lose them to a bike accident. They are still alive and not riding around in a wheelchair.
John
Ya'll know that I always say that the first rule of bein a motorcyclist is ta never let anyone ride yer bike, unless it's the mechanic.
Well, yesterday Iwas pullin my newest bike, 04' YZF600, absolutely mint condition and only owned it fer two weeks, in ta the back of the shop soI could close up. I stopped at the bay door of my neighbor ta chat and he asks,"Can I ride yer bike?" So since I had a few beers and was feelin easy, I let him hop on thinkin he was just gonna do a couple laps in the parkin lot in front of the shop.Ta my surprise he heads right onto the street and nails the throttle and heads down the street.I started thinkin,"This is not gonna be good!" He makes a u-turn and comes back haulin ass and the street starts ta bend but guess what, he see's the bend comin up quick and decides ta go straight then nail the front brake as he see's the curb approachin and downs my bike! I haven't dropped one of my bikes in 15 years! Lesson learned, practice what I preach and make sure this don't happen ta you!
Fortunately he scrubbed off most of the speed before he downed my bike and just did a tuck and roll and just gotta lil roadrash and only did $800 worthof damage. Framesavers are a good thing!!!
Z-tupid
==============================================================
That has always been RULE # 1 with me too Zig. Long before I opened a bike shop I had learned that loaning a motorcycle is not like lending your car to a friend.
Being in the bike business has reinforced that rule a thousand times over the years. I can't count how many guys brought in damaged bikes for repair or to sell us as a write off, and when I asked them what happened they said " Oh, like an idiot I let my friend take my bike for a spin...".
With a car you have 4 wheels and a cage and seat belt. On a bike you have 2 wheels, surprising acceleration, super brakes, and controls and handling that act different on every machine. Add that to the fact that the new test rider wants to see how the bike performs and not look like a wimp when he rides away, and you have a recipe for disaster.
I have actually lost a couple of friends who were offended by my #1 Rule in the past, but I didn't lose them to a bike accident. They are still alive and not riding around in a wheelchair.
John
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Motorcycle
OK...this is my first post. I would like to offer something interesting, informative or useful with each future entry, or maybe just stimulate your imagination and comments.
Drawing on many years of riding, repairing and retailing motorcycles and running The Bike Yard motorcycle shop in Toronto, I should not run out of topics on my end for a while. My first entries might come from our website bikeyard.com Tech Tips, which we are regularly adding to, or maybe interesting excerpts from The Motorcycle Handbook which we publish. Or maybe I will reprint an interesting email or recount an incident from a day in the shop.
Who knows where we will end up, but I hope you will check out my blog once in a while to find out. Please send any comments, motorcycle questions or ideas along.
John
Here is a Tech Tip:
PREPARING YOUR BIKE AFTER WINTER STORAGE
If you took all the right steps to winterize your bike before storage, getting it back into service in the Spring should be a breeze! Here then is a basic procedure to follow:
1. Wash the bike and clean the brake discs with brake cleaner or alcohol.
2. Check for signs of rodents nesting in the bike and remove the critters if necessary. The airbox is a favourite nesting place for mice, and tiny spiders can get into the handlebar switches and disable the switches with their webs. Really!
3. Check the battery electrolyte level and do a final recharge. Install the battery, connecting the ground cable last.
4. Check and adjust the tire air pressure. (Fork air too if applicable).
5. Put the bike on the centerstand if you have one and turn the fuel petcock to "on", then wait a bit for the carb float bowls to refill with fuel. Note: If you didn’t empty the float bowls before storage then the old gas in the bowls may make it difficult to start the bike. In this case you need to drain the float bowls and then let them refill with fresh gas from the tank.
6. Make sure the plug wires are attached and that the kill switch is in the right position, then start the bike. Note: If you had put oil in the cylinders before storage the bike may smoke for a few minutes after starting. The bike may resist starting initially either because the float bowls haven’t completely filled, or oil or raw gas in the cylinder may have fouled the plugs. As well, old gas or gas with stabilizer is less volatile and harder to ignite. It should start after a few tries, but if it doesn’t, make sure the battery still has a good charge, and install new spark plugs and it should fire up.
7. If oil was put in the cylinders before storage, you will need to install fresh plugs anyway after the motor has been turned over (either by the starter or by running).
8. Check the front and rear brakes for a spongy feeling in the lever or pedal and make sure they release properly. Check the forks and front brakes for the presence of leaking fork oil. Then perform a thorough pre-ride inspection of the whole bike and correct any problems before riding.
If you found this tip helpful please forward it to a friend. See you again soon!
Drawing on many years of riding, repairing and retailing motorcycles and running The Bike Yard motorcycle shop in Toronto, I should not run out of topics on my end for a while. My first entries might come from our website bikeyard.com Tech Tips, which we are regularly adding to, or maybe interesting excerpts from The Motorcycle Handbook which we publish. Or maybe I will reprint an interesting email or recount an incident from a day in the shop.
Who knows where we will end up, but I hope you will check out my blog once in a while to find out. Please send any comments, motorcycle questions or ideas along.
John
Here is a Tech Tip:
PREPARING YOUR BIKE AFTER WINTER STORAGE
If you took all the right steps to winterize your bike before storage, getting it back into service in the Spring should be a breeze! Here then is a basic procedure to follow:
1. Wash the bike and clean the brake discs with brake cleaner or alcohol.
2. Check for signs of rodents nesting in the bike and remove the critters if necessary. The airbox is a favourite nesting place for mice, and tiny spiders can get into the handlebar switches and disable the switches with their webs. Really!
3. Check the battery electrolyte level and do a final recharge. Install the battery, connecting the ground cable last.
4. Check and adjust the tire air pressure. (Fork air too if applicable).
5. Put the bike on the centerstand if you have one and turn the fuel petcock to "on", then wait a bit for the carb float bowls to refill with fuel. Note: If you didn’t empty the float bowls before storage then the old gas in the bowls may make it difficult to start the bike. In this case you need to drain the float bowls and then let them refill with fresh gas from the tank.
6. Make sure the plug wires are attached and that the kill switch is in the right position, then start the bike. Note: If you had put oil in the cylinders before storage the bike may smoke for a few minutes after starting. The bike may resist starting initially either because the float bowls haven’t completely filled, or oil or raw gas in the cylinder may have fouled the plugs. As well, old gas or gas with stabilizer is less volatile and harder to ignite. It should start after a few tries, but if it doesn’t, make sure the battery still has a good charge, and install new spark plugs and it should fire up.
7. If oil was put in the cylinders before storage, you will need to install fresh plugs anyway after the motor has been turned over (either by the starter or by running).
8. Check the front and rear brakes for a spongy feeling in the lever or pedal and make sure they release properly. Check the forks and front brakes for the presence of leaking fork oil. Then perform a thorough pre-ride inspection of the whole bike and correct any problems before riding.
If you found this tip helpful please forward it to a friend. See you again soon!
Title TEST
This is a blog test.
Todays blog is about the meaning of life and what to do when your bike won't start.
More meditations from a motorcycle shop to come shortly.
You may reply to this test post if you like...
Todays blog is about the meaning of life and what to do when your bike won't start.
More meditations from a motorcycle shop to come shortly.
You may reply to this test post if you like...
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