Motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship for a middle-aged guy? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship for a middle-aged guy?

Matt Rain

Matt Rain

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[This might run long - skip to the next paragraph if you don't care about the full context.] So I find myself at a bit of a crossroads career-wise. I'm 43 and went to university but did not graduate (9 credits short of a BA). I've had a series of desk jobs since 2001, culminating in a low-level, non-supervisory management job in the mid-2010's. I quit my job in 2016 and have been a self-employed member of the gig economy/Shopify solopreneurship thing since then. Roughly half my income is coming from a small marketing "agency" I run with two other people - we're basically three freelancers sending work to each other. The other half of my income comes from a one-man home-based business where I manufacture electric guitar pickups. Neither is quite enough to make a good living on its own, and there is downward pressure on the marketing side of things, revenue-wise. A lot of the marketing stuff I do is becoming automated, and we're not able to bill as much as we used to. That has made me concerned about the future, and after discussing things with wifey, she first suggested I learn coding, but then she realized that every kid she interviews at her UofT lab has a few years of coding experience. I wouldn't be competitive on that front for several years.

I always thought that I would get into motorcycle repair as a retirement job/hobby, but now that I'm starting to look into it, it might actually make sense to try it right away. I'm technically and mechanically inclined although my focus has been on electric guitars and small electronics like effects pedals. My specific motorcycle repair experience is limited to maintaining my 1985 FJ600, but I do already own a decent amount of tools. I've done top end and clutch work but have yet to do more extensive work like a head gasket replacement or a full engine rebuild.

Anyone know how realistic it is for someone like me to get into a motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship? If so, what would be the best way to go about it? I've seen a few job listings that require you to be enrolled in a provincial program, but then the provincial program says you need to be sponsored to get in... I'm guessing that both need to happen at the same time? Would a dealership even consider hiring a guy my age? I'm not expecting to be making bank, and wifey's situation allows me some freedom.

I have several family members in the auto industry but more on the management/corporate side of things so they're unsure about this stuff.

Any insight from someone working in the powersports industry would be super useful. ✌️
 
I would contact Ashtonbee campus and see if there are any manufactures sponsoring motorcycle apprenticeships.

Centennial College - Automotive Service Technician Honda AHAP

Note: All transportation programs will take place on campus starting Fall 2022. Applicants must be employed by an Acura or Honda Canada Inc. dealer
www.centennialcollege.ca www.centennialcollege.ca

As far as age goes i don't think that's a hinderance. I was doing my intermediate and advanced at 17 and 18yrs old and I was shocked at that time how the class was full of middle age folk just starting out in the industry, this was a long time ago though.
 
I like bikes but if I was looking at a career as a mechanic I would probably be looking at automotive repair. People always need cars fixed. They cannot avoid the bill. There is always work (much less in January as they pay xmas bills but feb picks up again). Bikes are boom/bust and people can afford to delay work forever when times are tough. Bikes are fun but financially I don't see why you would pick them. Most mechanics now are diagnosticians and part swappers. Very little "repair" happens regardless of the number of wheels.

Talk to your local shops/dealers. They may have some useful insight.
 
If you go into a retail setting as an apprentice the pay is terrible. Plus you have to spend a huge amount of your new income on tools - you may think you have enough but you don't. If you sincerely want to, I know of at least 2 places in east end T.O. that would hire you in an instant.
 
Wind Shear said:
Why not finish off the BA if you’re that close? A piece of paper may not seem like it helps immediately, but it doesn’t hurt either.
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A BA isn't going to get you very far anymore, but if it can be done without costing too much the it's worthwhile.

With your electrical experience, perhaps a focus on automotive electrics as a career might be worthwhile. There are some college courses on the subject I believe.
 
Wind Shear said:
Why not finish off the BA if you’re that close? A piece of paper may not seem like it helps immediately, but it doesn’t hurt either.
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Literature major. I did consider it, but no one cares about the missing 9 credits at my age, and I'm pretty set on reorienting towards a skilled trade too. I really don't want to go back to a desk job.

But yes, sometimes it still nags at me. Just a dozen essays short of a piece of paper in a mahogany frame. Heh.
 
Matt Rain said:
Literature major. I did consider it, but no one cares about the missing 9 credits at my age, and I'm pretty set on reorienting towards a skilled trade too. I really don't want to go back to a desk job.
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If you just want a trade, no way in hell I would pick mechanic. Huge tool cost, normally at the whim of others, etc. Hvac/plumber/taper all pay better and are easy to turn into your own money printing machine with minimal investment.
 
Funny this is being brought up.

I'm starting a new role with the riding school that I teach at, doing maintenance and light repair work on our fleet of older bikes.

The schools don't pay much, but if you need some practical experience and to pad out the resume, then maybe call up a couple in your area and volunteer your services for a season or two. Some of them tend to hire within their instructor pool, but in my experience, not many instructors want to or are capable enough to wrench.
 
GreyGhost said:
If you just want a trade, no way in hell I would pick mechanic. Huge tool cost, normally at the whim of others, etc. Hvac/plumber/taper all pay better and are easy to turn into your own money printing machine with minimal investment.
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Thanks. I actually have a lot of tools in part because of the electric guitar biz. I just talked to my dad and he seems to think I won't need much more to work in an average shop. I would probably end up specializing in electrical gremlins because of my background, and I'm quite well covered there.

Daddy Rain is surprisingly enthusiastic about my prospects. He still works in the industry, and I totally forgot that he now works for a powersports dealer (he has a bit of a temper and tends to job-hop a lot. :D). He's in QC though and the industry seems a bit different there.
 
Lightcycle said:
Funny this is being brought up.

I'm starting a new role with the riding school that I teach at, doing maintenance and light repair work on our fleet of older bikes.

The schools don't pay much, but if you need some practical experience and to pad out the resume, then maybe call up a couple in your area and volunteer your services for a season or two. Some of them tend to hire within their instructor pool, but in my experience, not many instructors want to or are capable enough to wrench.
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That's a great idea, thanks!
 
Matt Rain said:
[This might run long - skip to the next paragraph if you don't care about the full context.] So I find myself at a bit of a crossroads career-wise. I'm 43 and went to university but did not graduate (9 credits short of a BA). I've had a series of desk jobs since 2001, culminating in a low-level, non-supervisory management job in the mid-2010's. I quit my job in 2016 and have been a self-employed member of the gig economy/Shopify solopreneurship thing since then. Roughly half my income is coming from a small marketing "agency" I run with two other people - we're basically three freelancers sending work to each other. The other half of my income comes from a one-man home-based business where I manufacture electric guitar pickups. Neither is quite enough to make a good living on its own, and there is downward pressure on the marketing side of things, revenue-wise. A lot of the marketing stuff I do is becoming automated, and we're not able to bill as much as we used to. That has made me concerned about the future, and after discussing things with wifey, she first suggested I learn coding, but then she realized that every kid she interviews at her UofT lab has a few years of coding experience. I wouldn't be competitive on that front for several years.

I always thought that I would get into motorcycle repair as a retirement job/hobby, but now that I'm starting to look into it, it might actually make sense to try it right away. I'm technically and mechanically inclined although my focus has been on electric guitars and small electronics like effects pedals. My specific motorcycle repair experience is limited to maintaining my 1985 FJ600, but I do already own a decent amount of tools. I've done top end and clutch work but have yet to do more extensive work like a head gasket replacement or a full engine rebuild.

Anyone know how realistic it is for someone like me to get into a motorcycle mechanic apprenticeship? If so, what would be the best way to go about it? I've seen a few job listings that require you to be enrolled in a provincial program, but then the provincial program says you need to be sponsored to get in... I'm guessing that both need to happen at the same time? Would a dealership even consider hiring a guy my age? I'm not expecting to be making bank, and wifey's situation allows me some freedom.

I have several family members in the auto industry but more on the management/corporate side of things so they're unsure about this stuff.

Any insight from someone working in the powersports industry would be super useful. ✌️
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Age won't be a problem, but there will be issues.

First, the pay sucks. You'll need to work for someone for a few years to broaden your experience in makes and motorcycle types. This means struggling for a few years and finding fill-in work for the winter months. It takes years to develop a specialization that brings in premium rates, the same for a generalist who wants to do their own shop or work for themselves out of a garage.

Virtually every trade in Ontario is starving for workers, many of them pay very well and have low barriers to entry. I'd check https://www.ontario.ca/page/skilled-trades for more info. Some trades offer apprentices free education and really good wages -- probably not something you'll find as a MC mechanic.
 
I work for an organization that promotes the skilled trades to youth as viable career options, so I'm obviously biased, but there is a ton of demand for high-paying skilled trades careers right now and not nearly enough students entering the workforce to keep up. I'm not sure about motorcycle-specific stuff, but I would definitely suggest looking into college programs. Centennial has a great automotive program.
 
GP Bikes is hiring for a number of positions, maybe you could talk to them about starting out slowly?
www.gtamotorcycle.com

We Are Hiring!

GP Bikes is currently hiring for a wide range of positions which you can see here: https://www.gpbikes.com/careers Most urgently, we are looking to fill one or more lot porter positions. We are looking for candidates who thrive in a fast paced environment, have a knack for multitasking and...
www.gtamotorcycle.com www.gtamotorcycle.com
 
If its what you would like to try, and wifey can hold a parachute , go do it. Life is too short to not have a go at something you might really like. If in two yrs your not happy , your not really any further behind. You can from there move to a lot of other hands on type industry.

And its always easier to find a job, when you have a job.
 
Klaatu said:
GP Bikes is hiring for a number of positions, maybe you could talk to them about starting out slowly?
www.gtamotorcycle.com

We Are Hiring!

GP Bikes is currently hiring for a wide range of positions which you can see here: https://www.gpbikes.com/careers Most urgently, we are looking to fill one or more lot porter positions. We are looking for candidates who thrive in a fast paced environment, have a knack for multitasking and...
www.gtamotorcycle.com www.gtamotorcycle.com
Click to expand...
Thanks, I saw that. Would love to work for GP, just not sure Etobicoke<>Whitby is a viable commute.
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