Just curious how many out there wrench on bikes for a living.  I know a lot of you are good at fix'n bikes in the garage, but I am curious how many here make a living as a motorcycle mechanic?  I do and I love it!!!

Good trade, I would like it too.

THAT is my dream job!
Would love to work for a company that would invest in apprenticeship and education, become a Master Mechanic and become the Mistress of Motorcycles one day!
sigh...

I do!

Can the boys and I come over the pond so i can apprentice with you Dyna? Promise i'd make ya proud, and i could show you how well i can put away a porkchop in a glass ( the beloved Guinness) too!

Good start would be a service manual on that Deuce Steph. You'd be surprised on just how much you can handle once you get started.

To answer your question Bailout, not for a living, no. I just wrench enough to not have to pay the $$ that stealers and indy's get for routine maintenance.

friend and I put a new cam, cam bearing, pusrods, etc in mine last year. Was the first time I attempted such a thing. It was fun and successfull, though I do think I have to adjust the pushrods a bit as I have a wee ticking noise when motor warms up. I'll be doing most of my work or as much as I can from now on once I get my shed built so I'll have a place to work on her. But yea, DamnYankee is right, a parts manual . service manual, a bit of desire and patience, and your ready to go. But again, to make a living...naw, I'd starve to death.

Guys, I ALREADY can do an awful lot of my own work on a motorcycle, I just want to learn more, well...everything actually, AND GET PAID FOR IT! Who wouldn't want to get paid for doing what they love?

stephaniebritt wrote

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Cool, then I'm gonna need your help putting these apes and new cables on the Fatboy (got to drop the pipes for the clutch cable swap). How does a case of beer sound as payment?

Who wouldn't want to get paid for doing what they love?
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I love hanging out, doing nothing, and riding. Need to find someone to sponsor me to do just that. LOL.

There is no big secret to working on a bike.

If you can read then you can do anything in this world as old Jack used to say.

The trick is to want to do it. I can read lots of stuff on how to do this or that but if my heart is not in it I just can not take it in.

Working on your own bike or somebody else's is just gaining experience to make your self confident. Some of those service dvds are good for beginners but in reality nothing beats having somebody teach you who knows what they are doing, the little tricks and tip you learn from them is invaluable!

Man Ive been trying, I was a auto mechanic for 10 years, worked for a local bike shop till it went out of business, I miss the hell out of it. I want to get back in it but no bike shops around worth anything, and I do work on some out of my garage but not enough to make a living. I have my motorcycle tech certification but its not AMI or MMI, so the local Harley shops wont hire me. If anyone knows of any motorcycle shops in the Dayton, Ohio area wanting a good wrench let me know.