Save your money and consider some other vocation. I have done this for 42 years and don't recommend it to anyone. You spend a ton of bucks to get a beginner level education and start for a pittance at a dealer. If you're lucky, you get to attend some factory schools and find out how much you don't know. Get more money now, not likely. The shop that charged you $...@hr paid the tech less than $20. Smell the coffee yet ? After about three years you may be considered for promotion to ?? (and a few more bucks) In a family owned biz, you won't get far. Stick it out long enough (like ten years) and you will be able to find a job with somebody else and start all over again. How long does the average tech last in the field ? About three years. High turn-over of personnel. To last, you have to apply yourself and learn how to get along without stuff you'd like to have. Making yourself indispensable is a good idea but that opportunity doesn't come too often. Outlasting everybody else at a dealership does get you to the top (if you're good) After 23 years behind the wheel, you don't want to spend the time to get ahead and your own shop will bankrupt you fast. I did that too. In short, it isn't worth it. Remember the story about what you call a musician without a girlfriend ? homeless. They aren't alone. I've been fortunate to have made it this far, it wasn't easy. Now I get to take flak from owners on-line. Nothing new. You'll make more money flipping burgers and waiting for a promotion to manager. That'll happen sooner too. I've trained more people than I can count and they come and they go. Something about how much time you spend changing Gold Wing tires as compared to how often you get to have a white-knuckled test ride on a rocket bike. The grass is always greener... till. My idea of a great job in the field would be a service rep. $60+K @yr. That is till you find out what living in motels is all about. No home life. Honda has only five in the US. Endless driving. Two more years and I retire. No pension, no bennies. Why did I do this ? I actually like it. I don't think I could make it doing something I hated. Most people do. My first wife cleaned me out big-time when I was 38... start over. I'm a survivor in a world full of ups and downs. This is what I do and I do it very well. At least that's something. Since 1967, I've worked for many dealers. Two closed up and I was out on the street, one was sold and the new owner fired everybody, the next one paid out with rubber checks and I left. BUT, you do get to enhance your resume each time. Finally, you settle in.
--- On Sat, 8/1/09, steven click <[email protected]> wrote: From: steven click <[email protected]> Subject: [Nighthawk Lovers] Need good advice To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, August 1, 2009, 9:06 PM I have been driving truck for 23 yrs Last month I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure, early stages. My wife , who is a nurse wants be out of the truck. She wants me to go to motorcycle mechanics school an eventually open my own shop. Only good schools I can find on the net are Wyotech an motorcycle mechanics instute. I know the local little shop the other day charged me $60 an hour just to fix a flat tireAll advice welcomed. Ride safe an free Derby --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
