Wilsons Sandbox

hi I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki specialised training. The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. is this type of fee normal for a trade school. Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school Thanks Garrett 08 KLR Bayonne,nj

My brother looked into this once, and was rather un-impressed with it. Long story short, he learned more fooling around in the back yard then the school could teach him. -- Regards, Richard Bessey System Administrator Vivio Technologies gbennett69 wrote:

> > hi > I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx> > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > specialised training. > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > is this type of fee normal for a trade school. > Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school > Thanks > Garrett > 08 KLR > Bayonne,nj > >

My understanding is that this is a training school for professional motorcycle mechanics. If you are interested in a career as a mechanic, you might ask your local dealership where they get talent from and what type of training they look for. As to MMI, I believe that Bob Hingdon (SP?) wrote a series of articles about his experience at the school prior to some far flung adventures on his airhead BMW. Some googling may turn those articles up. Kevin

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:40 PM, gbennett69 wrote: > hi > I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > specialised training. > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > is this type of fee normal for a trade school. > Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school > Thanks > Garrett > 08 KLR > Bayonne,nj > > > -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Check out http://www.ironbutt.org/higdon/ and scroll down to the *Robert Higdon's Making a Mechanic Series* *The following series of articles details Iron Butt Journalist Bob "do I hit the screw with a hammer to make it go in" Higdon's training at American Motorcycle Institute http://www.amiwrench.com/home.html> in Daytona Beach, Florida. Before AMI, Bob had never so muched as changed the oil in his motorcycle... Kevin *

On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:51 PM, Kevin Powers wrote: > My understanding is that this is a training school for professional > motorcycle mechanics. If you are interested in a career as a mechanic, you > might ask your local dealership where they get talent from and what type of > training they look for. As to MMI, I believe that Bob Hingdon (SP?) wrote a > series of articles about his experience at the school prior to some far > flung adventures on his airhead BMW. Some googling may turn those articles > up. > > Kevin > > > On Thu, Dec 11, 2008 at 3:40 PM, gbennett69 wrote: > >> hi >> I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI >> http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx >> I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki >> specialised training. >> The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. >> is this type of fee normal for a trade school. >> Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school >> Thanks >> Garrett >> 08 KLR >> Bayonne,nj >> >> >> > > > > -- > Kevin Powers > White Bear Lake, MN > -- Kevin Powers White Bear Lake, MN [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Ah, Bayonne ... I grew up there (went to Mary J from '74-'80). That's a lot of $$$, I'll be curious to hear other folks' responses. --John Kokola -----Original Message-----

>From: gbennett69 > >hi >I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI >http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx >I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki >specialised training. >The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. >is this type of fee normal for a trade school. >Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school >Thanks >Garrett >08 KLR >Bayonne,nj

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:40:46 -0000 "gbennett69" writes:

> hi > I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > specialised training. > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > is this type of fee normal for a trade school. > Do any of you have any training in this area and can recommend a > school > Thanks > Garrett > 08 KLR > Bayonne,nj

<><><><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><><><> Garrett, Last Sunday I was talking with a guy that was a Harley mechanic until about 6 months ago. He was one of the guys that would go to Daytona and Laconia for their rallies and also work during the Sturgis rally for 16 hour days. He was a full time mechanic at the local dealer (22 miles from Sturgis). I asked him about MMI as I've heard a lot of comments about the course. I did read Bob Higdon's articles, about 10 years ago, about his experience learning to be a mechanic and I've often wondered if they are any good. My previous Harley mechanic friend said he never saw a good mechanic come to the shop from MMI. Now that doesn't mean the school isn't any good but I've heard similar comments from different shops over the years. About 6 years ago my nephew thought he wanted to be a motorcycle mechanic. He was 17 years old and getting ready for his senior year in high school. I invited him to come to my place and work on bikes for 10 days or so. The timing was right for the Sturgis rally and he was here for most of it. We got in a bunch of riding and wrenching. I remember it was about day 8 and he told me... Jeff, I'm having a blast, but I don't want to be a motorcycle mechanic full time. That was some of the best news I'd heard in quite a while. There is a huge difference between wrenching for fun and wrenching to make a living. If I was wanting to be a full time mechanic I think I'd talk with as many motorcycle shops as I could and ask what qualifications they like to find in a prospective employee. My Harley wrenching friend said they'd rather take a guy with a good attitude and aptitude and hire that person over a guy that thought he knew it all after graduating from MMI or a similar vocational institute. I work as a substitute instructor at the local technical institute (welding and manufacturing, automotive, diesel and collision repair and refinishing) and I'm also currently working with the high school welding program. My take on the instruction is it will give you a good basic understanding if you take advantage of the information and opportunities presented to you. I'd guess about 25% or less of the students really have a chance at being called a good mechanic after they've graduated. The ones that study and work diligently are the ones that succeed. The other 75% or more just don't have the background to learn, won't apply themselves or have such poor work and life outlooks they'll have problems making it in most jobs that require skill and dedication. I think those that will succeed are the same people that could take the same amount of money and study on their own and learn just as much but wouldn't have access to some special tools and equipment. But they would be able to quickly pick up the needed skills with a little coaching on the job. Before I'd commit to spending a dime enrolling in MMI or another tech institute I'd visit it for a couple of days. If they wouldn't let me shadow a few classes to get a feel for how it's really operated I would leave. That is way too much money to commit based on some advertising designed to get you to enroll. I'd probably also ask for stats on the last few years graduates to see how many found employment in that field. And then I'd want to talk to them and their bosses to see if they were prepared for the needs of the field. I think that figure you presented is just for tuition. You'll still have to provide tools, a place to live etc. I think it would be a very expensive way to learn to be a mechanic. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT ____________________________________________________________ Click here to find experienced pros to help with your home improvement project. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/PnY6rw2eRIsCL1aSwK8b99ycisELh4s2VyRKD1WfUq47WWHKKKu8U/

At 3:51 PM -0600 12/11/08, Kevin Powers wrote:

>My understanding is that this is a training school for professional >motorcycle mechanics. If you are interested in a career as a mechanic, you >might ask your local dealership where they get talent from...

My large local Honda/Yamaha dealer gets thugs of the street and pays them $8.00 an hour to work on bikes. i don't know if that's the exception or the norm, but my guess is it's the norm. Unless that trade school can guarantee placement with a racing team or something of that magnitude, $22K is a lot of cash to risk. Might be better off investing it in wheat futures. Mark

That sounds about right. If you want a rather expensive credential for a not-very-well- paid job, knock yourself out. If you want to learn to work on motorbikes, get out in your back yard and start turning wrenches. It might take you a few years to absorb every thing they could teach you, and more, buy you won't have to pay for it.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Richard Bessey wrote: > > My brother looked into this once, and was rather un-impressed with it. > Long story short, he learned more fooling around in the back yard then > the school could teach him. > > -- > Regards, > > Richard Bessey > System Administrator > Vivio Technologies > > > > gbennett69 wrote: > > > > hi > > I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx > > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx> > > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > > specialised training. > > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > > is this type of fee normal for a trade school. > > Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a school > > Thanks > > Garrett > > 08 KLR > > Bayonne,nj > > > > >

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gbennett69" wrote:

> I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > specialised training. > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > is this type of fee normal for a trade school.

EEEP! Assuming that your purpose is to become a professional motorcycle mechanic, check out your state's community college system. First of all, they're local to you. Second, the tuition is *much* cheaper, typically around $500 per semester if you want to get a 2-year degree, half that if you just want a certificate. I just looked at the 2-year curriculum over at Central Carolina Community College and you'll pay around $2500 total tuition (if you're in-state) for one heck of a curriculum -- you'll learn welding, basic machine shop, and all sorts of stuff like that as well as in-depth motorcycle technology in a curriculum that is supported by most of the major motorcycle makes. You can take all those courses piecemeal, of course, or even learn many of those skills on your own, but they pulled together all the various skills I'd consider necessary to being a master mechanic, the kind of mechanic who can grab a buncha tubes and shit and weld his own motorcycle together if he felt like it. Not that any coursework will make you a master mechanic. It'll give you the foundation, but a lot of that is experience. And don't think you'll get out of school and get hired as a motorcycle mechanic right out the door, unless you apprenticed at a motorcycle shop while you were in school and they know your work and need a mechanic, you'll start out as an apprentice unless you go to work for a really unethical scumbag who doesn't care whether you know your sh*t or not. But paying more than a year's salary to train for a job that's gonna pay you $10 an hour to start is just ridiculous. Your tax money (and mine) goes to support your public community colleges and trade schools, you'll pay far less money for a certificate or diploma from one of the public community colleges or trade schools, and I'll tell you a secret: They generally are far, far, FAR better than the private ones. God's own truth. The private trade schools are money mills that care more about raking in dough for their owners than about teaching anything significant to the students. Private trade schools are by and large a scam, and to be avoided at all costs. Seen too many of the kids I grew up with who got ripped off by those scumbags, while the guys who went through the public trade schools got what they paid for and much more in most cases. Don't confuse glossy brochures and ads with quality of education. Ain't so. The public community colleges and trade schools tend to be pretty gritty places, no gloss in sight, but they do a d*mn fine job on not a whole lot a dough, and don't bankrupt you in the process. -E (Who just realized the other day that he's the only one of the guys who grew up together in his working-class neighborhood who went on to get a college degree).

Garrett, Have you checked with your local community college? Some In NC offer a motorcycle mechanics course which gives you the basics... albatross who learned wrenching under a shade tree working with my dad --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "gbennett69" wrote:

> > hi > I was looking into going to MC mech school at a place called MMI > http://www.uti.edu/Motorcycle/tabid/59/Default.aspx > I was interested in taking the basic course plus BMW and Kawasaki > specialised training. > The cost i was told is 22,750.00 bucks. > is this type of fee normal for a trade school. > Do any of you have any training in this area and can recomend a

school

> Thanks > Garrett > 08 KLR > Bayonne,nj >