bike mechanic courses?

[phill.c]

ive been looking into doing a bike repair/mechanics course but i want to do this at night at a college, or maybe do a home learning thing (if its good enough).
just wondering if anyone has any experiance doing this and how they got on with it.
if anyone knows anyplaces like colleges around manchester or home study providers that will cater for this, info would be much appreciated

thanks
phill
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CBR400RR the funs started - Honda MTX 125 ongoing project when i can be arsed

[Wafer_Thin_Ham]

Look on the websites of those ads that are always on MTV like Skillstrain and ICS and that.
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[Vaxius]

Hmm I found it difficult to find anywhere or any way of getting my foot on the ladder so to speak.

What I have found myself doing is calling in a nearby bike shop/showroom/garage and making myself known. Applying for any temp work and dropping off a C.V with the service manager Trying to get an apprenticeship that starts in January so I'll see how that turns out.

As far as answering your question - that's my only experience in getting to learn about motorcycle repair/mechanics.

i.e. none yet Nor any idea what night classes or home learning media is available. Good luck finding something that suits you.
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Hoping to soon join the road on two wheels.Currently working on: Safety gear / theory test / CBT
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[irving]

[map]

Google is your friend.
Try this link or this in Liverpool

A part time evening course will probably get you a City & Guilds qualification (think it is/was 3991). This will cover basic mechanical knowledge and basic servicing of the bike. Usually the courses let you work on your own bike (you provide oil, filters, pads, etc.) and they'll provide the tools and tutor. Usually run for one term and fees in the ballpark of £100 to £150 depends on area (if you can get cheaper then do so).

Anything more is usually a NVQ qualification which is normally a day (release) course. The bike shops usually send their staff on these. Worth remembering when you next take a bike in for a service . As normally paid for by businesses and a lot more involved and longer these are more expensive.

HTH
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[irving]

[map]

[irving]

[phill.c]

nice one guys will have a look into these , nearest one looks like the north trafford one. i don't want basic skills as i already know how to service a bike and general maintenance, it's mostly engine, electrics, fault finding setting up a bike etc i'm after learning. ive found one in between posting. look any good to you lot

https://www.learning-at-home.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=147

i don't need to buy a bike to work on, and doubt i'll need many tools as i have a fair bit.

phill
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CBR400RR the funs started - Honda MTX 125 ongoing project when i can be arsed

[irving]

[phill.c]

will let you know if i do

just thinking tho do i want to spend 4 hundered on it and for it to be total shite and not learn anything, might ring up and ask for a unit of the course just so i'll know if i'll learn from it or not. maybe something to do with the carbs

cheers people
phill
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CBR400RR the funs started - Honda MTX 125 ongoing project when i can be arsed

[andrew]

[Blackrhythms]

Hi - I did a home study mechanics course - I did it with the Penn Foster Career school (they were Educationdirect.com). The proper name for it (I mean in order for you to find it on their website) is Motorcycle Repair Technician ( ). I have to say, I found it to be a fantastic course! It consists of 10 shipments ( the last one being your graduation shipment) and these have your study manuals which take you through everything you'll need to know about bikes and repairing them! At the end of each module, there are practical exercises which give you the opportunity to put what you've learned into practice, and at various stages they send you tools, which I thought was a nice little touch! You do your exams as you go along and at the end, if you've passed, they send you your Diploma and your graduation shipment which is a nice toolbox with some tools!

You can also go on to do the Degree course then if you so wish, but to be honest - I found that the Diploma is enough for you to learn the basics - any more you can learn can only really be done through putting it all into practice!

If you'd like me to tell you anymore about it you can pm me and I'll do my best to help! Below is the link to bring you directly to their website to find out more!

https://www.pennfoster.edu/

HTH
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[Mr.Everready]

It's a US site, how does that work ?
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[Blackrhythms]

Yeah I was concerned that a lot of the stuff wouldn't apply over here, but to be honest, apart from the bits relating to American laws and taxes and the like (there's a module on setting up your own business) it's all stuff that I can use. They give you a run down on basic bike engines - dedicating different modules to 2-strokes and 4-strokes, the top ends and bottom ends etc - and at the very end they have a module on Harleys.

How it works is, they send you your modules (they give you a bundle at a time to work on) and you do your exams - either by filling out the exam sheets and sending them off, or by doing them online, which I used to do to save time - much handier too. People used to say to me, but sure then you can cheat and look at your books - true, but even they say themselves, it's no harm to refer to your manuals every now and then - what mechanic doesn't - but if you find yourself totally blanking, then go review your module and take the exam later. If you cheat, then you're not really gaining anything. They're the type of questions anyway you'd have to have studied to have an idea of what they're talking about!
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[mrbluesbox]

Im really interested in some of these courses, so if you do decide to go ahead with any of them will you let me know how you get on.
In the mean time ive bought a couple of really good haynes books that take you through a lot of details :

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Maintenance-Techbook-Service-Manuals/dp/1844250717/sr=8-1/qid=1161094408/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/026-1832919-0718003?ie=UTF8

and

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Motorcycle-Basics-Techbook-Haynes-Techbooks/dp/185960515X/sr=8-4/qid=1161094408/ref=sr_1_4/026-1832919-0718003?ie=UTF8&s=books

The basics book takes you through some basic bike theory, how engines work, fuels systems, electrics etc and the mainteneance one is kinda like a generic haynes manual, detailing what you need to do to do simple servicing tasks.
Obviously wont be as good as a full course but ive found them really helpful as im just starting to learn stuff

Gaz.
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[stemc]

Stockport College do a course, AKAIK the tutor is Ian from Mr Pigs Motorcycle Engineers in Manchester

try:
https://www.stockport.ac.uk/Course_Search/print_course_detail.asp?course_header=1562

[Fizco]

[el saxo]

I found this site that seems to have plenty of info on ways to get into all kinds of jobs with cars or bikes.

I was thinking of training as a mechanic too but at 26 I'm worried I might be a bit too old to get an apprenticeship and might have to do all the training at the same time as working in my current job.
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