would you trust your bike to a self taught mechanic?

[Wonko The Sane]

I know there are some people on here who don't trust anyone else to work on their bike which is fair enough.

Unfortunately a couple of constraints prevent me working on my own bike to fix every issue, they range from:
no cover to work under,
bike is transport so can't stop half way through a job for want of parts, tool or knowledge / time
confidence (working on this one)

So, there are some things I have done by a mechanic, just found a chap much more local to me who's self taught and operates out of an old workshop - seems to know what he's doing from chatting to him but would you (those of you who use garages for work) trust a self taught chap?
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[Ste]

Self taught could be rephrased as having years of experience.

Some I'd trust whilst others I wouldn't trust to make a cheese sandwich.

For example, don't trust someone like this guy. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=289931

[Wonko The Sane]

yeh, we're talking a fair number of years experience

I've had friends who are self taught work on my vehicles before but I know them to trust they'd not do something they're not sure of or been with them helping so I've confidence of what's been done as I've seen it being done if that makes sense?
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[andys675]

I do every time I raise a spanner to my bike
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[Polarbear]

I'm a qualified marine engineer but will quite happily work on any bike so does that make me a self taught bike mechanic?
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[Ste]

Would you trust a bike mechanic to fix your boat?

[Wonko The Sane]

[andyscooter]

[Kaya75]

Qualifications don't mean too much most are out of date in a few years, one of my mates served a apprenticeship for about 12yrs before the owner retired and my mate took the workshop over, no qualifications, but works on anything, another mate has all the qualifications done his tool time and now manages an area of workshops as 'master machinic' he doesnt even own a tub of swarferica now I'd trust them both, but neither are bike mechanics but between them they have about 60 yrs of riding experience.. - although no ones wielding anything structural of mine unless they are coded for that job, and I mean no one, at anytime.. ever, I don't care for nothing but qualified when welding structural... We don't want the sub frame falling off at 60mph again do we?

[Pigeon]

I'd talk to the person about their own vehicles and take a cursory look at them to see what state they are in. Also, look around the workshop / garage.

Not exactly scientific, but you might get a feeling one way or other.

EDIT: Actually, that applies to "professional" garages too.

[Timbo Foggins]

Given the state of mongoloids I've seen doing motorcycle mechanics courses I'd trust the qualification about as much as hearing someone say "Yamaha" whilst belching.

I'd much rather go off recommendation and reputation than whether someone has a piece of paper.

[Enduro Numpty]

The question should be: "Should I let a Main Dealer anywhere near my bike?"

[ADAMH0]

[DrDonnyBrago]

Depends on the job really, any moron can do the general stuff.

Does he have liability insurance?

[Baffler186]

In my experience there's no easy way to tell, I'm inclined to have them do a job and then judge them on that. I've had both excellent and utter shite service from the same main dealer before, so won't be going there again. The local privateer I've used has proven his worth, both in terms of straight-up honesty and very reasonable labour charges, so when I can't do something I'll go there in future.
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[WD Forte]

[Dcwhite1984]

The fact that your asking this question should be enough to say that you wouldn't trust him.

However it would depend on who it was, how long i'd known him and as others have said, whether someone i know has recommended them.
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[Old Git Racing]

From the point of view of the mechanic, I'm self taught regarding bikes but have qualifications in other engineering areas. I usually just do mates bikes, anything from a service to swapping a frame on a ZX6R to yesterdays and todays job - replacing the front cylinder head on a firestorm after the CCT broke and lunched the valves (fitted manual CCT's, do it if you have a firestorm!).
I do the work generally for free or favours returned. I treat each job as if it was my bike and I had to ride it. The bikes are usually older and if it's the first time I've done something on it you can bet I end up seeing something missing or previously bodged which I try to make better.
Why do I do it? I enjoy it, I have the time being self employed, Think most dealers are rip off con merchants and would sooner help a mate than see them being ripped off.
If you find someone who you trust to do the things you can't then use them but bikes are relatively simple things, and you'd be surprised at what you can do yourself given the motivation, manual, tools.

OGR

[Wonko The Sane]

[andyscooter]

Just out of interesthow do you know if a bike mechanic is self taught

Some that iI know don't have certificate on the wall in the workshop

But I know they went to collage

Others have naked ladies on the walls and didn't
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[Wonko The Sane]

I asked
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[Taught2BCauti...]

I think all mechanics (and most other trades too) are mostly self-taught, to some extent.

You get to learn all the theory and science at college, as well as some practical workshop experience, then at some point, you will be doing 'real work' on customer's vehicles under the supervision of a qualified mechanic.

This can't possibly cover every job you are ever likely to come across, so when your time is served you are on your own, and you come across something you haven't seen before, you have no choice but to dig out the workshop manual and learn on the fly.
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