becoming a mechanic

[yankeedoodle]

I'm nearing the end of my A-levels now and I want to go in to work rather than uni. I've always enjoyed fixing up bikes and its something that I wouldn't mind getting paid for.

Can anyone recommend the best way to get into the trade? Courses/apprenticeships etc etc.

Thanks

[TheDonUK]

I know Merton College around Lewisham south london do Bike mechanic courses. I think its part time one evening a week...

Also there is a course based in cardiff uni to get you into race mechanics, it looks alright, i might have gone for it if i was a couple of years younger...:
https://www.motoeng.com/

[yankeedoodle]

[TheDonUK]

Why aim so low?

I have a couple of mates who work in a service centre, one of them does MOT's all day, he doesent say it but i can see he dies a little inside when he has to say to each person "ok now right indicators, ok now left indicators, ok now front brake..." and the workshop/service side isnt much better, they work you like a bastard. Although that might just be this particular garage.

I would have thought if you got into say the engineering side you would as a by-product pick up all the skills to do such a mundane job if you so wished, but also have "career opportunities" and the ability to progress... its gotta be more fun fixing race bikes than courier hacks... /shrug, but goodluck either way.

[yankeedoodle]

yeah you're right. that makes alot of sense. I'll see what I can find

[mad4it028]

i work as a mechanic and wouldnt advise anyone to do it for a living the wage is crap working conditions are crap

typical day
sevice followed by a service and guess what another service its fekkin mind numbing

keep it as a hobby and enjoy your hobby and get a decent payed job i wish i did

oh to be a plumber why didnt i do it
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[ms51ves3]

Clicky

[thefallenange...]

go for a trade apprenticeship (Mechanical or Electrical) and keep it as a hobby. You don't get £12 + an hour for being a mechanic and you learn the basics anyway.

I'm an industrial electrical apprentice but you learn how electrical items work, basic fault finding skills which can be applied to life.

In 2 1/2 years time i'm on £30k a year + Company Vehicle + shares, pension etc .. . and my pay now is great. From seeing all the mechanics around now they look miserable and if they don't wanna be there what are they going to do to your bike.

Oh and i get the tools i need (very good quality ones too) to work on the bike for free.

The other advantage as well is you get basis training in Welding and Instrumentation which will again help with electrical fault finding and welding is handy to know how to do and you meet people who'll help you for personal things you need.

Go look for your biggest local company (steelworks, factories etc. . ) or local newspapers now as they look to do interviews and have apprentices lined up by june for taking on in september.
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[Ben.]

depends how motivated you are, my dads mate whos about 40 owns his own garage, he earns at least 50k a year...
but you can allways go into tuning bikes, remaping them, you can even break bikes, build them, or do all 3...
its not as boring as people say, take it where you want...
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[twotakt]

I agree with half_lyfe, their is a wage to be made becoming a mechanic but its a difficult slog. I know many a mechanic who graft extremely hard for little reward, the ones who 'make it' are only a small minority. As previously mentioned I'd go to uni and do the engineering side, then if you so wish you could become a mechanic as a by-product of that. However if you didn't like being a mechanic you could go back into engineering. This is a vital option that you may not have if you were to become a mechanic only.

I'm currently in my 2nd year reading for a Ba in Geography (at UWE), its going well and I'm getting good grades. But after I've graduated from my Ba Geography degree I'm then going to read for a Beng or maybe a Meng in Motorsport engineering (also at UWE).

Anyone doing/have done this course at UWE? Or one similar?
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[Ben.]

you can still go to uni with a nvq level 3, and you've got the fall back of being a fully qualified mechanic as well...

edit:
doing a uni course doesnt make you a mechanic, you wont be able to do a service or MOT on that course, you need to choose or do both.

i would do the course at meton, if you like it dont bother with uni, if you dont like it, uni is still an option.
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follow my racing season
Race bike - R6
Road bike - sv650

[the grim reaper]

Try it now, while you're young and youstill have the option to take a different route. What I would do is find the best qualification that will get you onto an apprenticeship but also into Uni, in case you hate it.

If I had my time over I'd have done a mechanical engineering degree, instead of electrical, and gone into designing bikes, if possible.

Cheers

Grim
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