Discussion: Motorcycle Related Career Paths

[tsorfas]

I am looking to learn more about the motorcycle industry and the careers it holds.
Looking to talk anything from requirement to location and salaries.
Sure there are various ways you can be involved right?


> I assume technician/mechanic is the most common one. it should offer fair amount of job opportunities even in New England? and I assume the skills can transfer to other motorsport vehicles (Snowmobiles, jet-skis, etc)? I know Oxx is working at a HD Dealer or soemthing similar. Anyone else would care to share overall job (hours, pay, environment).


> Sales/Parts must be another one. Are there different requirements for selling Vechicle VS parts? I assume just like a tech you can pretty much go work at any dealership that is hiring. I would assume you make a small salary/hourly rate (25k/yr or 12$/hr 100% guessing those numbers) and mostly commission? again if anyone else cares to share information on this job it d be awesome


> Pro-Racer. Yeah good luck with that right? not sure how many people actually make a living through that. I guess its considered even successful to be able to make most of your money back (%) but to actually earn a living racing motorcycles I have no clue how it d be possible. Seems even the payouts on MotoAmerica (AMA) cannot justify cost of travel/tires/repairs. I understand sponsors are a huge factor in that, but again a subject i have minimal to zero knowledge about. I know there are some racers that are/were pro here and it d be great if they shared some info.


>Track Day Provider/Racing School Owner - The two active ones here are obviously Tony and Eric. It seems like an extremely risky business that has ups n downs (what doesnt any more?). Yet from the outside it looks awesome (getting paid to ride tracks and teach people) but I am sure it has it stresses n problems that i cant see from my POV. I have heard stories of TD Orgs that came n went around new england. I am not sure what kind of income you can do through that, especially around here were the riding season is 6 months and most people are actually comfortable riding 3-4 months.


Feel free to add any jobs I have missed and your POV/theories.

[Stromper]

Move somewhere with a basically year round MC use

[number9]

When I lived in Maine, I was friendly with the techs at Moto Milano (and Kurlon. Hi Kurlon!)

I remember asking one of the techs there how often he rode. He said, "About once a month". Working on bikes killed his desire to ride them. Yeah, that's only one data point, and it's not true for everybody, but it's something to consider.

Another opportunity would be to start your own equipment store. SportBikeTrackGear and Kneedraggers and all the big shops are out west, why can't we have one local? Or you could cater to racers, and have a kind of online version of Street & Company. But, of course, that market is pretty damn competitive as it is...

Don't we have a member who worked for Ducati NA?

[Karate.Snoopy]

Travel rider writer, if that is your thing... seems like there are documentaries and books popping very frequently

[loudbeard]

Dealership GM, Sales Manager, Finance Manager. All of those positions do pretty well financially. They all also work a lot...not a lot of extra time for racing (ask Zev.) Probably get the most time off as a Finance Manager.

If you're super smart you could always be an engineer for one of the factory teams. If you're only pretty damn smart you could be an engineer for a satellite teams. Your ship has probably already sailed in the respect. You could certainly be a roadie for a race team! I think they require you to wear a team shirt though.....now that I think of it, I think all of these jobs require you to wear a shirt. WAIT A MINUTE!!!! SAVAS THE SHIRTLESS ENGINEER!!!

[GixerJockey]

You know that I spent 8 years in the power sports industry, right? Just call me and I'll gladly talk you out of this silliness.


"If you ever want to hate your hobby, do it for a living."

[Kurlon]

I apparently met so many people while hanging out at Moto Milano... I've got a HORRIBLE memory for people though.

That said, Hi Number9!

Hanging out and playing roaming part time tech at MM was a blast. Doing it as my primary job? Guess what I wouldn't be doing at home in my spare time... A-ko would not exist, I doubt I'd own a bike at all.

I used to be a hardcore computer geek. Yes, FAR worse than I am now. Making money playing StarCraft hardcore. I have an IT career, guess what I don't do anywhere near as much of now in my spare time?

See the trend?

[number9]

I apparently met so many people while hanging out at Moto Milano... I've got a HORRIBLE memory for people though.

That said, Hi Number9!

I was the only Australian there also we chatted at one of the early LRRS rounds this year!

I used to be a hardcore computer geek. Yes, FAR worse than I am now. Making money playing StarCraft hardcore. I have an IT career, guess what I don't do anywhere near as much of now in my spare time?

See the trend?

Me too. (Well, I never made money playing Starcraft.) I used to have a little network of Sun SPARC workstations in my bedroom - in 1996 mind you - and PC stuff coming out of my ears. Then I got a job doing similar stuff. I sold it all and bought a MacBook Pro as soon as Mac OS X was released. I've upgraded a ton of times but it's still the only computer I own.

Yeah, I think there are always going to be exceptions to the rule. I think if I was a MotoGP engineer, yeah, I don't think it'd affect my hobby. But otherwise I'd want to be careful.

But you know what? You can always give it a try, and if you don't like it - or if you don't like the sacrifices you'd need to make - you can go back to your previous profession.

[csmutty]

Damn. I miss playing star craft brood wars over dial up.

[Themotogem]

I don't know much about the motorcycle related business but one thing i am sure you can start a motorcycle parts store. Which helps you to attract the customers from all over the world.

[Stromper]

Lets start MOTO energy drink company

A combination of circulation boosters, analgesics, electrolytes, etc.....

[OreoGaborio]

Damn. I miss playing star craft brood wars over dial up.

At first I was all "Pssh, he wasn't alive when dial-up existed."

Then I was all "Oh right, he grew up on a farm so he's like, practically Amish. Bet he still has AOL."

[RandyO]

> I assume technician/mechanic is the most common one. it should offer fair amount of job opportunities

> Sales/Parts must be another one. Are there different requirements for selling Vechicle VS parts? I assume just like a tech you can pretty much go work at any dealership that is hiring.


It seems like an extremely risky business

Internet forums are the death of jobs in the industry

dealerships are "stealerships"

in reality, small independent mechanics are the stealers, low overhead, usually cause they lack things like insurance, technical service bulletins and many other things

who buys parts from a brick and mortar when you can buy it online cheaper

you have answered your own question

It seems like an extremely risky business

[nhbubba]

Motorcycle Tour Guide : Get others to pay you to tour around the country. Requires that you be good at planning, researching, and dealing with (whiny) people. Probably also requires that you be somewhat financially independent as I can't imagine it pays well enough to do much more than cover your own touring expenses. But it would definitely defray the costs of touring.

Motorcycle Rentals : Own / operate a motorcycle rental business. Possibly a franchise of an existing brand. Requires substantial capital to buy in. May require a hell of a lot of time invested. Especially early on.

[Petorius]

Why not look for a position with one of the American OEMs that are making big moves? Ie Zero, Polaris/Victory/Brammo, HD. I talked to a Zero sales rep at the NYC show a few years ago, you could definitely do that and its a bit of a different twist than the standard dealership sales gig.

[csmutty]

At first I was all "Pssh, he wasn't alive when dial-up existed."

Then I was all "Oh right, he grew up on a farm so he's like, practically Amish. Bet he still has AOL."

We actually still can't get dsl hahaha.

[cdovego]

The guys making good dough in the motorcycle industry are far and few between. Finance manager or parts/sales manager are your easiest to get 1st shots at the industry that pay good enough for you to survive. You'll lose the ability to race and plan your life around racing with those gigs.

Corporate world or your own business are the only ways I've found to have ample time to pursue a full season and the expenses that come with it. I guess you could be a drug dealer, that might work for a little while.

The whole pro racer thing is totally achievable but that'll cost you money, not make it for you. I'd wager a bet less than 5 guys in the MotoAmerica series are being paid to ride while the rest are paying, lots.

[cdovego]

Lets start MOTO energy drink company

A combination of circulation boosters, analgesics, electrolytes, etc.....

That's called racefuelz, Michael Aron's business --> RaceFuelZ Energy Drink - A Naturally Sweetened, Flavored Vitamin & Mineral Healthy Energy Drink Mix - Refueling the human race, one drink at a time. - Taste the difference - Call Us: 888-248-2142

[Kurlon]

Ooooh, a sport's product that isn't packed full of mythical herbs and twig grindings! I need to try this stuff out.

[TheIglu]

Does it mean I'd have to wear flat brimmed hats?

[jwm2k3]

I was a motorcycle salesman for about 5 years or so...

Lots of hours, lots more bullshit, lots of stress.

I made between 50 and 60k a year on average.....

Kinda glad I don't work in that industry anymore. When I did work there, I hardly ever rode my bike. I felt like I didn't want to even think about bikes outside of work.

Now, I love to ride way more....

[RaceFuelZ]

That's called racefuelz, Michael Aron's business --> RaceFuelZ Energy Drink - A Naturally Sweetened, Flavored Vitamin & Mineral Healthy Energy Drink Mix - Refueling the human race, one drink at a time. - Taste the difference - Call Us: 888-248-2142

Yep, that's me, Mojotown / RaceFuelZ, and thanks for the nod! Feel free to spread this 12% (not your typical 10%) dicount code around at check out. Once you try my drink mix, you'll either LOVE IT, or NOT.. Most likely, Love. One way to find out.

12% discount code
nestreetriders (use that at checkout) good for a month from yesterday.

Our Site: http://www.racefuelz.com or shop on amazon (links to our products) for free shipping* *Prime members only.

[RaceFuelZ]

Also, I've been racing motorcycles for over 25 years, a regional road racing champion with the AFM on my Honda 125 GP bike, top 10 in the AMA on my TZ250, worked for Fast By Ferracci for a few years and also campaigned my own Ducati team for a while. At the time (back in 02) there were not allot of drinks on the market that I wanted, so that's when I first came up with RaceFuelZ, it wasn't until I was about to close my retail shop down that I chose to pick up the project again the give it all of my attention. Give my drink mix a try, it's awesome cause it's also so portable and easy to take with you on a long ride.

Aron To Close Mojotown Motorcycle Gear Store, To Focus On RaceFuelZ

[AimlessMoto]

^ I just find this hilarious. Not what you posted... but just the fact that you not only exist, but you joined the forum, and started pitching.

This is what it takes, tsorfas! This could be you!

[Kurlon]

I'm wishing I had a sample pack for this weekend... damn it.