Topic: If repair classes were available in your area from a shop, would you take them?

[ElCheapo]

We are working on many things on the fore front. First is getting set up as a full blown parts dealer which would allow us to carry thousands of NEW parts, accessories and apparel. Second is setting up classes that would be in multiple grades of skill from beginner to advanced. Advanced would cover stuff like heavy duty multiple carburettors and tuning to get optimum performance from your bike as well as many other categories.

My question is: Would you pay a resonable fee to be in a class of this sort with a 2-10 ratio of instructors to students from a reputable shop? If so, what do you consider resonable?

[csendker]

Interest: yes, but only when you open your Buffalo branch.
Cost: no clue.
Schedule: better make it flexible.  As a father of 2 very active kids, my time is not my own.  While not everyone is in this predicament, I bet a lot of perspective studends are.  Mid-life crises are great for the motorcycle market.

I'm fumbling through based on trial and error- helped immensely by sucking up everyone's collective experience on here.  But I wish I had someone knowledgeable to lean on: is that noise just the normal clatter of a 30 year old engine or is it about to blow up?  Is it really tuned properly or am I missing a whole lot of power?  These are things I cannot get through a forum, and with no prior experience to draw from, my learning curve is still pretty steep.

[GroovieGhoulie]

I would be INSANELY interested, as long as the bikes I got to learn about and work on were older bikes like ours.  Old Jap or Brit Iron would be ok with me.

something like that is EXACTLY what I would spend my spare time and money on.  I'm a decent mechanic right now, mostly self-taught, but I know the value of having an experienced hand teach you.

Regarding cost, dunno.  I do have some disposable income, but if it's crazy money, I can't justify that too much.

[ElCheapo]

I guess I did not clarify, this would be mostly old bikes. Pretty much nothing but vintage iron of various makes and models. These would be night classes as that seems to be the easiest time frame to get people to turn out.

Sorry no plan to move to Buffalo 

And these classes would be taught by a MMI graduate. Not me. But I would be the second instructor.

[el kabong]

FWIW, a camera store in toronto offers sevral dozen different photography workshops.  the workshops run about 2 - 3 hours long , and work out to about $25/hour:

http://www.henrys.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/PageDisplay?dest=schoolimaging/school.jsp&page=WORKSHOP5&courseId=1002&storeId=10001

[Jeff]

I'm like the others - I'd be interested, don't know about cost, and time better be flexible because my time is limited. Sure would be nice to learn hands on though.

Jeff

[cmorgan47]

My question is: Would you pay a resonable fee to be in a class of this sort with a 2-10 ratio of instructors to students from a reputable shop? If so, what do you consider resonable?

absolutely.
as far as a fair fee, where i live we get "continuing education" flyers every so often with classes ranging from ballroom dancing to underwater basket weaving and tai chi.  check those.  i'd pay around 50-75/class depending on what was covered and the quality of education.

[dusterdude]

i will be taking sometime in the near future a welding class and would like to take a machinists class too.

[nickjtc]

Go for it! I've found that there are a lot of people who are interested in learning even the most basic mechanical training, like simple service work or how to winterise or prep the motorcycle for storage. It's a pity more people don't know how to do the latter........ it would sure make for fewer gummed up carbs on old bikes we want to buy!

Set your fees at a level where you can make a reasonable income from the minimum class size. We used to run a 'Wrenching for Rookies' two day class, of about twelve hours total, and charged $100CDN a head, given a minimum class of three attendees, with one instructor.

[Stormer]

Yes, and in fact, I will start my classes next week.
I'm, paying R$ 144,00, that's more or less US$ 75,00 a month.
And I'm like Cmorgan: repair classes, scuba diving classes, cooking classes, flying classes, love them all. ;)i

[ElCheapo]

Kick ass to see other people on here making use of their community colleges. There are so many courses you can take. Welding..... TAKE IT. It will make your life so much better.

This spring I will be taking both levels of the rider instruction course. I need to re learn my limits as there are many. I figure if I can not do lock to lock in circles in the lot at 8 ft, then I ride like #$%* and I need more practice. This is like a slow dance with your bike, you should be able to do it with one hand on the bars. I watched a guy do it with a HUGE Goldwing one handed.

I can tell you....................

I felt stupid.

[cmorgan47]

elcheapo, i'm offended by your avatar.

no, not offended, that's the wrong word.....
i need to go home for a bit.....

[nickjtc]

elcheapo, i'm offended by your avatar.
no, not offended, that's the wrong word.....
i need to go home for a bit.....

I agree. I insist you replace it with the previous one.

[dusterdude]

bettie,bettie,bettie......whoo doggie please add bettie

[nickjtc]

At least your new avatar doesn't show the post mortem fecal expulsion.

[csendker]

Why not have an option where the students use their own bikes to work on.  Kind of like a mentoring system.  This would work best with entry-level stuff (here's how to tune up a bike...).  Group it by bike catagory (old 70's metric iron, newer HD's & wannabees...) to keep the info at least similar.  I would love to bring all of the crap for a full-blown tune-up somewhere and have someone who knows what the hell's going on watch me run through it, telling me when I screw up.  Beats finding out 10 miles down the road.

[nickjtc]

Beats finding out 10 miles down the road.

Isn't that the truth!!....like "Did I, in fact, put fresh oil in the crankcase after I drained the old stuff??", or "Hmmmmmm, I wonder if that tappet clearance was supposed to be in mm??".

[Ernie]

Id be interested but only by a certified mechanic,
i went to a Ford school for one year and it was a very good school, but i also know how some shadetree mechanics can teach you very bad practices ,some of our instructors would try to trip us up by telling us to do something wrong that we had allready learned like blowing a wheel bearing dry (after cleaning) with 125 psi air hose 

[csendker]

There's an old school, ex-Honda dealer service guy (dealer folded...) running as an independent not too far from me.  I know, because I found his card with a note written on the back jammed in my seat strap one day after work.  I was considering approaching him for some "tutoring lessons" on the general maintenance of my 550.  I figured I do my own maintenance so he probably won't be getting much business from me anyway, so why not take some scoots for a lesson or two?  Then, if something major happened, he would have a relationship that I would probably take advantage of.  So far, my own maintenance has gone OK, so I've left the thought alone, but if he were to offer some sort of class, I'd be strongly considering it.

[ProTeal55]

If this class is a go count me in...
We can use my bike for a "test subject" , as it needs some maintenance...

[ElCheapo]

If this class is a go count me in...
We can use my bike for a "test subject" , as it needs some maintenance...

This could be done but not for anyone else... Not with the childish stick in the eye #$%* I got from other members here, they can continue to push thier bike.

[78 k550]

Id be interested but only by a certified mechanic,
i went to a Ford school for one year and it was a very good school, but i also know how some shadetree mechanics can teach you very bad practices ,some of our instructors would try to trip us up by telling us to do something wrong that we had allready learned like blowing a wheel bearing dry (after cleaning) with 125 psi air hose 

Nothing wrong with blowing out a wheel bearing out after cleaning as long as you hold it from spinning. That's most peoples fasination is watching or seeing how fast they could spin it. Had a few of them in the shop I worked in.

Paul

[Brunow]

I follow such class. Normally it's for people who don't find a job and need a education. But you can follow it if they have little students.

-2 Years every monday evening (3.5 hours). Starting with 5 weeks book education (basis) and following up with practical engine buildup and maintaining. The second year you see the rest of the bike (not engine)

It costs about 450€/year but you learn to master your bike and learn to fix things!
+ You are every monday evening with something like 10 other Students who are FREAKS about anything with 2 wheels!
The mentor is a honda Dealer. So it can't be bad. And you get a reduction when you buy stuff at the dealer.

This is the first time that is really like to go to school And my girl is happy ... "I'm mister motivated", "I want to do something with my life"  *yeah yeah.. Broem broem!!!*

A little minus:
AFTER WORK you must drive 1hour driving to that school. 3,5 Hours education + some aftertalking...(0.5 Hour) and a hour back.
So it's allmost midnight when i get home...

[nuke]

If this could be done in a full week or 2 week course (7-14 days 8 hour days) I would take time off, which I have lots as a shift worker, and take the course. I would even fly to wherever its offered (North America). I am an industrial mechanic so I can figure out lots but I would be ready to pay a good price to learn A-Z on a SOHC4. I wish they had something like this in the Toronto area. You should have somekinda satellite course. It could be fun for you....travel and see the world o.k. maybe I'm dreaming. Or maybe I'll pay someone to come and teach me in my small garage warm meals, cold beer, any takers?

[cmorgan47]

I hear there's something like this opening up in my neck of the woods. Bet your fat ass I'll be enrolled.

keep me posted on that, your neck of the woods isn't that far from mine.