Topic: Starting a motorcycle repair business?

[ETinKY]

Hey all,

I've been thinking (for years really) about my own motorcycle business.  And over the years, when I ask independent shop owners what advice they would give to someone thinking about opening they're own shop, the response is nearly always the same.  DON'T!  Only once did a shop owner seem encouraging and discussed the ups and downs about it. 

So I'm starting this thread with the hope that anyone here, whether your a shop owner past or present, or if you've worked at a shop in any capacity, to chime in with your thoughts and experiences.

My business idea is simply this.  Mobile Cycle Services.  No brick and mortar building, but rather a truck/van that goes to the customer.   Keeping a small stock of the most common consumables: filters, plugs, brake pads, etc.  Tires, tune-ups, electrical issues, oil changes, fork tuning and the like, would be the kind of services offered.  No major overhauls or engine out of frame work.

Obviously no warranty work as I'm not a certified or factory trained mechanic.

My own experience?  Mostly old Honda CBs (of course) and the occasion friends bike.   I do have an industrial maintenance background and currently attend classes to fulfill a Degree of Applied Science, so I'm not completely clueless.

I'm really interested to hear the voices of experience on this.  Any and all input/ideas is welcome of course.

Thanks!!






 

[ps]

There are people who post ads offering mobile motorcycle repair in various craigslists. Sounds like a way to start. I think you'll probably end up hating cheap motorcyclists with old bikes. They just want you to adjust the carbs and you want to replace the worn tires, wheel bearings, chain, sprockets, fork seals, etc. and make it a good bike again. I doubt anyone with a barn-find BSA from the 60s is ever going to call you and tell you to spare no expense in bringing it back to life. That said I haven't ever worked on anyone else's bike so I have nothing to back that up.

But here is some good reading on the subject:
http://www.dansmc.com/yourshop.htm
(This guy has a lot of other useful motorcycle info too.)

[Terry in Australia]

Yeah................... Well my only experience is from hanging out in my cousins bike shop back in the 70's and 80's before he gave the business away as a bad joke. No-one wanted to pay for what their bikes needed, so he ended up either chasing them up for money owed, or to take away their buggared bikes. I've got another friend who has a repair shop, but it's also a wrecking yard, so he gets a lot of his stock from bikes that owners leave there because they're not worth fixing.

A mobile service is a good idea, but you'll be catering to either well heeled office workers who don't have time to take their bikes to shops, (but can generally afford your services) or breakdown work. You'll probably need some kinda work-bench though, (a lot of modern bikes don't have center stands) and a "tow away" facility for bikes that need the kinda work you can't do on the side of the road, or to (and here's another money spinner for you) simply take their bikes back home for them when they have a major breakdown. Good luck! Cheers, Terry.

[BobbyR]

I knew a guy who did tune up work from a Van and he did OK at it. The point is can you live on what you have saved until this thing works. You may want to do some "detailing" for the HD crowd, Bond Brokers and the like. Only advertise in places that have money. One of your problems is you are going to have carry inventory. What you may want to find is a place to get you parts "just in time". Oil changes may have some merit.
Hey, old man Honda had a small bicycle shop. He did OK.

[ps]

There might be more money and less trouble in pointing out all the problems in "good runnr when parked jus needs carb cleaned battery" bikes and parting them out on ebay.

Old harleys sell for a lot of money, and old european bikes sell for more. If you can get into that niche somehow there might be a chance. Old UJMs seem to have the cheapest owners.

[Uncle Ernie]

Carrying enough plug, oil filter, oil, options is almost enough to half fill a van already...
I have seen a couple of people make it very profitable;
start small. Tiny even. In a garage or whatever.
Be hinst and tell people what something may cost. 
Be selective and have the ability to say "NO".
Get maoney as you go along.  No money- no work.
Shut up and get the work done ASAP.  The sooner it's done, the sooner something else can come in.
Did I mention "NO"?

Todays Work Is Tomorrows Reputation.
If you're good, the business will find it's way to you.
Just make sure they are ready to pay- otherwise,
    > NO <

[mrbreeze]

Good advice everyone!!!(especially Ernie!) It sounds like a great idea on paper but it actually will be a catastrophe. Anything that breaks down and comes your way will most likely be the one that you can't get parts for and will become your worst nightmare(Murphy's law). If you want to work on bikes......do it as a hobby and to make some extra cash when the ocasion arises but don't quit your day job and expect to make a living at it!!!

[fuzzybutt]

i've been researching opening my own shop the past year or 2 and i've come to the conclusion that, between the hoops you have to jump through for the epa at the state and federal level, the dot, and local ordinances and licensing bueraus it just isnt worth it. i work at a machine shop now and i do repairs and rebuilds on the side at the shop.

[MRieck]

 If you want to hate something you love do it as a business. I thought I was going to lose my mind after 3 years of having a shop. Between finding good employees, "porch finds" (it was under a porch for only a couple of years (a lie)....can you get it going for 500.00?) etc,etc. God...I'm getting a headach just remembering

[mrblasty]

Back in Portland  fellow had converted an old Ambulance into a mobile motorcycle
repair business, I'm not sure of what level of service he offered.  I say his van running around for several years and then poof no more. I'm not sure what happened to him, he called him self " The motorcycle medic".  I second what mrieck says and can speak from experience.

[HondaMan]

Get permission to charge VISA, MC, etc. Cash customers seldom want to pay much.
Be careful about checks, too. Assess the bike, then get all the parts before you start work on it, so you don't leave the site unpaid and partially done...

Charge extra for oil changes: no one wants to do them, and they will pay $5 too much, easily. Don't forget to charge for lubing chains, and sell the cans of stuff to do it.

Offer small upgrades, like electronic ignitions, good tires, Mother's wax products, along with your services. Follow what Terry said: that's right on my experience: don't be afraid to Mechanic's Lien bikes (if your state has this law), and make arrangements or a relationship with someone who can accept one from you for sale, if needed. Many bike boneyards hereabouts get theirs from Mechanic's Lien sales, when a customer gets sticker shock over a $150 tuneup and bails out. A bike trailer behind your truck will come in handy.

Remember above all: it's a seasonal thing. Mine was busy from March until July, then dead. Bike sales filled in the revenue during November-December, but August thru October was dead every year. Spring made us Battery Central, May invariably ran us out of points and plugs, June always seemed to be New Tires month. Here in Colorado, all these shifted about 2 months later in the year.

Have another job, too....it takes a long time to build clientelle and spread the word.

Best of luck! I had a ball doing it for many years, but it is not for old guys with stronger minds (egos?) than backs. 

[SteveD CB500F]

There are two guys that I know in this part of the UK that do this:

1. Specialise in tyres. Supply and fit at owner's premises (or office). He does track days which is where, I suspect, that he makes most of his money. You need a van with all the kit.

Join your local bike clubs, advanced motorcyclists etc and get to know the clients.

2. Specialise in suspension (do you see a trend developing here?). Again, track days, bike clubs etc. This guy offers free checks to members and then sells top notch suspension parts to serious bikers, fits them and adjusts them. Most modern bikers can't do this for themselves (I fitted a new monoshock to my VFR but took it to this guy to set up for my weight and riding style)

Personal recommendation and word of mouth is king.

[ieism]

That's funny, I know a guy that does exactly that...work from a van, mostly at trackdays too. He started out just having the van, but now he shares a big workspace with a partner who runs a riding-school.

I talked to him last week about how the business was going, and he said it was doing ok now. At one point he was so stressed out , that he nearly gave up though. And this is a guy who has been a bike-mechanic for years, runs his own raceteam and can pretty much fix anything with a motor in it.

If you're better than your competion (or there is none) it's possible to make a living. If you're smarter than your competion, you will do OK but it will take some time.  If you're both, and are willing to put in crazy hours, you're business will be a succes.

I just started my own company 9 months ago. I now work 4 days as an employee to guarantee an income, and 2/3 for my own business. I haven't had a day off or a vacation since.
Work has been piling up, but I can't say that i'm making much more than I was as an employee. Most of what I make is invested in the business, and it will take a while before I can safely quit my job. I didn't have any money to invest, so I had to make money as I went along. I think it's easier if you have some money saved.
But it's something I've always wanted to do, and I feel i've accomplished and learned lot this year even though it wasn't making that much money.

Some tips I can give you from my own experience:
1. Make sure your monthly costs are as low as possible. Don't rent or buy expensive stuff, and keep your personal finances in check.
2. Be honest. If you can't deliver on time, tell your client and they will understand. If you accept the work, but are too late they will be mad. Mad customers are no fun, and bad for you reputation.
3. Ask people for help. Friends and family will be happy to help you and it won't cost a thing. Don't be too proud to do it all alone. I have my stepfather doing my financial stuff for free, a friend did all the design/ logo and website for free, and I got lots of free materials and tools from former colleagues and even two of my ex-bosses have helped me!

[Raul CB750K1]

Do a search on the old threads. A few weeks after Tom (ElCheapo) opened his Anubis Cycle business, he was going mad at Yamaha customers...

I have a relative who worked as a car salesman. He told me that after a few years on the business he still didn't understand the customer psyche. People would come in determined to buy a black car and end up buying a different model in a different colour. People would haggle about getting a free stereo or mats but would not mind to spend 1.000 extra to upgrade the rims.


I guess it works the same when it comes to mechanical repairs. People would research to get better prices on a bike repair -assuming the quality of the mechanic is similar- while would not mind to pay extra to have somebody coming over and do the oil change for them. If I were you, I would offer regular oil at cost price, and premium oil at a 100% profit. I bet people would rather have the expensive one. My brother in law runs a grocery shop. He told me sometimes he selects, from the same orange crate, the slightly better ones and put them aside -even when it's difficult to tell ones from the others-, and sell them at a higher price. Some people would still buy them, even when they are beside their "sisters" at a lower price. My brother in law is no economist at all, but economists know that the right price for anything is exactly the maximum that somebody is willling to pay, so the best approach is to increase the available options and let the customer decide. It works from Starbucks to the Big Arches.

I've seen a trend in car shops, that the old skilled mechanic is being replaced by young, cheap labour. Most of the people never repair a car or bike, as they rather buy a new one. The big money is on the maintenance labour, and you don't need an expert to change the oil. But you shouldn't turn down any job; if somebody still wants his vehicle to be repaired just give an extremely high quote and it would be like turning down.

[ETinKY]

Hey all,

thanks for all the responses.  Good advice and a few ideas I'd not thought of.

Certainly something I could start on a small scale.  Thanks again for the thoughtful responses.