Thanks - and Mechanics

In Michigan you are required to be licensed by the state to perform motorcycle repair/service for pay. To be licensed you need to pass a 90 question test.

When I was in getting the title for the "organ donor" I took the test to see how I'd do. I passed with 84/90, 61 is the minimum passing grade. Now if I fill out a form and send $25 I'll be a licensed mechanic.

Much of what I needed to know I'd learned right on this site, I have no training or professional experience. Thank you to all of you who have helped me learn so much!

Now for the scary part:

Not a single question on brakes.

Not a single question on fuel injection.

Not a single question on frame/structure.

Nothing on adjusting cams - much less cam chains etc.

Nothing on chains and sprockets.

Nothing on control cables.

Not a peep about tires.

Carb synchronization? Forget it.

Only carb question was related to which jet controls mixture at idle.

Lots of questions on cylinder bores, rings, pistons, shaft end play, bearings etc. Gotta be able to read micrometers.

**

Now my point.

In Michigan you can expect that your Licensed Motorcycle Technician can answer 67% of pretty basic questions on an engine rebuild. He has demonstrated NO ability to make the adjustments to make it run, keep it running or make it safe.

I'll bet other states are pretty much the same.

THAT, my friends is why when you take your ride to the dealer they often mount your tires backwards, charge $800 to do carbs(properly or not), can't sync it and return it you with the only likely outcome that your wallet is much thinner.

 

Those who know me already know what I'm about to say...

<rant on>

The State doesn't give a %#&@ about your safety. They only care about the $25 fee they impose on you for the "privilege" of performing motorcycle repair/service for pay. And to make sure you'll pay the fee, they make it a "crime" to perform mechanical work on someone else's bike in exchange for money. Notice, if you will, that it is NOT a crime to work on someone else's bike if you're not getting paid. It's the exact same activity, but one is done for profit. Who says we don't have royal candlestick makers and royal bread bakers. We just call them licensed technicians now.

And don't even claim that it's done for our safety. As MiCarl correctly pointed out, there wasn't a single safety-related question about:

This kind of nannystatism just ticks me off to no end.

<rant off>

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program.

 

This IS Michigan we're talking about. Not exactly flush with cash.

Kinda reminds me why I'm so glad I left the place as soon as I could after high school.

 

Here you can work on a car or bike for $$$ BUT you can only call yourself a mechanic if you have passed Trade Certification and completed your apprenticeship.

Welding for pay? Where are your qualifications? Welding structurelly (e.g. making a chopper) requires qualifications too.

Makes you wonder how qualified OCC twits are.

 

We don't need no stinkin' certifications in Arizona!
That's why I would never take anything I own to a mechanic and
let them screw it up and I don't want the 19 year old high school dropouts
at the dealer working on it either.

 

The MC liscence exam is even a bigger joke. It's supposedly a test of your ability to operate a MC on public roads. Yet here in NY, the 25-30 question exam only had 3-4 questions which had ANYTHING to do with motorcycles!
And the road test was just as bad. The instructors only concern was that I could do curb to curb doughnuts (low speed turns). (The Secas turning radius just about squeeked by, but I'd hate to have to perform that maneuver on a Gold Wing, lol).

 

When you go for your MC Licence over here you are not allowed to ride anything bigger than 250cc's for the first couple of years and its a graduated licence... Learner/restricted then full

 

All three of the Certified Technicians that are working at the Yamaha Dealership near me are First Rate.
I trust them implicitly.

They have helped me and you.

When there has been some matter that I wasn't completely sure I understood or knew what to do about ... I'd print the Members question and bring those guys some coffee and we'd talk about it.

There are places where you don't know what you are getting when you bring your bike in for service.

Near Boston, Billerica MotorSports is THE place to bring your bike.
You get the best there is working on your bike, there.
I'm proud to be close to those fellows, over there.

It's too bad they don't have guys like that working near you!

 

Well, I'm now a "Master Motorcycle Mechanic". State of Michigan says so.

 

Congratulations.

Frame the Certificate and Hang it up near the toolbox.

I'd take a picture of it and have it rendered on T-shirts to wear when working!