Is the only training accepted by Harley-Davidson for their mechanics at MMI?

Question

My son has decided that he would like to be a motorcylce mechanic, even though he has never shown any interest before in mechanics. First are there tests that can help him determine if he has a mechanical aptitude? Secondly, we were advised that Manufacturers like Harley-Davidson will not hire from other tech schools-only MMI. Is that correct? Will a local school be worthless? How much can he expect to make in this type of job?

Answer 1

No they will hire from other schools But they prefer MMI. I have a few buddies who have gotten out of the army and have got hired on by HD. and they paid for the training.

You can pay for a skills aptitude test allot of community collages give them. or you can have him take the ASVAB with the army for free. He dose not have to join but it is a good skills test to see where he has some of his aptitudes.

Answer 2

I think there are to schools, one in Florida and one in Arizona. I beleive these are the only schools approved by HD. A dealer will hire from these schools first, if they need more they will recognize other schools. I would say a top paid mechanic is maybe making $12 an hour. What they start out at , I don't know.

Answer 3

I'm a graduate of MMI, and I'd like to say that they are the only ones, but they're not.  There is also Wyotech, which used to be called AMI.  They have a facility in Daytona Beach which replaces the old motel they used to have classes in.  The old motel had a swimming pool, although AMI didn't maintain it or keep it full, so you couldn't swim in it.  You could sweep it out and use it for skateboarding, but that's another story altogether.

I went to MMI in Orlando, although the main offices are in Phoenix with their other location.  Phoenix has more square footage of classroom space, but Orlando cranks out more students each year.

A local school will not give him the background that he needs because a large portion of the education is dependent on the videos and documentation available from HDU, the education division of their company.  These videos and tests are only available from HD, and they're only distributed to dealerships and authorized training facilities such as MMI and Wyotech.  In fact, much of the continuing education for current techs is offered at MMI facilities, so even if you graduate from MMI you might have to come back for more classes if your dealership chooses.  This doesn't happen often, only during new model releases such as the V-Rod or Buell 1125R.

The lowest starting wage for a MMI graduate with his own tools is about $12 per hour.  Usually, a dealership will have a bonus or incentive program based on how many bikes he can fix in a week.  There is also a pay scale called "flat rate" which is popular with experienced techs, where the tech gets paid a fixed amount of hours for a particular job times whatever he agreed to be his hourly rate.  HD publishes a list of each repair job and how many hours the dealership can bill for that repair job.  The number of hours is multiplied times the shop's hourly billing rate, and that's how they calculate how much they're going to charge the customer.  I worked at one of the biggest HD dealers on the planet, and they guy on the lift next to mine was pulling down over 100k per year.  Now, we're in Florida where folks ride all year, so if you're living in an area that snows part of the year, then an hourly wage would be more attractive when work slows in the winter.  He could take more than one elective in case he decides to work for somebody else, I took all of them.  I'm factory certified by HD, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki so I can walk into any dealership and start work that day (after I pass a drug test).  Working on more than one manufacturer is not difficult, regardless of what you read on this website, all motorcycles are basically the same.  Harley dealers pay better than others because they have a wealthier customer base, on average.

Finally, let's talk about mechanical aptitude.  I've seen students that have never ridden a motorcycle and never picked up a wrench before show up at MMI and do very well.  I'm talking about good grades and solid job offers on graduation.  I've also seen guys that have Harley's and all the tattos and leather to match, who think they know it all, and fail miserably because they didn't want to follow proper procedures and guidelines dictated by the school and the manufacturer.  There are specific instructions for every job, and if you're not willing to carefully read those instructions and follow them exactly, then you're not going to get the passing grade needed to graduate.

Email me if you need more info.  Hope this helps.

Answer 4

I am not sure about the pay of a motorcycle mechanistic.  9 years ago I was a Cornwell Tool Distributor. I knew Auto Mechanics who made in the $100,000 range. Granted they were very good and kept up with the changing times and tools.  Out of 250 customers about 25 were in that range.  The “Parts Changers” made about half of that.  I would assume Motorcycle Mechanics would have a higher wage.  I do my own work now, but when I took my bike to the Harley Dealer, it was always a week or longer wait to get my bike in. So the work seams to be steady. I live in a climate you can ride 12 months a year. In the north it maybe slow in the winter.