What Do Motorcycle Mechanics Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Motorcycle Mechanics diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles. They also mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.

Other tasks include:

• Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.
• Replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.
• Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
• Repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers.
• Dismantle engines and repair or replace defective parts, such as magnetos, carburetors, or generators.
• Connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.

We asked Motorcycle Mechanics how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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62% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 38% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Motorcycle Mechanics repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers. They replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.

A typical day for a Motorcycle Mechanic will also include:

• Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.
• Disassemble subassembly units and examine condition, movement, or alignment of parts, visually or using gauges.
• Reassemble and test subassembly units.
• Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.
• Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.

We asked some Motorcycle Mechanics a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	38% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	42% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	61% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	35% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	62% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Motorcycle Mechanics also remove cylinder heads and grind valves to scrape off carbon and replace defective valves, pistons, cylinders, or rings, using hand and power tools. They may also connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Motorcycle Mechanics Hammer out dents and bends in frames and weld tears and breaks. They might also Reassemble frames and reinstall engines after repairs.

In addition, they Dismantle engines and repair or replace defective parts, such as magnetos, carburetors, or generators.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers.

To some Motorcycle Mechanics, it is also their responsibility to Reassemble and test subassembly units.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Motorcycle Mechanic, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/installation-maintenance-and-repair/small-engine-mechanics.htm

http://www.am-tech.org/

http://www.eetc.org/