I have both a XR650L and a Ninja 636. I really love working on my bike, hell even new grips gives me something to do. Is there anything I can do to really get good at working on bikes pretty quickly? I can do anything I've set my mind to on these things with a shop manual (granted, the "hardest" thing I've done was install the smog block off on the XR, and even that was easy sans cutting my fingers on the tube hooks). I always feel like I can accomplish something, but I've never had any formal training. Any ideas? Are there such things as Motorcycle Shop classes without having to go to a full fledged 2/4 year school for?

Thanks folks

 

The local community college where I live offers motorcycle courses. Other than that, buy a trashed out bike for really cheap, and get a service manual. That is how I learned.

 

if you want to do it for fun, then it will just take time and expeience. if you want to do it as a job, you can goto tech schools. the good ones are in fl and az. they are very reputable and thats what you will need to get hired with no professional experience.

 

check into MMI (motorcycle mechanic institute) http://www.uticorp.com/default.aspx?tabid=256 or wyotech http://www.wyotech.com/. i think it's like a 6 or 9 month program at these 2 schools but i'm not sure. good luck.

 

Just like anything else. There are self train at home books you can buy. If you are not wanting to do the college thing....

 

I agree with the other guys if you just want to do it for fun experience is the best way to learn. I'm not that good with the bikes but i do all the work i can to it by myself. I don't have a service manuel for my new bike but i've tore it apart to work on it some. When it gets real complicated ask the guys on here they're a big help. I have a little advantage being that i'm an aircraft mechanic and a lot of the same stuff applies but if you're mechanically inclined you should have no problems.

 

Thanks guys. I'd prefer it to be more of something I like to do as a hobby than a day to day job. Only reason being that I currently like my job! Some good stuff though, I think I'll check out the community colleges soon enough.

 

basically I would buy the manual for your bike and work on it as needed. you can only learn by doing it. Hell tear the whole thing apart and put it back together, sounds like fun to me!!

 

Do it like I did, wreck your bike and be forced to work on it.

 

well that too. lol I worked mine before I wrecked it, so putting it back together isn't as hard