Commencing Happy Dance

[Lucky_Devil]

So during my daily moto-forum reading this morning, I noticed this post on BARF (Bay Area Riders Forum):

We are looking for another apprentice. It's free, you don't have to pay us like the MMI and you will learn get a lot of hands-on experience from mechanics with 15 years or more of technical experience.

You will be working with one of the mechanics and he will teach you about how to fix real life problems, do a tune up, electrical problems etc. as you help him. In return you will need to run errands to get parts for the shop.

You need to be committed at least 3 days a week for a few months otherwise you won't learn anything. You need to know how to use tools and have a motorcycle.So, having always wanted to know more about how to work on my bike (or any bike), I stopped by this afternoon to inquire about being their apprentice.... and guess what....





I start tomorrow!!!!!!!!! :yahoo:



YAY FOR ME!!!!!! :thumbup:

I'm sooo friggin' happy right now I feel like rainbows might start shooting out of my eyes any moment now :ecstasy:

Hopefully I'll be able to actually help out in the garage forum instead of being the one pleading for help :D:

That is all :riding:

[ridingAK]

CONGRATULATIONS!
That is wonderful news LD. Have fun and learn as much as possible!

[waterlilly]

:yahoo: Excellent LD

Is this a total change in career for you? If so all the best to you.

:thumbsup:

[Lucky_Devil]

Have fun and learn as much as possible!

I plan on it... I'm gonna make like a sponge http://a5.vox.com/6a00c2251e31c1549d00e398d00ffd0003-50si and soak it up!


Is this a total change in career for you?

Sorta, but not really... I'll still be working my regular job (while it lasts). I work the wee hours of the early morning until noon every day. So now I'll be spending my afternoons and evenings at the shop learning how to work on bikes :wootrock:

[sweptwingnut]

:thumbup: I thought for a minute there that you told your other employer to pound sand. Just goes to show,,,don't fight the karma.

[bobcat]

Very cool gig! :thumbup:

[Luna Tique]

WOW
:ecstasy::wootrock:
CONGRATULATIONS LD
What a great opportunity.

:party:
:cheers:

[Unforgiven]

Very Nice! Now we can get free advice on what's wrong with our bikes. Well, all you people that don't ride Hondas and experience things like that.

[ridingAK]

:lol:

[jfike]

oooooohhhh!!!! soooooo jealous here!! awesome!!!

congratulations!!!!

[Lucky_Devil]

Thanks everyone :ecstasy:

Very Nice! Now we can get free advice on what's wrong with our bikes. Well, all you people that don't ride Hondas and experience things like that.

:rofl:

[ridingAK]

is there any pay potentially associated with this? Could it work into the job that keeps you going until next spring?

[Lucky_Devil]

I dunno :shrug: I'm trying not to place any expectations on any potential outcome (if that makes any sense), and just enjoy the experience and learn a lot.

At this point, I'm just really, really happy and grateful that I'll have the opportunity to learn this stuff for free... with one-on-one attention and instruction. I may not enjoy it enough to even want to do it for a living, but the knowledge I gain will pay dividends for the rest of my riding career.

[Inky]

Whoo hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will LOVE it!

[KansasKawboy]

LD that is so cool, you needed something positive right now and you found it.:thumbsup:

[KCDakar]

I have to say it couldn't happen to a better person LD. Congrats!
I know you will use this time to your advantage and share with us as you go along and I look forward to it!

You know the rules...:rules:

:devilsmile:

[SheRidesABeemer]

Wow what an opportunity! :thumbup:

[Maleficent]

Congratulations on finding your Peter Pan job!!

For all of those who have no idea what it means....

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b122/atypical1/funny%20various/2008-05-16-variousjobs.jpg

[waterlilly]

just remember when the nice courier comes do'nt sign with grease on your hands.lol

I hate when that happens!!!lol

[Lucky_Devil]

Well... I'm officially pooped :yawn:

Things I learned on Day 1:


People take crazy chances with their lives because they're cheap (or poor... but if you're too poor for say... brake pads, well, you shouldn't be riding it).
Everyone seems to snap their brake lever. I guess bikes have some sort of weird gravitational pull towards the right side.... kind of like when you drop your toast, it always lands butter side down.
Some people really neglect their bikes... it was shameful. On the other hand, it's interesting to see just how far you can let a motorcycle go and it will still keep on tickin'
Older bikes are HEAVY. But I wont complain, it's like getting a complimentary workout :D:That's all I can think of right now. I'm off to get some dinner :thumbup:

[ridingAK]

This is really cool. We are going to learn a lot from you!

[Luna Tique]

First day and already learning :yahoo:
:popcorn1:

[msyzf2u]

Well... I'm officially pooped :yawn:

Things I learned on Day 1:


People take crazy chances with their lives because they're cheap (or poor... but if you're too poor for say... brake pads, well, you shouldn't be riding it).
Everyone seems to snap their brake lever. I guess bikes have some sort of weird gravitational pull towards the right side.... kind of like when you drop your toast, it always lands butter side down.
Some people really neglect their bikes... it was shameful. On the other hand, it's interesting to see just how far you can let a motorcycle go and it will still keep on tickin'
Older bikes are HEAVY. But I wont complain, it's like getting a complimentary workout :D:That's all I can think of right now. I'm off to get some dinner :thumbup:


Very Kewl, I will keep checking this thread. Good Luck !! :wootrock:

[Inky]

Motorcyclists, cheap? I've never heard of such a thing! lol, yeah, right!

Thanks for the updates, they look like they will be fun to read!

[Luna Tique]

So anything exciting to add LD? :D:

[ridingAK]

She's been quiet the past few days. Maybe she has a secret... :shrug:
:rofl:

[Lucky_Devil]

Nothing exciting to add... It's just been challenging adjusting my schedule around working two jobs (15Hr days = :yawn:). I'm so tired when I get home that I don't even want to turn on the computer... just shower, eat, and go to bed.

Other things I've learned:


Full fairing sports bikes are a PITA to work on. So many little bits of plastic fairing, and everything is so jam packed in there you have to remove 5 other unrelated parts just to get to get to what you need to work on.
It really sucks to change a tire with Slime tire repair stuff in it. Especially when the own failed to warn you that there was anything in the tire :mad:
Having the right tool, and good tolls, makes all the difference in the world.
I think I might be too honest of a person to be able to be a mechanic... or at least too honest to be able to make a living doing it :chin:

[sweptwingnut]

I think I might be too honest of a person to be able to be a mechanic... or at least too honest to be able to make a living doing it :chin:

Ok,,,spill the beans. What did you say? :popcorn1:

[Lucky_Devil]

I haven't said anything... just observing some of the practices... and they don't sit well with me. Apparently it's standard operating procedure, but it just doesn't seem right to me :shrug:

Perhaps I'm just naive. (wouldn't be the first time)

All I can say is that I'm really glad I'm going to know how to work on my own bike from now on and I'll never need a mechanic.

[Luna Tique]

:chin: learning more than you want to about how things are done?
Like working in the resturant business and seeing how food is REALLY handled makes it hard to eat at one.

But on the bright side you will have a firm grasp on working on your bike with confidence and that will be a very good thing :thumbup::D:

[KansasKawboy]

I think I might be too honest of a person to be able to be a mechanic... or at least too honest to be able to make a living doing it :chin:

Thats why I was a Fleet Mechanic, I only worked on the company vehicles.

[ridingAK]

Hey LD, Dakar could really use a good mechanic about now... :D: Actually she has the shop to work on her bike, and Friar Mike is coming back through Tok on Saturday, so if worst comes to worst, he can take a look at her bike. I sure hope she's safely sipping a cod drink in my back yard by that time though!

[Luna Tique]

An honest mechanic is a :perfect10: in my book I am fortunate to have one.
PROCYCLE (http://www.procyclesinc.com/)

Somtimes things can wait but Brakes :eek: .....I think not

I would park the bike until it could be fix....... I can not risk a fall because I didn't do a needed repair

[Lucky_Devil]

You should see some of the brake pads that have not only come off of bikes, but have gone back on. No "pad" material left, worn down to the metal backing plate, which is now scoring the rotor :eek:

Almost makes you want to put used, but less worn brake pads on... which is a crazy notion in and of itself http://i31.tinypic.com/153wdtw.gif

[Lucky_Devil]

Hey LD, Dakar could really use a good mechanic about now... :D:

I think Dakar has forgotten more about working on motorcycles than I know at this point :lol:

I would LOVE to take off and join her in Tok to help though... if I could... then I could poke fun about world renowned "BMW reliability" :devillaugh:

[ridingAK]

With all the final drive problems the bigger BMWs are having I'm liking my chain more every day. It may be a pain to lube, but it is less likely to cause catastrophic failure, and it is easier and cheaper to replace.

[Lucky_Devil]

Brake pad example:

[Astir]

:omg: It must have been making horrible noises with pads like that. How sad.

[Luna Tique]

I loved the illustration :rofl:

[ridingAK]

I can't imagine letting your brake get so bad! The poor bike must have been feeling very neglected.