Motorcycle Mechanics

Overview
Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Job Training

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Examples

These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.

Diagnose, adjust, repair, or overhaul motorcycles, scooters, mopeds, dirt bikes, or similar motorized vehicles.

Salary Salary

Salary at 10th Percentile: $25K
Salary at 25th Percentile: $30K
Median Salary: $38K
Salary at 75th Percentile: $49K
Salary at 90th Percentile: $60K

Demand
Career Demand by State Career Demand by State Legend
Core Tasks

Mount, balance, change, or check condition or pressure of tires.

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

Replace defective parts, using hand tools, arbor presses, flexible power presses, or power tools.

Connect test panels to engines and measure generator output, ignition timing, or other engine performance indicators.

Listen to engines, examine vehicle frames, or confer with customers to determine nature and extent of malfunction or damage.

Disassemble subassembly units and examine condition, movement, or alignment of parts, visually or using gauges.

Repair or replace other parts, such as headlights, horns, handlebar controls, gasoline or oil tanks, starters, or mufflers.

Reassemble frames and reinstall engines after repairs.

Repair or adjust motorcycle subassemblies, such as forks, transmissions, brakes, or drive chains, according to specifications.

Install motorcycle accessories.

Reassemble and test subassembly units.

Remove cylinder heads and grind valves to scrape off carbon and replace defective valves, pistons, cylinders, or rings, using hand and power tools.

Hammer out dents and bends in frames and weld tears and breaks.

Technology Skills
Technology
Example
Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
TRACKUM Repair Manager
Inventory management software
Inventory tracking software
Office suite software
Microsoft Office
Point of sale POS software
Santa Maria Software Counterman Pro
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Web page creation and editing software
Facebook
Word processing software
Microsoft Word
Tools Used
Tool
Example
Cleaning and janitorial supplies
Nylon brushes
Hand tools
Ratchet sets
Industrial pumps and compressors
Oil extractors
Material handling machinery and equipment
Crate lifts
Measuring and observing and testing instruments
Tread depth gauges
Metal forming machinery and accessories
Arbor presses
Transportation components and systems
Lift-arm jacks
Transportation services equipment
Tire balancers
Welding and soldering and brazing machinery and accessories and supplies
Tungsten inert gas TIG welders
Top 10 Knowledge Required
Mechanical
97%
Importance

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

English Language
71%
Importance

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service
68%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Computers and Electronics
67%
Importance

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Mathematics
63%
Importance

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Education and Training
62%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Sales and Marketing
51%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.

Engineering and Technology
49%
Importance

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Physics
49%
Importance

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub- atomic structures and processes.

Transportation
49%
Importance

Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Top 10 Skills
Repairing
78%
Importance

Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.

Troubleshooting
78%
Importance

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Equipment Maintenance
70%
Importance

Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

Active Learning
63%
Importance

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Active Listening
63%
Importance

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Complex Problem Solving
63%
Importance

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Critical Thinking
63%
Importance

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Judgment and Decision Making
63%
Importance

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring
63%
Importance

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Operation and Control
63%
Importance

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Top 10 Abilities
Deductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

Finger Dexterity
78%
Importance

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

Inductive Reasoning
78%
Importance

The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).

Manual Dexterity
78%
Importance

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Arm-Hand Steadiness
75%
Importance

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Hearing Sensitivity
75%
Importance

The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.

Near Vision
75%
Importance

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Comprehension
75%
Importance

The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Control Precision
73%
Importance

The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Problem Sensitivity
73%
Importance

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.

Top 10 Work Activities
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
91%
Importance

Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.

Making Decisions and Solving Problems
90%
Importance

Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material
87%
Importance

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
87%
Importance

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
87%
Importance

Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.

Getting Information
86%
Importance

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Handling and Moving Objects
85%
Importance

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Controlling Machines and Processes
84%
Importance

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
84%
Importance

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
84%
Importance

Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

Inspect vehicles to determine overall condition.

Adjust vehicle components according to specifications.

Replace worn, damaged, or defective mechanical parts.

Repair non-engine automotive or vehicle components.

Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.

Repair defective engines or engine components.

Measure equipment outputs.

Observe equipment in operation to detect potential problems.

Confer with customers or users to assess problems.

Disassemble equipment to inspect for deficiencies.

Reassemble equipment after repair.

Install vehicle parts or accessories.

Grind parts to required dimensions.

Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.

Test mechanical equipment to ensure proper functioning.

Assemble mechanical components or machine parts.

Remove dents from equipment, materials, tools or structures.

Operate welding equipment.

Work Context
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls

How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

Exposed to Contaminants

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Spend Time Standing

How much does this job require standing?

Frequency of Decision Making

How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?

Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Consequence of Error

How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?

Importance of Being Exact or Accurate

How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

Face-to-Face Discussions

How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

Contact With Others

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?

Education
Majors
Major
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies/Technicians
Interests
Realistic
100%
Importance

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Conventional
39%
Importance

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Investigative
34%
Importance

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Enterprising
29%
Importance

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Artistic
19%
Importance

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Social
15%
Importance

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Top 10 Work Styles
Attention to Detail
99%
Importance

Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

Dependability
95%
Importance

Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

Integrity
94%
Importance

Job requires being honest and ethical.

Persistence
87%
Importance

Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

Initiative
86%
Importance

Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

Self Control
85%
Importance

Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.

Independence
83%
Importance

Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

Achievement/Effort
82%
Importance

Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Analytical Thinking
82%
Importance

Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

Cooperation
82%
Importance

Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

Work Values
Independence
72%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Support
62%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Working Conditions
60%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Achievement
58%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.

Recognition
48%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.

Relationships
29%
Importance

Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service.