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Old October 7th, 2017, 09:47 AM   #1
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Jobs in the Motorcycle Industry

I'll be graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in a couple of months with a BS in psychology. I'm looking at jobs in the motorcycle industry at the moment but it's hard to search - those jobs don't tend to appear on the bigger search sites.

I worked for about two years as a repair tech for a local shop (not a dealership) that services pretty much all makes/models so I got a good working knowledge of all that stuff... rode lots of bikes, learned lots of things! I also was a service advisor for a short period of time. I'm not opposed to doing that again but I might want to try something new. I have a lead on becoming certified as an MSF instructor here in PA but that's not really a steady enough income for me. I'd be looking for close to $40,000... nobody can live on $10 an hour.

I've been googling all the companies I've come into contact with in my time as a motorcycle fanatic, and nothing has really stood out. I'd be willing to move back to DC for the right job. I've looked at all the major brands with US headquarters, AMA, several of the motorcycling magazines, retail/gear brands, dealerships (meh), distributors... any ideas? Has anyone here worked in the motorcycling industry and want to tell me about it?
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Old October 7th, 2017, 10:44 AM   #2
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I'd be willing to move back to DC for the right job.
Wow, that's guts! I grew up in Bethesda, but moved out about 15 years ago and am glad to be done with that overcrowded mess. If you want a job in the motorcycle world, maybe look around in the motorcycle oriented places like western NC and TN. Not only is there a lot of motorcycle related business there, but there's some of the best riding in the country. You might even be able to start a business of your own.

I've been manufacturing ignition systems and other electronics for the Kawasaki triples for nine years now. If you're good at rolling cones and TIG welding thin sheet metal, I can give you some work making expansion chambers.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 11:26 AM   #3
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Wow, that's guts! I grew up in Bethesda, but moved out about 15 years ago and am glad to be done with that overcrowded mess. If you want a job in the motorcycle world, maybe look around in the motorcycle oriented places like western NC and TN. Not only is there a lot of motorcycle related business there, but there's some of the best riding in the country. You might even be able to start a business of your own.

I've been manufacturing ignition systems and other electronics for the Kawasaki triples for nine years now. If you're good at rolling cones and TIG welding thin sheet metal, I can give you some work making expansion chambers.
I also grew up in Bethesda. I'd really rather not move anywhere south of there. I am not good at either of those things... but working for Kawasaki would be awesome..
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Old October 7th, 2017, 11:33 AM   #4
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That's funny... where in Bethesda? I was in Wildwood, a block or two from Democracy Blvd. and Old Georgetown Rd.

Have you been out in the Great Smoky Mountains in NC?
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Old October 7th, 2017, 11:38 AM   #5
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lol! my parents live right off of Old Georgetown road. right near NIH. I went to Walter Johnson High School right across from the wildwood shopping center.

I haven't been to the Smoky Mountains. I went to the northern part of NC this year to go to the twin rivers chopper fest, and rode down the blueridge parkway and skyline drive. I'm not sure I'd be very good at dealing with the political scene in that area of the country, shall we say... also really really not a fan of swamp weather.. I'd love to live in Utah or northern New Mexico or Arizona but I don't really want to live so far away from my family.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 12:03 PM   #6
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I graduated from WJ in 1975. Small world, huh?

I'm not sure what political scene you're referring to, but I really don't notice anything that stands out. In fact it's more apolitical than where I came from.

The Smoky Mountain area is not as hot as it is farther east. If you haven't hung out in the Deals Gap/Cherohala Skyway/Foothills Parkway region, you owe it to yourself to see it for a few days. When I'm at the annual 2-stroke meet at Deals Gap each spring, it's amazing how pro-motorcycle the area is, with lots of businesses renting motorcycles, working on motorcycles, providing lodging for riders, etc.. And it's the only area I've been to where it's common for car drivers to pull over and let motorcycles pass. There are tons of dirt fire roads in the mountains there, too. Like you can ride a hundred miles on them in an afternoon, and see only a small fraction.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 12:10 PM   #7
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the Smoky Mountains are on my list. but I don't think I'd move to that area unless the job paid REALLY well... although, to live in the DC area you need a job that pays REALLY well.. so I don't know. I love the scenery out west. I love the desert (the whole not-raining thing is a huge plus). for now, I'm looking for something that pays a living wage and is motorcycle-related. if I don't find anything, I will probably go back to the shop I was at while I search for something with a more sustainable pay-to-physical-labor ratio. I loved fixing bikes, but a 45 hour week of doing that, 51 weeks a year, gets really tiring really fast. I had no energy or motivation to do anything on the weekends and like my whole life went to work.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 12:43 PM   #8
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I'll be graduating from the University of Pittsburgh in a couple of months with a BS in psychology. I'm looking at jobs in the motorcycle industry at the moment but it's hard to search - those jobs don't tend to appear on the bigger search sites.

I worked for about two years as a repair tech for a local shop (not a dealership) that services pretty much all makes/models so I got a good working knowledge of all that stuff... rode lots of bikes, learned lots of things! I also was a service advisor for a short period of time. I'm not opposed to doing that again but I might want to try something new. I have a lead on becoming certified as an MSF instructor here in PA but that's not really a steady enough income for me. I'd be looking for close to $40,000... nobody can live on $10 an hour.

I've been googling all the companies I've come into contact with in my time as a motorcycle fanatic, and nothing has really stood out. I'd be willing to move back to DC for the right job. I've looked at all the major brands with US headquarters, AMA, several of the motorcycling magazines, retail/gear brands, dealerships (meh), distributors... any ideas? Has anyone here worked in the motorcycling industry and want to tell me about it?
If I were in your shoes I would stay away from motorcycle dealerships. They are sweat shops. I would campaign heavily focusing on major motorcycle manufacturers which might plop you smack dab in the middle of L.A. Good weather bad politics. I don't want to sound like a male chauvinist pig but a lady with a strong motorcycle interest and your experience might be of interest to an employer in a male dominated industry.

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Old October 7th, 2017, 12:46 PM   #9
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If I were in your shoes I would stay away from motorcycle dealerships. They are sweat shops. I would campaign heavily focusing on major motorcycle manufacturers which might plop you smack dab in the middle of L.A. Good weather bad politics. I don't want to sound like a male chauvinist pig but a lady with a strong motorcycle interest and your experience might be of interest to an employer in a male dominated industry.

Bill
I worked at a dealership for three weeks here in the Pittsburgh area and it was beyond awful. I'm definitely not trying to work for a dealership. you're totally right about it being a sweat shop.

I figure that I might have an advantage with my "female perspective" soooo where are all these employers who might be interested?! send them my way..
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Old October 7th, 2017, 01:12 PM   #10
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I worked at a dealership for three weeks here in the Pittsburgh area and it was beyond awful. I'm definitely not trying to work for a dealership. you're totally right about it being a sweat shop.

I figure that I might have an advantage with my "female perspective" soooo where are all these employers who might be interested?! send them my way..
Nobody comes to you dear lady. Start here;

http://www.kawasaki.jobs/culture

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Old October 7th, 2017, 01:17 PM   #11
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^ I already looked! it appears there is nothing in any area that I could reasonably relocate myself to... I'm just getting started searching, I have like three months to exhaust all potential opportunities lol
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Old October 7th, 2017, 06:23 PM   #12
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I hear there is good money racing MotoGP. Even the slower riders make good money. If you don't mind doing all that traveling it would open many doors in the industry.

Just look at the money Danica makes trying, I mean racing, NASCAR.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 06:31 PM   #13
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On a more serious note, with a lot of BS in psychology why don't you look into writing articles for a motorcycle magazine, test ride bikes (from a women's perspective) for manufacturers, write a book about the ladies of motorcycling, start an all female motorcycle stunt show, interview people at biker events for magazines, or just charge people to hang out with you like I do.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 06:34 PM   #14
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On a more serious note, with a lot of BS in psychology why don't you look into writing articles for a motorcycle magazine, test ride bikes (from a women's perspective) for manufacturers, write a book about the ladies of motorcycling, start an all female motorcycle stunt show, interview people at biker events for magazines, or just charge people to hang out with you like I do.
yeah all of those sound good, I've definitely thought about working for a magazine and test riding bikes.. just not sure how to get my foot in the door there. it'll be a couple months before I can really pursue that.. but its on my brainstorming list
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Old October 7th, 2017, 07:18 PM   #15
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Working for one of the motorcycle magazines sounds right up your alley. You have a good mix of experience for it from working at CoSS to your BS in psychology. Having a good understanding of people as well as the mechanical side of bikes is a huge plus in that profession. Having experience on dozens of bikes in multiple different riding disciplines doesn't hurt either.

Not to mention you could use that as a platform to advocate for companies to fix the disgrace that is women's safety gear selection.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 08:02 PM   #16
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Both of these are usually looking for good help.
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Old October 7th, 2017, 08:03 PM   #17
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Not to mention you could use that as a platform to advocate for companies to fix the disgrace that is women's safety gear selection.
That's for sure. It's tough for my daughter to find decent gear that doesn't have pink trim all over it.
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Old October 8th, 2017, 08:05 AM   #18
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The Motorcycle Industry Council has an office in Crystal City, VA. Not sure if they have any job openings but it would be worth reaching out to them.

https://www.mic.org/#/contact

And if you are coming back to the DC area you need a lot more than $40,000 to live on. If you are going to CA (where most of the motorcycle manufactures are headquartered) you need WAY more than $40,000
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Old October 8th, 2017, 08:45 AM   #19
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If you are going to CA (where most of the motorcycle manufactures are headquartered) you need WAY more than $40,000
There are dot.com executives making $250k+ living out of their cars because they can't find a place to live!
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Old October 8th, 2017, 11:45 AM   #20
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Good luck, Katie. I wanted like hell (still do!) to be involved in motos or pedal bikes, but that clearly wasn't for me. I'm in a 10000000% different field and my hobbies, unfortunately, will stay nothing more than my hobbies.

$40,000 though... umm... well... that's not much for a metropolitan area?

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There are dot.com executives making $250k+ living out of their cars because they can't find a place to live!
...wut?
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Old October 8th, 2017, 12:05 PM   #21
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Old October 8th, 2017, 01:12 PM   #22
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I almost kinda hate to say it, but... Here in Wisconsin, I would suspect Harley Davidson would be interested in a person like you, in a position somewhere between sales and marketing. Harley's user base is getting old and dying out, and they need to reach new markets. A female rider such as yourself is a good person to give them some direction.

If any of you guys have seen the Harley 2018's, they are headed in a new direction. Someday they may lose the stigma and become a decent brand.



Oh yeah, houses are cheap in Wisconsin. My house would cost a million bucks if it were in Cali. I was once offered a job out there at double my normal salary, but in Cali it's effectively a pay cut.
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Old October 8th, 2017, 02:00 PM   #23
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Someday they may lose the stigma and become a decent brand.
I look forward to that day, but it's going to take dumping 100 lbs from their lightest current ones to make me even look.
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Old October 8th, 2017, 04:29 PM   #24
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I almost kinda hate to say it, but... Here in Wisconsin, I would suspect Harley Davidson would be interested in a person like you, in a position somewhere between sales and marketing. Harley's user base is getting old and dying out, and they need to reach new markets. A female rider such as yourself is a good person to give them some direction.

If any of you guys have seen the Harley 2018's, they are headed in a new direction. Someday they may lose the stigma and become a decent brand.



Oh yeah, houses are cheap in Wisconsin. My house would cost a million bucks if it were in Cali. I was once offered a job out there at double my normal salary, but in Cali it's effectively a pay cut.
That's why people are moving to Texas and legislation like Proposition 65.

http://www.bikebandit.com/blog/post/...fat_bob_review

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Old October 8th, 2017, 04:46 PM   #25
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That's why people are moving to Texas and legislation like Proposition 65.
We get it; you're an aging republican. Everything different from your view is scary.

Next.
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Old October 8th, 2017, 06:30 PM   #26
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We get it; you're an aging republican. Everything different from your view is scary.

Next.
Ditto. USA - RIP.

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Old October 8th, 2017, 08:28 PM   #27
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Not to mention you could use that as a platform to advocate for companies to fix the disgrace that is women's safety gear selection.
No kidding. Women need gear that's the same quality as what they make for men. And no, we don't need it in pink.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 12:07 AM   #28
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No kidding. Women need gear that's the same quality as what they make for men. And no, we don't need it in pink.
All I want in life is the men's gear in a smaller size
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Old October 9th, 2017, 06:13 AM   #29
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All I want in life is the men's gear in a smaller size
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Old October 9th, 2017, 07:15 AM   #30
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One word of caution - the motorcycle industry is not stable.

Good jobs are hard to find, even in good times, and the pay is usually not the best. Right now the motorcycle industry is in decline - especially Harley. I doubt they are hiring. Polaris Industries shut down the Victory line, but has shown steady sales of Indian motorcycles even as overall sales of motorcycles and scooters are down.

Sport Rider magazine just shut down after 25 years. Sales of sport bikes have been consistently slipping.

I don't want to be all negative, but just wanted to point out the current situation affecting the industry.

As a female rider you may have more opportunities. The female rider section of the industry has been growing in recent years.

I know you are an enthusiast, and wish you the best of luck finding a fun and exciting position in the industry.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 09:35 AM   #31
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All I want in life is the men's gear in a smaller size
No kidding. I've found good boots, reasonable pants, and a good jacket but the selection is fairly small.

Mental note- search for cargo pants in black.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 09:38 AM   #32
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One word of caution - the motorcycle industry is not stable.

Good jobs are hard to find, even in good times, and the pay is usually not the best. Right now the motorcycle industry is in decline - especially Harley. I doubt they are hiring. Polaris Industries shut down the Victory line, but has shown steady sales of Indian motorcycles even as overall sales of motorcycles and scooters are down.

Sport Rider magazine just shut down after 25 years. Sales of sport bikes have been consistently slipping.

I don't want to be all negative, but just wanted to point out the current situation affecting the industry.

As a female rider you may have more opportunities. The female rider section of the industry has been growing in recent years.

I know you are an enthusiast, and wish you the best of luck finding a fun and exciting position in the industry.
You make some very valid points. The motorcycle industry like many others slip and slide occasionally. I don't think it's all gloom and doom and I don't think that's what you are saying. EVERYTHING goes through cycles; the auto industry, the economy, even the weather.

"And the seasons go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We're captive on a carousel of time . . ."

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Old October 9th, 2017, 10:51 AM   #33
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True, things come in cycles, but they aren't circular with same beginning and ending. More like waves of a stock-chart with each bottom and rise being in a different place. When things come back, it's a different arena that's driving it as products and their markets evolve.

Motorcycling seems to follow auto-industry by wave or two behind. It used to be engineering that was key to developing better more functional products. When motorcycling comes back, it will follow what happened in the auto-industry. Engineering and manufacturing is bygone specialty, can be done by any number of off-shore plants (look at how many GM jobs got moved abroad).

What will be hot ticket in motorcycles next is software. With more hybrid/electric vehicles appearing, software is key. Taking what is bleeding-edge brand-new technologies seen in top-of-line bikes and MotoGP prototypes and making it commodity feature available in all bikes. ABS is already here, can be more sophisticated. Direct-injection and variable valve-timing is all that's left to improve on ICE on bikes. Next up, it's all-electric 2-wheel-drive for motorcycles. Traction-control/DBW to make raw HP and torque easier to tame for new riders. Stability-control/auto-steering, cornering-assist, obstacle/intruder scanning & avoidance, auto-pilot/navigation, auto tyre-balancing/pressure-control, etc. will be features that lures in new buyers for the next wave.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 11:22 AM   #34
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True, things come in cycles, but they aren't circular with same beginning and ending. More like waves of a stock-chart with each bottom and rise being in a different place. When things come back, it's a different arena that's driving it as products and their markets evolve.

Motorcycling seems to follow auto-industry by wave or two behind. It used to be engineering that was key to developing better more functional products. When motorcycling comes back, it will follow what happened in the auto-industry. Engineering and manufacturing is bygone specialty, can be done by any number of off-shore plants (look at how many GM jobs got moved abroad).

What will be hot ticket in motorcycles next is software. With more hybrid/electric vehicles appearing, software is key. Taking what is bleeding-edge brand-new technologies seen in top-of-line bikes and MotoGP prototypes and making it commodity feature available in all bikes. ABS is already here, can be more sophisticated. Direct-injection and variable valve-timing is all that's left to improve on ICE on bikes. Next up, it's all-electric 2-wheel-drive for motorcycles. Traction-control/DBW to make raw HP and torque easier to tame for new riders. Stability-control/auto-steering, cornering-assist, obstacle/intruder scanning & avoidance, auto-pilot/navigation, auto tyre-balancing/pressure-control, etc. will be features that lures in new buyers for the next wave.

Agreed. And to the detriment of motorcycle racing and shade tree mechanics. It will be a new world for sure.

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Old October 9th, 2017, 12:59 PM   #35
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...It will be a new world for sure.

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can't wait!!!

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Old October 9th, 2017, 01:07 PM   #36
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Luddites are so cute

I said that 2 years ago hahah

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luddites are so cute
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Old October 9th, 2017, 01:11 PM   #37
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As long as my old, air cooled, simple 2 valve Ducati crap is not legislated out of existence....I'm good with my "keepers".

i'm not interested in the latest, greatest tech...and the attached inevitable added complexity and expense.

Sorry, OP, to veer off topic.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 01:13 PM   #38
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the Smoky Mountains are on my list. but I don't think I'd move to that area unless the job paid REALLY well... although, to live in the DC area you need a job that pays REALLY well.. so I don't know. I love the scenery out west. I love the desert (the whole not-raining thing is a huge plus). for now, I'm looking for something that pays a living wage and is motorcycle-related. if I don't find anything, I will probably go back to the shop I was at while I search for something with a more sustainable pay-to-physical-labor ratio. I loved fixing bikes, but a 45 hour week of doing that, 51 weeks a year, gets really tiring really fast. I had no energy or motivation to do anything on the weekends and like my whole life went to work.
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Old October 9th, 2017, 01:35 PM   #39
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As long as my old, air cooled, simple 2 valve Ducati crap is not legislated out of existence....I'm good with my "keepers".

i'm not interested in the latest, greatest tech...and the attached inevitable added complexity and expense.

Sorry, OP, to veer off topic.
I put on the "stops". My 07' Ninja is all I need to get me to the pine box. I am glad to have experienced a new millennium bike though. Where the hell are the points and condenser on the Ninja anyway?

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Old October 9th, 2017, 01:40 PM   #40
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I'm still looking for the cam chain on my VFR
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