I went to M.M.I. certified H.D. and Honda, how many of you answer givers know what your talking about?

Answer 1

I know enough to keep my bikes running and I know if I want it done right I am best to do it myself.

In large part I attribute this to the fact that I care about my bikes and to a professional they're just another job.

I've got the right tools, know who makes good parts and I know the good machine shops.

Most importantly, I know how to read a manual and when to ask questions.

What else could one need to know?

Answer 2

Holy crap! You just said exactly what I was thinking. I went to MMI after 10 years working in Harley dealerships and running Indian, Big Dog, Panzer, Titan and Ultra shop. I only went for the paper. I've built 3 bikes, worked for 10 years in parts and service.
I'm wondering where the questions come from. Let's see: service manual, owner's manual, blue book and COMMON SENSE would answer more than 3/4 of the questions.
Last but not least, some of the answers that are chosen as "best answer" are so vague it's not funny. Oh, wait, that's probably because the people asking the questions don't even know what information they should provide so that they can get the answer that would help them and the people answering the questions don't even know what they're doing. Stop watching Discovery Channel and reading pointless magazines. If your local shops can't answer your questions, maybe you should find out what information they need so they can. Silly me.

Oh no...and I'm a 25 year old "CHICK" that's not a lesbian or a whore. The world's going to end now huh.

Answer 3

5% best answers, the question is do you know what you are talking about? I am also an mmi grad it isnt the great piece of paper you make it out to be i have also seen more than a dozen "mmi grad" come through my shop 1 in four last for more than a year only 3(myself included) last more than five. many of the people holding the same piece of paper as me i woulldn't let touch my lawn mower ( you may be one of those people) others work very hard to learn everyday and don't walk around with a "mmi" chip on their sholder and actually do well for themselves. Maybe the best place for you is on answers so you can't really f**k anything up you can just give your two cent and hopefully they don't listen to you, which seems to be what you got going on. So get a job at a dealership start at the bottom and work your way up.

Answer 4

Sure do. And when I don't, I say so.
There are at least 4 regulars that jump into mind that obviously DO know what their talking about. You are not on that list. When was the last time YOU worked on an '82 Honda? Or a '74, for that matter? I can tell you know things, but you don't know all.

If I know, I answer (mostly this opinion crap).
If I don't know, I may try to provide direction.
Which way do you need to go?

Answer 5

When you finish your schools and training, you are then ready to start your education. The first thing you learn is that you do not know it all, no matter what your instructors told you. And you never will know it all. I have a college education, machine shop/engineering based, training. Lot of electronics, computer, welding education thrown in over they years. Have operated a bike shop since 1955, owned a couple of dealerships, but worked for a large company as well, seems when I got a dealership going pretty good, they moved me. I build custom sleeves, make special valve seats, weld blown up cases and heads, have made a few sets of custom Harley flywheels, and cylinders. Do flow bench work, repair electronics, straighten frames, both aluminum and steel. I also sort out problems sent to me by other shops in the area. I do not know it all, but I know enough to find the answers I do not know. I know enough not to answer something on ANSWERS if the asker does not know enough to describe his problem. I know enough to answer most any problem, if he gives an accurate description. My life has been making things, fixing broken things, redesigning poorly done projects, dtc. I welcome any and all to match wits with me on a bike problem. I have made a career of knowing WHY things work, not just HOW>

Tomcotexas.

Answer 6

Hey just because you went and spent a ridiculous amount of money on going to a trade school doesn't mean you are the end all-be all expert of things. If you quit learning you are a worthless mechanic. I have knowledge on cars, trucks, semis, motorcycles, quads, forklifts, construction equipment, small engines, airplanes. I got my knowledge the hard way, trial and error, going to school, apprenticeships, etc... I also read a lot and ask questions when I need help. Certification is an ego booster which I also have credentials. So how much OJT experience do you have and how much have you learned on your own without someone regurgitating information and giving you a certificate on it?

Answer 7

Sorry, just in the mood to play the devils advocate. My guess is the vast majority. My guess is that most responding have experience situations they feel worthy of relaying. Whether changing their own oil or spitting cases. Two years riding or fifty years. I get the fact that you feel yourself a professional and you are proud of that fact. But in terms of professionals, ever had a teacher in school who just didn't seem to know what he was talking about? A doctor who you didn't think could execute the proper way to squeeze a pimple? The truth is there are plenty of professionals who just barely squeeked by. And that isn't that tuff when you pay a trade tech to give you a certification. I'm not getting personal here, don't know you or how you ranked in you class. Just stating a fact.
As I've said before I look at this site akin to a group of riders going out for a putt and at a stop talking about the problems one or the other has had. Some good info, some not so good. But as has been said before "you can't get too much information". It's up to the asker to evaluate and decide.
Bottom line, eveyone is trying to help. And those who concider themselves professional, who can add more informed and detailed assistance should be applauded for their time and help. But at least by me their arrogance will never be met well.

Answer 8

I'd say that you also got a certificate in attitude and pomposity. Since you are so well trained why aren't you in the shop charging the $65 plus per hour for your expertise rather than whining on this forum for $0 per hour? This is meant to be a friendly exchange of questions and answers amongst riders, mechanics and others, not a forum for people such as yourself to claim superior knowledge and question others. I also have never heard of Mr Harley, Mr Davidson or even Mr Honda of having a 2 year passing grade piece of paper from MMI..

Answer 9

Going to school is a great thing, but being able to repair bikes on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere with jut a bare minimum of tool seperates the men from the boys. And yes, honest truth, lacking a hammer I've actually had to use a rock on one of the repairs along with various discarded items such as tv antennas, note books, pop cans, plastic pop bottles and such. I bet in school they didn't teach you how to get a bike going using rocks and other crud found along side the road.

Answer 10

I know what I'm talking about. I never claimed to be a mechanic, and don't answer questions outside my knowledge. But I'm guessing you're just bent out of shape because you spent a lot of time and money learning this stuff and some guy on yahoo doesn't believe you.