Ducati schools in North America

[fouramdesigns]

In my rebuild, I've found a passion that was always there, but in cages. I've decided I may want to go back to school to become a Ducati mechanic, open my own shop. I have heard of one in Florida, wanted to see what else is available. Get some recommendations.

[Vindingo]

http://www.wyotech.edu/program/motorcycle-technology/specialty/european-motorcycles

Looks like wyotech has Euro bike training with a section specializing in Ducs.  Instead of opening your own shop right away, why not work for a dealer and learn on their dime for a bit.  You could also build relationships with customers and get your name out there.

[metallimonster]

Man, I'm telling you please be careful and think a lot before doing this.

I thought working on cars was what I wanted to do so I spent 20K for 11 months at UTI and then went to an Audi specific school getting a job a dealer right out of school.  While I learned a lot and had a decent job, the cost for this school waaaaaaayyyy out weighed the benefits.  To be fair, I wasn't really good at making money on flat rate and did love the work just not the pay. Biggest mistake of my life but led me to going back to college and moving on to Accounting which has been one of the best things in my life.

This might be for you but I think you would be better off trying to get a job at a dealership without school and learning hands on which is pretty much what happens when you graduate from a tech school.  I had a bunch of knowledge but really no hands on experience even though I worked at Sears Auto throughout my schooling.

I also know a couple of guys who just graduated from UTI's motorcycle program that can't find a job.  The problem with going to the Ducati school would be that there are a lot of students graduating and not a lot of job openings. You would have to relocate for sure. I was the only kid out of my 24 student class that got a job within 150 miles of where I was from.
PM me if you want any more information

[TAftonomos]

I started my own shop out of my garage with a one car "build".  It got big enough to open a small place, then a larger place.  In 3 years it had grown to a 4000 sq foot monster, and I hated it.  It used to be a hobby, then turned into a business, and a good one..... but it wasn't fun anymore.  I shut it down and walked away from cars.  Been gone for 4 years now, and I rarely even change my oil.  I do have a project E30 that I'm getting into, but I'm hesitant even on that....

Hobby wrenching and the occasional build = great fun.  Having to go in to replace brakes or a clutch because you need to keep your lights on.... not fun (IMHO).

Never any "formal" training, although plenty of hands-on training with a race team/shop before I went out on my own.  Thats really the way to go.  When was the last time you took your car for service somewhere and asked the tech "where did you go to school, and what were your grades"?  

[fouramdesigns]

http://www.wyotech.edu/program/motorcycle-technology/specialty/european-motorcycles

Looks like wyotech has Euro bike training with a section specializing in Ducs.  Instead of opening your own shop right away, why not work for a dealer and learn on their dime for a bit.  You could also build relationships with customers and get your name out there.

No one is hiring, tried that. The one guy I offered to work free for on Sat's, I cannot locate, he doesn't answer his phone. Ducati dealers are dicks unless your loaded. Sad but true.

[Popeye the Sailor]

No one is hiring, tried that. The one guy I offered to work free for on Sat's, I cannot locate, he doesn't answer his phone. Ducati dealers are dicks unless your loaded. Sad but true.

Going into any business with the expectation they are dicks almost always leads to them treating you as such.


You will have to relocate, and of course, one of the areas with the most ducs (and therefore most business) is also in one of the most expensive areas of the country.



Keep in mind even people who are well known Ducati experts don't always manage to keep the lights on with a shop.





Best way to kill your passion is to be forced to do it.

[ducatiz]

Keep in mind even people who are well known Ducati experts don't always manage to keep the lights on with a shop.

I think part of THAT problem is being good at wrenching Ducatis (or anything else) doesn't translate into being able to run a business.  I can think of more than a few artists who are gods of the wrench, but couldn't keep a balance sheet to save their asses.

If you're good at what you do, hire a manager -- to manage YOU.  Have them run your scheduling, your billing, keep your toilet paper stocked and hire and fire the non-shop help (i.e. janitors) when you get to that point.

It's worth it.

[fouramdesigns]

I should correct myself. One dealer here, is a dick, the service dept is horrible. I've been in sales for 15 yrs, and have never treated my customers, including the ghetto bangers, the way I've been brushed off, and like my bike is a 2nd class citizen. Money is money, and I'm laid back. Anyway, off that soapbox. Your share some true insight for sure, but why not make a go myself on the side. I'm all for apprenticing

[Ratfink749]

Best way to kill your passion is to be forced to do it.

That should go down in history as a quote everybody should review and realise.  I did the same thing, Been working on cars for 10 years now. HATE changing my own oil anymore.  I Still enjoy the bike because its so dramatically different from anything I work on daily.  Hell.. I dont even want to work on my 1926 Model T Coupe anymore..  Flat Rate pay scales are the DEVIL!   

[caperix]

Everyone has very good points, now is a bad time to get into the automotive industry and an even worse time to get into the motorcylcle industry.  Flat rate is great when there is plenty of work to go around, but when it dries up there is nothing worse then having to drive into work not knowing if you are going to turn enough hours to pay for the gas.  If you like working on your bike, keep working on it, and help others work on their bikes.  But remember with out insurance a simple mistake could cost you alot.  Like many others I liked working on cars so I made a career out of it, now I just find my self not liking to work on cars as much. 

[monster monkey]

 Now for my .02. I always loved working with my hands, taking things apart, and fixing them. I went the UTI route and over 10 years later, I hate my job and am annoyed to work on my own cars. It's true, what's been said. When the work is there it's great. When it's slow and the politics of the "shop" beat you up, it's a hard living.
 I will say, if you love what you do, do it, and it won't feel like work

[fouramdesigns]

 I will say, if you love what you do, do it, and it won't feel like work

Well I'm a pimp now, and you know what they say, "pimpin ain' easy" 

[monster monkey]

Amen to that!

[accrocker]

I will have to disagree with some of the crowd. I went the UTI route 10 years ago (when it was still affordable) then to BMW STEP training. I have 8 years now under my belt in the shop, and still look forward to going to work pretty much every day. I think the trick is to find a company that is progressive enough to keep you interested in what the future holds. I have to say that if I was working for one of the big three, or any japanese company, I may not be so excited about work, because what you are going to see next year will look an awful lot like what you worked on last year. Ducati is an innovative company and would therefor, in my opinion, be an exciting product to work on because they are constantly evolving. I also feel that the flat rate pay system is possibly the best pay structure ever. Nothing encourages productivity better. This is only my two cents, and I understand that my opinion of the system will be different because it has worked out to be very profitable for me because the company is still doing very well, even in the recession. 

[Speeddog]

AC/DC - Its A Long Way To The Top If Ya Wanna Rock And Roll