The road to success for aspiring motorcycle technicians in New England runs through Great Bay Community College.
Since 2018, Great Bay has partnered with Seacoast Harley-Davidson to teach the 24-credit Motorcycle Maintenance and Repair certificate program, which prepares students for careers in service, repair, and maintenance of motorcycles. The field of motorcycle technology has become increasingly sophisticated and complex, and there’s a strong demand for technicians who are trained in the latest technology.
Classes are held at Seacoast Harley-Davidson dealership in North Hampton, with instruction provided by the dealership’s certified technicians. This allows students to learn in a real working environment and observe master technicians using current motorcycles and equipment.
“They are our in-house technicians, and they are also instructors for this course,” said Brandi Bemis, General Manager of Seacoast Harley-Davidson. “The students get hands-on experience and real-world knowledge.”
The collaboration is mutually beneficial. Seacoast Harley-Davidson and its family of dealerships across New England, all part of the New England Motorcycle Group, are able to train and recruit qualified technicians as entry-level employees. Al Contois and Shawn Lillie, who own the dealerships, view the collaboration with Great Bay as an opportunity to address the critical need for qualified technicians while investing in the future of the industry, Bemis said.
“When this program began, Al and Shawn understood how difficult it was to get good technicians and how important it was to try to solve that problem,” she said. “They understood the struggle, and that is why they really wanted to make this work.”
Across the network of dealerships in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine, they’ve hired about 12 Great Bay graduates since the program began, said Peter Scott, a Seacoast Harley-Davidson technician and course instructor. “We hire them right out of the program and lead them toward a successful career,” he said, adding that students are recruited for careers at other dealerships as well. “The longer the program has been around, the more notice it has gotten. We are attracting the attention of more dealerships looking for our graduating students.”
Between six and 10 students enroll in each two-semester class.
The industry needs an influx of talent. There are about 14,500 motorcycle mechanic jobs across the U.S., down slightly from its peak in 2021, according to Motorcycle Industry Jobs, a leading industry website.
But wages are up. Nationally, the average hourly wage for motorcycle mechanic jobs is $23.06, an increase from 2022. The average annual wage is $47,960, up from $47,180 in 2020, according to the website’s 2024 annual review of jobs.
“Overall, these figures point to a healthy demand for motorcycle mechanic jobs and a promising path for career advancement,” according to the report.
The Great Bay-Seacoast Harley-Davidson program is modeled after the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute, which began in Florida and Arizona and has since expanded to nine states. The goal of the partnership is to prepare students to work in the field through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on skill development. Technicians must work with electronic diagnostic equipment, read and understand technical manuals, investigate and find the cause of a problem, and communicate effectively with the customer and colleagues.
Students use a variety of tools, including both manual and high-tech equipment, to assess and identify problems and perform repairs. Topics include pre-delivery inspection (PDI), tires, wheel bearings, brakes, scheduled service, oil change, moving motorcycles, road tests, model theories, understanding and managing shop workflow, establishing strong work ethic, conducting multi-point inspections, state inspections, and related lifelong learning. Beyond a range of technical specialties, students learn skills and knowledge preparing them for careers in parts and service departments.
According to Peter, Shop Foreman at SHD and a Master Technician and GBCC program instructor, the students can also apply skills to other industries. “I announce to my class at beginning of every semester that I am not just trying to teach them to work on motorcycles, or just Harley Davison’s in particular,” said Peter, “but on anything in the power sports industry. They can take the knowledge and go into the automotive industry, power sports working on atv’s, snowmobiles side by sides and dirt bikes, or for Harley, Honda or any of any of the manufacturers and they’ll have basic knowledge to get their foot in the door as a technician.”
In addition, students who complete the Great Bay-Seacoast program receive their motorcycle endorsement allowing them to legally operate a motorcycle.
“This program has been successful from the outset, and we’re very proud of that success,” Bemis said. “Great Bay has been a wonderful partner to work with to help solve a persistent, industry-wide problem.”
