Motorcycle Mechanics Institute

Administration:
One star
Very poorly handled as a student, in terms of academic professionalism and degree of respect on the part of senior administration. Mismanagement seems to exist primarily in the upper echelons of this institution, as is common in my experience. Though, it does extend, to some degree, to all levels of interaction at this school. You will find yourself doing a great deal of corrective work to schedules, transcripts, attendance and financial aid documents should they apply to you. Some of this is a matter of course, some of it is due in my opinion to the outright unwillingness of faculty to perform their assigned tasks. In short, you’ll do your work, then after class on average of three hours a week, you’ll do their work as well. Personally turned down a couple really good academic opportunities to attend here, so pretty disappointed in this regard. these issues are a huge problem here, ask anyone.
Instructors:
Five stars
While there do exist some glaring issues both institutionally and structurally, at the actual level of implementation (instructors) I have had a very positive experience. My impression overall from them has been one of professionalism and dedication, I have been treated with respect at all times, learned a great deal and actually had fun most days. For this facet, in light of all things considered herein, I would objectively recommend this school. Show up on time in the correct uniform and be courteous, ask questions, the instructors will lend a ton of knowledge and wisdom about the industry. Act like an adult, they’ll treat you like one, you’ll learn a lot. These men and women have my respect.
Facilities:
3 stars
Clean and well equipped, however I’d rate ¼ of all training aids are damaged in a way that makes learning from them correctly, difficult. More could be done here certainly, if you aren’t sure that’s true, I charge you to look up the salaries for senior UTI employees and ownership. This relates back to my points above regarding institutional mismanagement, but because the instructors and campus facilities crew do such a good job maintaining the place, three stars overall.
Curriculum:
3 stars
You’ll be learning to work in a dealership setting here. This shouldn’t surprise you, when you consider this is a for profit school. The school is directly funded by the manufacturers around which the curriculum is based, and as such the school dictates maybe half of what is taught, the other half is the mandate of the manufacturers. This is both good and bad, good because you’ll be prepared for the job in which realistic career opportunities lie, bad because, if you have your sights set on the aftermarket side of the house, as many do, you will find little to benefit you here unless you seek it out on your own. Again ask questions, take advantage of the instructors and their wide breadth of experiences in the field. The curriculum will be what you make it.

The education is great. There are something’s that need to be considered if your a veteran. While you get the yellow ribbon benefits, you really have to watch your self. Since September I have seen people speeding away from the school, doing wheelies down the road, even spinning their wheels through the parking lot in their corvette and they are all still in school. Even the guy who threatened an instructor, but to day a veteran was expelled for moving the tattle tail of a brake disk lock on a FRIENDS bike from the handle bar to between the front fender and tire. It was still easily seen mind you, but the veteran was expelled just the same. If you are a veteran planning to go to school here, just know you are going to be judged differently.

I have tons of work at my motorcycle shop in New York. I reached out to MMI 3 times (2 phone calls and an email) to see if they have graduates looking for full time work, but no one has reached back out to me. I guess job placement doesn’t seem of the most importance. I figure that to be pretty important public knowledge so I’m sharing that.

If I could give this shiphole less than one star I would. This place is only out to take your money. That’s all they care about. If you have a female parts don’t even bother coming here, you’ll be treated like a secretary and even when you notify the school or your female instructor, zero fracks will be given. Schools like these are not for the betterment of people’s lives they are cons, good ones. Do not attend this craphole, a community school is by far better even if you have a horrible one. They just want your money.

My husband attended there. I see similar sentiments stated here that my husband has. Sure, lifetime grad placement is available, but for jobs that are generally lower paying, so you have little desire to use it. Even now, years later he could call up, but for what…$ 12 an hour and maybe seasonal work at that?
He came out of MMI, and the school placed him in a job that was only slightly above min wage. For the cost of the school, and a multi-​year committment to purchasing tools costing thousands of dollars for your trade, and even in places like SoCal, you still have highly seasonal work. After a while in the industry, and him meeting others who’d been in the industry for years whose fortune had improved only very little, my husband’s impression was that the «career (s)» mentioned by MMI really are better off staying at the dream stage. The reality is a disappointment relative to their perceived marketing claims.
I would recommend others think VERY HARD about how they want to spend their hard earned money and a year of their life. Do some research and call a few local shops and ask THEM what THEY think of MMI grads and what experience they have with any of them. Also ask what starting pay is for an MMI grad fresh out of school. Then, ask them if they have any positions open for lot tech or porter, and ask what those jobs pay.
The pay structure is confusing if you’re not familiar with the industry. The term «Flat Rate Hour» is often used. Often times, MMI grads will not be placed on FRH pay because it is too hard to make any money because you will be incredibly slow in the beginning. Also, FRH pay scale at $ 20 an hour may very likely net you LESS than straight HOURLY pay when work slows down around the shop seasonally, or when you have to shelve a job while waiting for parts.
We saved a lot of money and invested a lot of time with a move to Phoenix living in the desert for a better life for my husband. Ultimately, it was mostly a waste of time from our perspective. Time and money we can never get back. We made some friends and had an adventure, but the goal of going out there was for him to find a career, and ultimately, it is a career that I think most people if they knew the daily ins and outs of the type of work and stress relative to the money… they wouldn’t think of attending the school.

I have 3 friends graduating March 2015. i only hear them say «my instructor said…» They lack knowledge of newer technology – i have to prove there lack of knowledge by actually showing them a bike. They are taking instructors opinion as gospel. I’m hoping that MMI is getting factory training/​information and teaching accurate information. Instructors could stop educating students on how motorcycle manufacturers produce crappy products. If only the manufactures knew what MMI is saying about their bikes. You’d think that MMI would have made the best motorcycle in the world with their big headed instructors and new graduates. MMI should teach professionalism and customer service skills since customers will be putting food on their table. Thanks but no thanks, i won’t let these guys touch my customers bike – too much at stake. I’ll let them dispose of waste materials and sweep the floor. I agree with Ken S, $ 20K down the drain. Maybe cheaper by attending lawn mower repair course, then be mentored for motorcycle repair.

I attend here. So far, it’s been a great experience. I’ve learned a lot and I don’t expect to get a job when I graduate from here because I already know that you can’t just get a job because of a school you’ve attended. Although, I do plan on taking my experience to opening up my own shop.
Guys that graduate from here and are complaining about not being able to get a job, stop your b*tching. The school is for you to learn the skilled trade and to earn a certification. Not to guarantee you a job.

Well I attended and graduated from mmi in hopes of being a motorcycle mechanic they said the industry was in need of mechanics hahaha BS the industry is so over filled with MMI Punk’s being an mmi graduate actually hurts you when you apply for a job. too many kids screwed up MMI’s name now its just a cosmetology school with bikes its a joke