School

[nitrus]

Allright. I'm an AMI grad.
I would choose AMI over MMI because the instructors at AMI are real bikers who have been in the business for decades and know there machines inside and out, where as MMI, while being more expensive, also has instructors that only know about bikes from reading books. They are more into the "Corporate" motorcycling approach (following manufacturers accepted guidelines - NOT THINKING OUT OF THE BOX) whereas AMI is For Bikers, By Bikers... Get the thing running right every time, manufacturers be darned.

You have to graduate MMI, and then be in the field for no-less than 3yrs
to even be considered to be a teacher. There are alot of students and not
alot of 1 on 1 with the instructers, but all of them are very experienced.
If anyone here know's of a man named Charlie Cavallo, then they know
what I'm talking about.

[flynrider]

While I'm being fatmouthed and opinionated, I will also say that if you need to go to a school to build a custom bike, you're probably not getting the point. Go to school to learn the basics of mechanics and engineering, but for customs, you just have to freakin do it - not pay someone to tell you how they do it.

Most of the custom bikes I've had the displeasure of riding are sorely lacking in the engineering dept. I'm of the opinion that most of the guys that are building them are more into the looks than the mechanics and engineering aspects. I've run across several $30K+ customs that were falling apart after a few thousand miles (how many trips to the local bar is that?).

[jmillheiser]

Last time I checked wyotech was not in the midwest, but in wyoming. (wyotech has a customization program where they teach custom fabrication and bodywork on cars).

I had thought about MMI but its too pricey for me. Tech schools want kids right out of high school where the parents are going to pay for it.

I had looked into other tech schools (for computers) a few years ago and without PLUS loans there was no way I could afford it (PLUS loans are student loans that the parents pay back instead of the student). Stafford loans only cover about 1/2 the tuition of the typical tech school.

[TechTMW]

Tech schools want kids right out of high school where the parents are going to pay for it.

AMI had a program going w/ the state of FL to teach ex-cons a trade if the state subsidised part of the tuition cost. So we had kids fresh out of high school and guys fresh out of the Pen. It was awesome - those two groups had alot more in common than you'd think...

For NITRUS : I've no doubt that MMI has infinitely qualified instructors. On paper. It's just the way they go about the whole thing that's ridiculous. Who the hell needs to take a year and a half to learn how to be an entry-level motorcycle mechanic? Six months in school and out to the field is a much better way - experience counts for a hell of alot more than classtime.

[nitrus]

For NITRUS : I've no doubt that MMI has infinitely qualified instructors. On paper. It's just the way they go about the whole thing that's ridiculous. Who the hell needs to take a year and a half to learn how to be an entry-level motorcycle mechanic? Six months in school and out to the field is a much better way - experience counts for a hell of alot more than classtime.

I think you're right about that, allthough, there is no way i could of learned everything I know now, in six months.. There are alot of things about MMI
that I dislike. But overall, If I was going to go to a motorcycle school, It would still be MMI.