McPherson College in Kansas, is now offering a college degree in motorcycle restoration. Already offering a degree in automotive restoration, they've just now expanded to include motorcycles.
Joe Dickhudt, assistant professor of technology, agreed the new major will give McPherson College students skills in a market exploding in popularity. “It turns out there’s a lot of people interested in motorcycle restoration because they’re popular and affordable,” Dickhudt said.
Two motorcycles have been obtained for the first batch of motorcycle restoration majors – a 1965 Honda 305 Dream and a 1970 BSA 250. Dickhudt said they were on the lookout for an Indian, Harley-Davidson or Triumph dating pre-1970 for a class project.
The program, which expands the automotive restoration program, will emphasize historical and technical restoration. In addition to adjusting standard classes on sheet metal, trim and paint to have a motorcycle emphasis, there will also be a class on the history of the American motorcycle and courses on the unique aspects of motorcycle engines, power trains and suspensions.
Their auto restoration program has proven to be popular and it's picked up some well known endorsements from both the auto industry and celebrities like Jay Leno who has created the Fred J. Duesenberg Scholarship providing financial assistance for auto restoration students. Including motorcycles in the program might add some young blood where a lot of the current interest and skill seems to often reside among the older generation of riders and builders. Returning the old iron to "as new" condition for those who are unfamiliar with the antique and vintage machines is a good thing. Maintaining and restoring collections of old vehicles could be a pretty sweet way for a young person to earn a living. If you're looking for a program to launch you on a career where you get your hands on the machines you love, this might be just the ticket.
Link: McPherson College
FREEMAN says
I’d take this course… if I lived in Kansas.
todd says
Everyone currently restoring motorcycles just became un-credentialed restorers. I wonder what having a degree in it will prove? It will be a fun degree to take, no doubt.
-todd
Core says
Aren’t a lot of older people into this because they have the money, the time, and basically the skill to do so and did I mention MONEY and TIME?
Tom Lyons says
I just don’t know about “degrees” in something like this.
I used to work as a British Sportscar mechanic in Washington DC, a long time ago.
I was not N.I.A.S.E. certified.
The President of the N.I.A.S.E. had a Triumph Spitfire at that time.
Guess who did all the work on his car?
Yep,me.
Not certified.
So, that’s what I think about that.
B*A*M*F says
McPherson runs an awesome program. I checked it out some years ago as a prospective student. I was tremendously impressed with what the students were working on. In the end, I went for a totally different career.
A degree program like this is less about the piece of paper, and more a way to get younger people involved in restoration as a career. While it’s not a replacement for experience, no education in any field ever is.
Mule says
Chiming in with BAMF, I could care less about the degree and more about the “Learning”. But that’s not why people get degrees is it, Get a degree in engineering or business and get a job. Then go to this course to learn a usable trade. Plus this would have to be a ton of fun! I went to AMI back in 1975 and although it was only 12 weeks, I was well on the road to learning to learn.
Wave says
I think that this is misusing the word ‘degree’ somewhat. Hands-on trades should have trade qualifications, not degrees. And what is a ‘restorer’ anyway? Is that just a semi-qualified person who does the jobs of a mechanic, panel-beater, painter and trimmer without completing a full apprenticeship in each? Nobody can really be fully qualified to restore every part of a car or bike without doing roughly 20 years of study. Perhaps the restorer is the project manager who subcontracts out all of these jobs, or hires the painters, mechanics and so forth. If they’re going to call this a degree then I would expect a decent number of units to be devoted to business, management and accounting type of courses, to help people establish and run their own restoration businesses.
J says
I wonder if there’s a course on how to scour Ebay and the internet for rare parts…
Bob Nedoma says
RE:
“Maintaining and restoring collections of old vehicles could be a pretty sweet way for a young person to earn a living.”
And I thought it was a (fun?) way for an old(er) person to throw away lots of it (time and money). One day, I may stand corrected; you never know.
kneeslider says
The idea of a credential isn’t something I’m really fond of myself, I’ve always thought the best way to learn something like this is for a self motivated individual to work on his or her own or under an experienced pro. That said, it does provide an organized method of learning a lot with a bit of guidance plus the opportunity to have the use of a well equipped shop. As also mentioned above, it could add some business knowledge to the mix for anyone thinking of starting their own business. It’s not necessary to take this path, but it’s nice to have the option.
Anthony M. says
I don’t really know a lot about McPherson College, other than that it is a private school that will charge you ~$27,000 a year for four years for something that there is no more valuable, if not less valuable, than a two year auto mechanic program at your local community college.
http://www.mcpherson.edu/admissions/financialaid.php
If you like bikes/cars and are smart then get a mechanical engineering degree from the best public college that you can get into in your state. ME isn’t as great as it used to be, but it beats this. If you want to hedge double major in CS/EE. Not smart enough to be an engineer? Fine, like I mentioned above, go to community college and become a mechanic. No shame in that.
No offense to the basic idea here, but for anything other than a trust fund kid this program would literally ruin a kid’s life, leaving him with six figures of non-dischargeable debt and without even the industry certifications to get a job as a mechanic at a motorcycle dealership.
You want to learn about the mechanical skills? Buy an old, cheap bike and work on it. For anything requiring higher skills, like welding, take a course at your community college. Or here is an idea, find some guy in your area that welds and sweep his shop, run his errands, whatever, in exchange for him teaching you some skills and letting you borrow equipment for your own projects. Ask an older person in your family about this – it used to be called being an apprentice.
Want to learn about the history of old bikes, not just the mechanical skills? That’s what the internet is for. The internet is not structured enough? Fine, look up the required texts for the McPherson College motorcycle restoration courses and buy them. Whatever the books cost, I’m sure it’s a lot less than $27K a year.
leston says
I’m ehhh-ish about this degree. On one hand, it’ll give a young person who is interested in the restoration of antiques and classics, a foot in the door and a way to learn without having to have that shop in the back yard with an old project his pops never finished.
on the other hand, these skills only come with time and knowledge and a lot of work, so this ‘degree’ seems more like a “hey im trainable, and want to learn more, come hire me” degree.
Steve says
I suppose it’s a way for those to get a foot in the door. But as other wrote above, there are many other less expensive ways to do it. If there was no need for a degree(diploma), could they reduce the length of the course down? What does MMI charge these days? I heard about 40K for what 9 months?
akaaccount says
At least a degree in basket weaving qualifies you to teach basket weaving.
SteveD says
You have to start somewhere. It’s hard to just call someone and say “Hey, I don’t have any skills or knowledge but can I come by and watch you work?”. I certainly don’t claim that a degree like this makes you a mechanic/restorer anymore than a degree in physics makes you a scientist. This is the kind of qualification that gets you the opportunity to begin working somewhere. Otherwise, they won’t hire you.
PeteP says
Haven’t you guys heard? EVERBODY MUST GO TO COLLEGE! If you don’t, you have failed yourself, your parents, and this country.
The higher education bubble must be maintained. At all cost.
Eaton says
Seems like it would be fun but I must think it would never pay for itself. Much like culinary school or art school. Sure some make it out fine and get good careers out of those places but the majority end up doing something unrelated or venture back to a traditional university for a degree.
Of course a private university will charge 27-45K for a equally difficult career path in History, English, Philosophy, or Social Work. Hmm, so maybe it is not so bad after-all?
Hopefully it combines liberal arts classes along with so that the student can hedge there bets and use the degree to sell insurance – much like a Philosophy major.
Jim says
I agree community college is the way to learn a trade. Courses usually are taught by people who are experienced in the field and have spent years in the shop. A degree of any type is an absolute requirement to get that foot in the door, after which your real education begins. I don’t mean that to disparage formal education — college courses do a great deal of good and you’ll learn some surprising things, plus learn how to get down to serious work and get a job done. Buying and old bike and working on it is a good way to learn — but structured courses taught by knowledgable faculty will save a lot of time and headaches.
Tinman says
Just another way to keep the cash cow alive for ‘education’ majors. Education and Health care are two industries that are in desperate need of a rude awakening. I guess McDonalds has all the MBAs it needs to flip burgers, now we can send in the degree holding resto experts. Want fries with that??
The Beemer says
In truth I would really enjoy the classes there..Learn how to use the basic of English Wheel,
lead work brazing..Sorry guys there ain’t nobody teach you that unless your a family member maybe…The days of hands on restoration is really a dying breed..At least a school like this might be able to open a few doors?
Heck if I had the coins I would go tomorow
Anthony M. says
The English wheel is a bit more specialized, but there are community colleges that teach it (Google English wheel community college). If your local community college does not teach it you can buy a new English wheel for ~$1,500 and play with it (or scour eBay/Craigslist and pay less). Brazing is party of any basic welding course, and almost every community college will teach some kind of metalwork. From my local community college continuing education brochure, note the costs:
BASIC WELDING
Covers fundamentals of oxyacetylene welding
theory and practices and beginning electric
welding. Includes arc welding and gas welding,
brazing and cutting in the horizontal position.
Please note: This course enrolls both academic
credit (MNT110) and noncredit (Continuing
Education) students. All receive the same
instruction and the focus will be on skills
such as soldering, measuring, cutting, gluing,
assembling and layout. Depending upon goals,
Continuing Education students may wish to (but
are not required to) fulfill all course requirements.
TUITION: $269
WELDING FUNDAMENTALS
We’ll utilize a user-friendly approach to introduce
you to a potentially intimidating craft. You will
practice various steel handling techniques,
including MIG welding and plasma cutting,
as we stress basic welding safety. You will
complete a project which utilizes your new skills
and allows you to develop a basic comfort level
with welding and project work.
TUITION: $225 FEES: $90
WELDING STUDIO
If you have welding skills and need some time
to finish projects, the welding studio allows you
to work on your projects in the Harper College
welding shop. The studio time will be supervised
by a welding technician with whom you may
consult on challenges but there will be no
specific instruction during this time.
TUITION: $175 FEES: $90
MACHINING PROCESSES I
You will develop a sound understanding of how a
machine shop operates as this course covers the
fundamentals of machine shop theory and safe
practice. This course will provide familiarization
with tools, equipment and practices of tool,
die and precision metal working industries. It
includes the theory and operation of lathes, mills
and surface grinders. Students are provided
classroom and laboratory learning experiences
while making a working tool.
TUITION: $269
Or, if you really want to go old school:
BLACKSMITHING FOR BEGINNERS
Warm yourself by the red glow of the forge
as you discover the timeless and practical
craft of blacksmithing. Working in the fully
restored 19th century blacksmith’s workshop
at Volkening Heritage Farm in Schaumburg, you
will learn the basics of metal working and forge
operation. You’ll practice the trade, starting with
fundamental techniques used to create beautiful
and functional household items such as hooks
and nails, and take home samples.
TUITION: $59
ADVANCED BLACKSMITHING
This follow-up to the beginning blacksmithing
class allows aspiring smiths to take their
hammering skills to the next level. You will learn
new metal-working techniques with a focus on
detail and embellishments and will take home
the results of your hard work. Each student
will be able to recreate items using techniques
modeled by the instructor. LEI0078 or previous
blacksmithing experience is required.
TUITION: $59
Like I said, I like the idea of this program in principle (I would really enjoy the classes also), but $27,000 a year in non-dischargeable debt for a non-marketable degree will ruin someone’s life (to McPherson’s credit $27K is on the low end for private school room and board, but at the same time it isn’t Harvard).
Like others have said, this is probably no worse than a philosophy, etc., liberal arts degree, but that’s not saying much. If you are going to go to college (I’m not talking to trust fund kids here) go to a state school and study engineering, accounting (not just general business) or something healthcare related.
If you want to make a career out of restoring old bikes (or cars) then you better be a damn good hustler and entrepreneur, and you better know how to get a really good deal no matter what – buying equipment, renting shop space, or learning the required skills.
FREEMAN says
Wow, guys.
Not everybody’s a trust fund kid and not everybody’s without options. I have no degrees whatsoever, yet I assemble jet aircraft. My employer trained and certified me through their own program to meet FAA requirements. My employer also has several programs available for further education funding (your employer may as well), some of which cover the majority, if not all, of the costs. Were this program available in my area, I’d take it. Some people do take courses just for the hell of it. I’m one of them. Eventually, though it’s not required for my job, I’ll get an AMP license just because I want to. No reason to burn a program just because it doesn’t make you money.
Paulinator says
There is a place for structured learning, standardized testing and accreditation. I don’t want my surgeon to progress from hair-cuts and hot shaves. I also don’t want to take a commercial flight behind a pilot that has 16 years of college courses and simulator time, but only 9 hours of actual seat time on type. Frankly, I think that offering a 4 year course in motorcycle restoration is absurd. Better to bottle snake oil and sell it – that would be less sleazy.
SteveD says
I agree that something like this is better taught at a community college.
PeteP says
English wheel, $299:
http://www.harborfreight.com/english-wheel-kit-with-stand-65177.html
Jim says
The question not asked here is this: Will there be a market for restoration in the next few years? I’m told by people in the vintage-car market that later generations have far less interest in old stuff. Very few of us baby-boomers are working on old cars any more, preferring to buy them already restored — those of us with the money, that is. The generations following us are markedly different; they show little interest in restoring old cars, consequently they are less interested in old cars altogether. The same thing is happening in areas such as collecting license plates, breweryana (beer stuff) and other categories that Boomers find fascinating but GenX-ers and later couldn’t care less about. Attend any swap meet or enthusiast show and you’ll see lots of gray hair but few younger folks. The computer revolution, with its continual technological upgrades, has changed everything in ways we haven’t yet realized. Younger people who ride bikes are interested in what’s new and hot and don’t give a damn about “old junk”. I’ve seen it many times when riding my BSA; they glaze over when I explain what “BSA” means, and they don’t care how many cylinders it has, and they don’t even know what a carburetor is. When I show them how to kick-start it, they act as if I’m a troglodyte without the brains to buy a bike with electric start. There still are some who appreciate the old stuff, but not enough to constitute a viable market. When we “old guys” are gone, the old bikes will fade into history with us.
hoyt says
There are interesting parallels with the above and brewing/winemaking at home vs. studying. Accredited colleges have been offering degrees in Food Science & Viticulture for years. Nothing wrong with laboring over & studying bio-chemical details, then later mastering your knowledge in the market place. -OR- vice versa….there are plenty of entrepreneurs that continue to stay competitive & reduce costs in their business by taking courses.
A reputable shop owner/restorer can also be inspired/earn extra cash while teaching a course or two (win-win)… Which brings this conversation full-circle – my Business Law class was taught by a practicing attorney. He certainly didn’t need extra money, but he taught anyway to stay engaged & inspired.
No doubt the cost of higher ed needs addressed, and once it is addressed investing 4 yrs of time should not be skirted. e.g. I’m thankful for a Literature course introducing me to Dante’s Inferno
kneeslider says
Interesting array of opinions.
For those who have a negative opinion of this course of study, I would tend to agree with you if every college around the country suddenly set up a restoration degree program which would mean the value of the course might be pretty low, you would see a lot of hacks with little skill, teaching the little they knew. But this course is the only one of its kind in the country. It might attract the serious student looking for the admittedly small number of openings that would make the degree worthwhile. It has the support and backing of some big names in the industry, some celebrities like Jay Leno, as mentioned above who is collaborating with Popular Mechanics. I don’t think this is anything like you would find at the average community college, which many of you keep suggesting, this seems to me to be a cut above.
If you’re not in a position to take advantage of a course like this, if you don’t see the payoff or even if you just don’t think it worthwhile for some other reason, just ignore it. Others might see it differently and get a great deal out of it.
Luke says
While I believe this can be a valid and respectable method to make a living, and potentially a good school, I think 4 years @ $27k/yr is excessive.
I have graduated from MMI and a public land-grant university (mechanical engineering). I think both schools offered a good education to students who were willing to put in the effort to learn. Both schools offered help for graduates in job placement. MMI was more expensive, and the job prospects at the end payed less (but are more fun).
As always, buyer beware. Congress just started investigating private schools–> For-Profit Colleges: Undercover Testing Finds Colleges Encouraged Fraud and Engaged in Deceptive and Questionable Marketing Practices
http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-948T
Dick Kump says
I have a 1971 Norton ready for complete concours restoration that you can have however when you are finished, I want it back.