Male vs. Female Service Techs.

[denydog]

Had my K1200R Sport in for the annual maintenance check yesterday, plus a minor warranty repair.  It wasn't until I saw my bike pull in from the end of service test ride that I saw it was a woman tech.  She spoke to me about a couple things, and I guess from her bearing on the bike, and the short exchange we had, I got an impression that she seemed pretty competent.  I was actually pleased that it was a woman that had worked on the bike, as opposed to a generic male service person.  For some reason I felt a little more confident that the work was done correctly, verses my usual paranoia when my bike is worked on by someone other than me.

Just wondering if others had a preference in the gender of their service tech?  Let's try and leave potentail romantic opportunities out of the discussion (as difficult as that may be)

[KLRchickie]

I've never *seen* a female service tech in a motorcycle shop - not that we have others do much work on our bikes (except for Ducati valves - we don't feel like learning to do those).

However, *I* do a significant amount of work on our bikes (and other vehicles), so I have no problem with the concept of a female mechanic in a shop.

[bomber]

Never seen a female tech either -- I'm not sure I'd care, but that would be supposition at this point.

[Delegate1k]

I think you need to add "Confident tech; regardless of gender" to the list.  

[napper]

I think you need to add "Confident tech; regardless of gender" to the list.  

I would competence before confidence.

[HipGnosis]

I think you need to add "Confident tech; regardless of gender" to the list.  

I'd rather have competent, regardless of confidence or gender.

[squeezer]

I'd rather have competent, regardless of confidence or gender.

Agree. On the other hand, I prefer a female doctor. Maybe I should do the same for my bike.

[garry]

The local Euro shop had a female service manager/advisor for a while. Quite the hottie. Seemed on the ball. Maybe that reduced the bitching from male customers about their bikes. Dunno. Can't say I recall seeing a female service tech anywhere though.

[stevent]

I think we probably had the same gal work on our bikes Denydog, for what it's worth my bike came out of there running like a champ,, better than when it went in in fact. I have no qualms about her work so far.

[denydog]

I think we probably had the same gal work on our bikes ...

This was at Ride West.  Was your bike done there, or are you speaking about South Sound?

[stevent]

This was at Ride West.  Was your bike done there, or are you speaking about South Sound?

 Ride West, I bought the bike there so I scheduled the first service at the same time, I'll probably use South Sound in future just because it's closer but Ride West is certainly a top drawer operation.  This is the second bike I've bought off them with good result, A friend of mine also bought an LT there and has been very impressed     

[CheesyRider]

I chose "female tech" although I've never seen one.  I figure if she has managed to become a tech in a male dominated field, she is probably less of a moron than the average male tech.

[chornbe]

Don't care as long as the person is qualified.

[FiremanBob]

Women who are technically literate and competent are hot.  And rare.

[maddjack]

As long as my machine gets fixed correctly, I could care less about the plumbing the tech has.

[GRN]

I could care less... plenty of talented folks of all types about.

The sexes are tied (there's some material for ya...) when it comes to the two landmark clusterfuck absolutely unbelievable dumb ass fucktard experiences I've had with shops... and I'll actually give a slight advantage to the dumb ass broad because the other retarded pecker head almost got me dead. Whew... that felt great... TGIF!  

[chornbe]

You should really learn to let it out; not hold back so much. It's not good for you.

[SilverHound]

I would prefer a competent, hot, naked (although topless would be ok too) chick work on my bike. I would also prefer to be independently wealthy, devastatingly handsome and have perfect health.  

[cultureslayer]

I've never *seen* a female service tech in a motorcycle shop - not that we have others do much work on our bikes (except for Ducati valves - we don't feel like learning to do those).

However, *I* do a significant amount of work on our bikes (and other vehicles), so I have no problem with the concept of a female mechanic in a shop.

+1, only there's no Duc here.  It's nice to work on the bikes myself, since so many of the bolts on the car are so tight it makes it too frustrating for me.  

[jsanford]

I voted "doesn't matter" because what I look for in a mechanic is someone as methodical and detail-oriented working on motorcycles as I am in my line of work. It's also important to me that the mechanic will evaluate a problem based on its symptoms and not just on the computer code or some service manual that says, "if bike is x years old with y miles and makes z noise, then replace A $$ part in its entirety to address 70% of complaints" (to be fair, I've experienced this waaay more with auto dealers than motorcycle dealers).

I've only seen one female service technician at a dealer myself, and I suspect it's the same individual to which you refer.

[GRN]

I could care less... plenty of talented folks of all types about.

The sexes are tied (there's some material for ya...) when it comes to the two landmark clusterfuck absolutely unbelievable dumb ass fucktard experiences I've had with shops... and I'll actually give a slight advantage to the dumb ass broad because the other retarded pecker head almost got me dead. Whew... that felt great... TGIF!  

FTR, both of my previous bad experiences were not in the Seattle area, they were back in NH.

[Biking Sailor]

I voted no preference.  However, my "perceived" observations are that many times people who choose a career that is opposite the traditional gender bias (mechanic = male and nurse = female ...) tend to be quite passionate about their job and really try to perform to a high level.  That's where the difference is, not can they do it, but how much do they want to do it.  I feel that often translates into high competence.

[jsanford]

FTR, both of my previous bad experiences were not in the Seattle area, they were back in NH.

Well that explains a lot.  

[GRN]

Well that explains a lot.  

How's that?

[ScottB]

My local Triumph shop has a female tech and a male tech.  I usually ask that the guy does my service, although I have nothing against this gal, and I'm sure (based on the quality of the shop I use) that she's great.  I just know the guy, trust his opinion and like his work.

[JasonFJ]

I generally do my own work, but I learned a long time ago when I worked on cars that while rare, highly skilled mechanics who were women did exist.  Although now that I think of it, if I remember right there's a gal down on the south side of Austin Texas who runs her own shop and carries quite a few factory repair certifications.  

[J-Mac]

I have yet to see a Female Tech...

Not that I'd let anyone else touch my bike, but I might listen to a hawt chick that knew something.

[dm_gsxr]

Picked I don't care. I'm able to do most of the work myself anyway. I did find out recently that my youngest daughter is going to motorcycle mechanic training school in San Francisco.

Carl

[bluepoof]

I did find out recently that my youngest daughter is going to motorcycle mechanic training school in San Francisco.

There's a training school in SF??  When I looked into it 7 or 8 years ago, the closest one was in Arizona.  Do you know the name of the school?

[Tar Snake]

There's a training school in SF??  When I looked into it 7 or 8 years ago, the closest one was in Arizona.  Do you know the name of the school?

Check with some local JC's. I think LA Trade Tech in So Cal still has a program, and when dinosaurs roamed the earth and breaker points still needed filing my home town of Long Beach had an industrial JC campus. I took m/c repair, diesel mechanics, all kinds of fun stuff!

Surely the Bay Area has something?

[2wTraveler]

I do all my own work, so  I don't think this Poll applies. However, I do have some insight for you. One you get over the whole hot greasy chick in a one piece mechanics jump suit fantasy...Women mechanics are not much different from men. I have worked with 2 different woman mechanics in my career. The first one...I wouldn't let her change the oil in my lawnmower...It was scary horrible. The second one, she was an excellent tech,  very sharp and thorough. An A+ tech for sure.

[dm_gsxr]

There's a training school in SF??  When I looked into it 7 or 8 years ago, the closest one was in Arizona.  Do you know the name of the school?

No clue. When I stopped in to visit Xtina in Portland, she said I'd driven by Samantha's place and she was attending school. Xtina and I chat a lot, Samantha not so much.

Carl

[TriumphTiger1050]

I had rather have aliens from otherworld civilizations work on my bike!  Mainly they are light years ahead of us and are obviously much smarter!

[hovmaven]

I wouldn't care.  The best tech I use gives me typewritten notes on what he did and what he saw, with recommendations on what to watch for.  

[falconati]

Never seen a female tech either -- I'm not sure I'd care, but that would be supposition at this point.

[scarecrow]

A woman will wash her hands after scratching her butt before she shakes your hand.

[county]

I prefer the tech with the biggest tits.

[Papa Lazarou]

Why is this poll even here-and worse, why did i vote in it? Silly me.

[Computer Guy]

I don't even know who works on my bike.  The dealer picks it up, services it, then drops it off.  

[joelmikel]

Never seen a female tech... anywhere.... ever!

But I can't really see a female tech working at the shops
around here. They shops are full of lying scums.. it's a
cutthroat business made for slimey men

[ST for me!]

Aren't women supposed to be makin' babies and me a sammich?