Online Training Overview
If you want to learn how to become a motorcycle mechanic, Penn Foster Career School is the place to start. You can earn your Motorcycle Repair Technician Diploma in as little as four months - all at home, and at a pace that's right for you.Courses in this program can teach you to maintain and repair motorcycles, giving you the skills that can help you get started on your career path or work on your own motorcycle.
In our motorcycle training courses, you'll learn about clutches, ignitions, brakes, wheel assemblies, tires, electrical fundamentals, inspections, maintenance, troubleshooting, and DC circuits for motorcycles and ATVs. This program also includes a Work Experience Option, which allows you to gain field experience related to your program and career goals. Plus, motorcycle technician students even receive discounts on tools and supplies through the Snap-on Student Excellence Program.
Program Goal and Outcomes
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Program Goal
To prepare students to gain entry-level employment as motorcycle repair technicians by studying the components, systems, and troubleshooting procedures used in the motorcycle and ATV industry.
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Program Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- List and describe the employment opportunities available in the motorcycle industry
- Identify the different types of motorcycles and ATVs, and define the uses and advantages of each type
- Name the various hand, power, and specialized tools you'll use when working with motorcycles and ATVs, and describe the safe work practices that must be observed
- Identify the different types of motorcycle and ATV engine designs and configurations, including how manufacturers determine engine sizes and power ratings
- List the major components and engine configurations of two-and four-stroke engines
- Understand the theory behind the operation of motorcycle and ATV engines, including two- and four-stroke engines
- Identify the types of lubricants and lubrication systems used in motorcycles and ATVs
- Name the components of motorcycle cooling systems, and describe how they work
- Identify fuel and carburetion systems, including various fuel delivery and fuel injection systems
- Identify the transmissions and related components used in motorcycle and ATV engines, including the different gears, drive systems, and clutch types
- Name the procedures used to disassemble and assemble motorcycle two- and four-stroke engines, including the necessary preliminary steps and inspection process
- List the steps required to remove an engine from a chassis and install an engine into a chassis
- Describe the basics of electricity, including how it works and how it's measured
- Identify the different types of charging systems found on motorcycles and ATVs, and describe the operation and steps required for maintenance and troubleshooting
- Identify the components and operation of ignition and electric starter systems
- Name the different frame designs and suspension systems used by motorcycle and ATV manufacturers
- Identify the different brake systems and brake system components used on motorcycles and ATVs, and describe how to perform maintenance
- Recognize how to perform frame, wheel, and suspension system inspections and alignment procedures
- Recognize how to perform engine, emission system, and chassis maintenance procedures
- Identify how to diagnose and troubleshoot motorcycle and ATV problems, including engine, exhaust, ignition, electrical, and chassis problems
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Unit 1
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Starting Your Program
Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.
Objectives:
- Understand how to use your Student Portal.
- Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
- Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.
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Introduction to Motorcycle and ATV Repair
Objectives:
- Learn about career opportunities available in the motorcycle industry.
- Identify the different types of motorcycles and ATVs.
- Describe the uses and advantages of each type of motorcycle and ATV.
- Identify the hand, power, and specialized tools you'll use when working with motorcycles and ATVs.
- Understand the safety concerns associated with hand and power tools.
- Describe safe work practices that you must observe when working on motorcycles and ATVs.
- Explain how good housekeeping habits contribute to a safe workplace.
- Identify the major classes of fires and describe how each should be extinguished.
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Unit 2
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Motorcycle and ATV Engine Configurations
Objectives:
- Understand how an internal combustion engine operates.
- Explain how engine displacement is measured.
- Explain horsepower and torque.
- Understand major components of both two-stroke and four-stroke engines.
- Identify different motorcycle and ATV two- and four-stroke engine configurations.
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Practical Exercise 1
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your newly acquired knowledge of motorcycles and ATVs to several useful activities, such as visiting a motorcycle dealership and designing a floor plan for your own repair shop.
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Unit 3
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Four-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine
Objectives:
- Explain the physical laws associated with motorcycle and ATV engines.
- Understand the operation of a basic internal-combustion engine.
- Describe how fuel and air are used to make an engine operate.
- Identify the component parts used in a four-stroke engine.
- Explain the theory of operation for a four-stroke engine.
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Two-Stroke Internal-Combustion Engine
Objectives:
- Identify the component parts used in a two-stroke engine including the piston, crankshaft, cylinder head, and cylinder.
- Explain the theory behind the operation of a two-stroke engine.
- Identify the different induction systems used on two-stroke engines.
- Understand how a two-stroke engine physically differs from a four-stroke engine.
- Identify the advantages and disadvantages of both the two- and four-stroke engines used in modern motorcycles and ATVs.
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Practical Exercise 2
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Unit 4
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Lubrication and Cooling Systems
Objectives:
- Identify the four key purposes of lubrication.
- Understand the types of oil and the way in which it’s classified.
- Explain why bearings, bushings, and seals are needed in an engine.
- Identify the different types of bearings used in motorcycles and ATVs.
- Describe the purpose of both two- and four-stroke engine lubrication systems.
- Understand the different types of lubrication systems used in both two- and four-stroke motorcycle engines.
- Explain how cooling systems work and why they’re used.
- Identify the components of motorcycle cooling systems and the various specialty lubricants used in lubrication system maintenance.
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Fuel Systems
Objectives:
- Explain fuel octane ratings and the factors that affect these ratings.
- Understand the primary principles of carburetor operation.
- Identify various fuel delivery systems used on motorcycles.
- Describe the components of each type of carburetor, the operation of the circuits in each type of carburetor, and the base carburetor of an engine with multiple carburetors.
- Explain carburetor synchronization.
- Identify the components of an electronic fuel injection system.
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Clutches, Transmissions, and Drives
Objectives:
- Identify the different gears used in transmissions.
- Calculate gear and drive ratios correctly.
- Understand the functions of the primary drive systems.
- Describe the components that make up the primary drive systems.
- Identify different clutch types, clutch release mechanisms, and transmissions and shifting components.
- Describe the different types of final drive systems.
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Practical Exercise 3
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Unit 5
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Two-Stroke Engine Top End Inspection
Objectives:
- Explain why engine problem diagnosis is critical before you begin to disassemble an engine.
- Understand the necessity of proper engine component inspection.
- Understand the concept of the motorcycle and ATV two-stroke engine power valve.
- Identify the basic steps that can be used to disassemble and assemble a motorcycle or ATV two-stroke engine.
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Two-Stroke Engine Lower End Inspection
Objectives:
- Understand the procedures used to disassemble the lower end of an air-cooled or a liquid-cooled two-stroke engine that has a vertical crankcase design.
- Identify the special tools used to disassemble the lower end of a two-stroke engine.
- Visually identify the components in the lower end of a two-stroke engine.
- Understand how to inspect the various parts of the crankshaft and transmission for damage or wear.
- Identify the procedures required to reassemble the lower end of a two-stroke vertical-split crankcase-design engine.
- Outline the steps required to install an engine into a chassis.
- Identify the checks you should make before starting a rebuilt engine.
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Four-Stroke Engine Top End Inspection
Objectives:
- Understand the procedures for removing a four-stroke engine from the chassis and for disassembling the top end of a four-stroke motorcycle or ATV.
- Diagnose common problems related to four-stroke engine top-end failure.
- Inspect the components of the top end of a four-stroke motorcycle or ATV.
- Identify the procedures for reassembling the top end of a four-stroke motorcycle or ATV.
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Four-Stroke Engine Lower End Inspection
Objectives:
- Identify the various components in a four-stroke engine lower-end assembly.
- Understand the procedures used to disassemble the lower end of a four-stroke engine.
- Identify the special tools used to disassemble a four-stroke engine lower-end assembly and the various inspections that should be conducted on a lower-end assembly.
- Inspect the various parts of a transmission for damage and wear.
- Explain how to diagnose basic engine problems based on their symptoms.
- Understand the procedures used to reassemble the lower end of a four-stroke engine and to install an engine into a chassis.
- Identify the steps to take before starting up an engine following a major rebuild.
- Describe the procedure for breaking in a rebuilt engine.
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Practical Exercise 4
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Unit 6
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Electrical Fundamentals
Objectives:
- Understand how a basic circuit operates.
- Describe the electron and conventional theories of electrical operation.
- Explain the difference between voltage, current, and resistance in a circuit.
- Use Ohm’s law to calculate voltage, current, and resistance.
- Understand how to use a multimeter to measure voltage, resistance, and current and how an electromagnet works.
- Explain what a diode is and how it works.
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Charging and Ignition Systems
Objectives:
- Explain why motorcycles and ATVs use charging systems and the theory behind a basic charging system.
- Use a wiring diagram to visually identify the different types of charging systems found on motorcycles and ATVs.
- Understand how alternators generate AC power and how a charging system changes alternating current into direct current.
- Identify the electrical system of motorcycles and ATVs that don’t use a battery.
- Describe the steps required for maintenance and minor troubleshooting of a charging system.
- Read block diagrams for various DC electrical system circuits.
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DC Circuits for Motorcycles and ATVs
Objectives:
- Explain how a spark plug is constructed and how it operates.
- Describe the components of the magneto, battery, and electronic ignition systems.
- Understand the basic operation of each type of ignition system.
- Identify the procedures involved in maintaining an ignition system.
- Understand the steps used in troubleshooting ignition systems.
- Explain how the electric starter systems used on motorcycles and ATVs operate.
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Practical Exercise 5
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Additional Unit Material
Learning Aid: Digital Multimeter
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Unit 7
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Frames, Steering, and Suspension
Objectives:
- Describe the different frame designs used by motorcycle manufacturers.
- Understand how to perform frame and wheel inspection and alignment procedures.
- Identify basic front-fork suspension components.
- Understand how to inspect and perform service procedures on front-fork components, rear-suspension components, and ATV steering and suspension systems.
- Identify rear-suspension systems used by motorcycle manufacturers and ATV steering and suspension systems.
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Brakes, Wheel Assemblies, and Tires
Objectives:
- Identify the different brake systems and brake system components used on motorcycles and ATVs.
- Understand how to perform maintenance on brake systems.
- Repair motorcycle spoke wheels.
- Describe tube and tubeless tires.
- Perform maintenance on wheel assemblies, including balancing tires and servicing wheel bearings.
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Practical Exercise 6
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Unit 8
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Motorcycle Maintenance
Objectives:
- Identify the different emission-control systems used on street-legal motorcycles.
- Understand how to perform emission-control system maintenance procedures and various engine and chassis maintenance procedures.
- Explain the correct procedures for storing motorcycles and ATVs.
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Motorcycle Troubleshooting
Objectives:
- Describe the systematic approach to motorcycle and ATV problems.
- Understand how to troubleshoot the following problems: engine, lower-end and exhaust-system, carburetor, ignition-system, electrical-system, chassis, hydraulic-and mechanical-brake, and DC circuit-system.
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Practical Exercise 7
In this practical exercise, you'll apply your knowledge of motorcycle and ATV engine operation to some real-life examples.
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Supplement
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Computer Specifications
As you know this is an online academic program. This means you will need high-speed internet access to begin your program. In addition, you will need access to a Microsoft® Windows® based computer running Windows 7® or later or an Apple® Mac® computer running OS X® or later, and an email account to participate in and complete your program.
Sample Lesson
To view a Motorcycle Repair sample lesson, click here.
Motorcycle Repair Student Discount Program
Fix My Hog Video Resources
Students enrolled in the Motorcycle Repair Technician program are eligible for discounted rates for the Fix My Hog online garage full of premium online how-to videos. This video resource site can serve as a supplement to your Penn Foster program, but is not required to complete your courses. Learn more about this offer here.
Snap-on Student Excellence Program
Students enrolled in our motorcycle training courses are eligible to participate in the Snap-on Student Excellence Program. This program allows students in trades and technology education programs to purchase high-quality Snap-on tools at a preferred student discount. Some restrictions may apply for total purchase and quantities of certain items. Click here to see the new Snap-on Catalog.
State Licensing Information
Licensing and/or certification requirements for jobs in this field are not the same in every state and may include educational, testing, and/or experiential requirements beyond those offered by your Penn Foster Program. You should contact the state professional licensing board or similar regulatory body in the state(s) where you plan to work to determine their requirements before enrolling in your Program. Please click here for contact information for state licensing/regulatory boards and certain industry licensing information.
