That’s Tom Christensen, motorcycle mechanic.
Whenever I leave my Vespa for service at Kissell Motorsports I didn’t really know what was happening to it or who was doing the work. The scooter would be left behind and then, as if by magic, it would be returned with whatever mechanical needs addressed. For some people that would be enough. I got it into my head that I wanted to know the people who were evaluating my machine, turning the wrenches, and actually working on the Vespa. Or maybe I had a desire to enter the Employees Only realm, pull the curtain aside, and become part of the secret world of motorcycle service. So I suggested to Craig Kissell that it would be a good idea for me to interview the technicians, put a human face on that part of his business. About six weeks ago I took a step over the line and told Tom that I was going to interview him.
Meeting your mechanic is sort of like going to the dentist. You know you have to go but you’re afraid of what he’s going to say. They have a special power of life and death over motorcycles and scooters and I treat them accordingly. Something short of a blood sacrifice. My friend Paul would offer a box of Dunkin Donuts. I completely drop the ball and show up with a camera and the voice recorder in my iPhone.
One thing I tell would be riders when asked the ago old question, “What kind of scooter or motorcycle should I buy?” is to buy something you can have serviced by a local mechanic. Everyone can define local in his or her own way. For instance, BMW riders feel a local mechanic is someone within a day’s ride. So about 1000 miles. My definition puts them a bit closer. Either way, make sure you have a mechanic who can work on your bike before you buy it.
Having a good mechanic means more time to ride and less time involved in transporting a bike around. No one needs to remind me about the notion of spare bikes.
So I’m talking to Tom, trying to act cool and knowledgeable and hoping he doesn’t remember my unfortunate attempt to change the drive belt on my LX150. Detecting no smirks I move ahead with the interview. He’s putting a new, high performance exhaust system on a shiny red Ducati.
STEVE: So, how did you become a mechanic?
TOM: Everyone in my family is a mechanic. I started when I was five years old. My brothers and dad taught me. That’s how I learned about engines and stuff. I went to the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Arizona to get the credentials.
(At this point I’ve run out of questions. Tom seems content and isn’t offering anything more. Just as I prepare to wind up the interview he continues.)
TOM: My dad’s blind. He’s the local lawn mower repairman and is pretty good at listening to engines and fixing them by what he hears.
STEVE: How does listening fit into motorcycle repair?
TOM: You feel things through listening. The sounds tell a story. I end up making a lot of motorcycle noises.
(He starts making some remarkably mechanical sounds.)
TOM: That’s a Ducati.
(I hear a couple snickers from other guys in the shop and wonder if I am about to be the punch line to a joke. Tom must have sensed my complete and utter mechanical incompetence and would believe anything he said.)
TOM: Like those guys on CarTalk, Click and Clack, they’re always asking people to make the noise their car is making.
(He makes another noise that sounds like a transmission problem.)
TOM: You can figure out a lot of things about a problem if you learn to listen carefully. It’s not all about computers. That’s where the passion comes in. For a mechanic to diagnose a problem he often needs to hear the sound, whether it’s a clank clank clank, a clunk clunk clunk or a boing boing boing. That’s where my noise making comes from.
(The other guys in the shop have stopped what they were doing as if something was about to happen when one of them tells me to ask him about Karl. Tom stops what he’s doing and his face transforms into another person, someone I recognize but can’t quite remember until he suddenly breaks into a perfect rendition of Karl Childers, the character made famous by Billie Bob Thornton in SlingBlade.)
TOM: I like them French fried potaters.
If you don’t know of Sling Blade check out the video below. The main character, Karl, is an engine expert, hence the connection to a mechanic:
(Everyone cracks as he continues. Standing in the shop I feel like I have entered a David Lynch film and look around for Frank Booth. After a couple minutes of Sling Blade I ask another question.)
STEVE: What’s the easiest bike to work on here?
TOM: A Triumph is probably the easiest bike to work on. Straightforward, simple, reliable engineering. But my favorite bike to work on is a Ducati. I love the sound, the feel, the passion that goes into their creation. Every nut and bolt and fastener is well thought out and engineered. Every connection and cable and wire is chosen with excellence in mind.
(He begins speaking in tongues.)
TOM: There’s nothing like the sound of a Ducati.
(He shows me the new exhaust he’s installing on a Ducati 1198S.)
TOM: These pipes are all hand made stainless steel.
STEVE: I think they’re the same diameter as the exhaust on my Ford Ranger.
TOM: Come on, let me show you something.
(We head across the shop and go outside. I’m trying to think how to segue from the Ducati to the Vespa as we stop in front of a Ducati 796 with a newly installed exhaust system. I can tell he’s passionate about motorcycles and what makes them tick.)
(Back in the shop I shift gears.)
STEVE: So, what should riders be thinking about now that’s its spring. What should they be doing to get ready to ride?
TOM: Well, other than checking the air in their tires they should have done everything last fall when they stored their bike for the winter. This time of year I’m busy with carb cleaning and spark plug changes because gas was left in the motorcycle over the winter and when they started it up things got fouled.
STEVE: What do you suggest?
TOM: If you did leave the gas in all winter it would be a good idea to drain the float bowl before you try and start the motorcycle. Because once you try and burn that bad gas, well….
(I’m still trying to move the conversation towards the Vespa when it dawns on me that maybe Tom rides one himself!)
STEVE: What do you ride?
TOM: I have a SuperMoto conversion bike, a Honda XR650R liquid cooled Baja bike. (To some this bike is known as the biggest, baddest dirt bike ever) I put on Supermoto wheels, made it road legal, custom suspension, new bars and bar ends, lowered the front…
(I’m wondering what he must think of the scooter I’m riding. Just outside the shop door are a lot of Ducati motorcycles. BMWs, Triumphs, and Vespa scooter too. Just in case you need one.)
TOM: It’s the bike I always wanted; I like the dual sport, moto bikes. Sometimes I wish I would have waited for the Hypermotard but the one I have is great. Light, flickable. A SuperMoto bike is ideal for the kind of back roads we have here in central Pennsylvania.
(He’s putting a muffler on the Ducati and I’m looking around, searching for a way to bring up the Vespa.)
TOM: I can’t believe how many miles you put on your Vespa. Not many people do that.
(As if by magic my spine has straightened. I think I hear trumpets echoing in the distance.)
STEVE: It’s a good machine. It’s been pretty reliable.
TOM: You make sure it’s serviced properly. That makes a big difference.
STEVE: Yeah. You guys do a good job with it.
(And that’s how we ended the interview.)
I got to finally talk with one of the mechanics at Kissell Motorsports for more than a minute or two. When I was riding the BMW R100 GS last week Tom personally checked it out and provided his assessment of the bike – a big thumbs up. When I returned it he seemed as surprised as everyone else that I was going to remain a scooter rider.
Some things defy human understanding.
Regardless, Tom can work on the Vespa anytime.
Well, didn’t learn anything about motorcycle maintenance but I’ve never heard of SlingBlade before. You still have confidence in your mechanic after hearing that? Maybe I need to look for that movie…
Richard
RichardM: I probably should have made it clearer that Karl, the Sling Blade character, is a mechanical expert. Makes it all come together.
Now that I’ve spent some time with Tom I am more confident than ever. Doesn’t take long watching a person work to figure out how serious they are. Tom’s a passionate, knowledgeable mechanic.
Besides, how much do you have to know to work on a Vespa??? *grin*
Steve
Tom sounds like a great mechanic, perhaps not steeped in years of experience but definitely passionate about working on the machines.
I’m fortunate to have some old time airhead gurus within riding distance. I am glad you’ve got a good mechanic on tap like Tom.
However, I am sure you crushed his heart when you backed away from that GS….crushed it I say. : )
dom
Redleg’s Rides
Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner
Dom: Yeah, Tom was confused when I brought it back. He was certain I was going to drink the airhead Koolaid.
There are two other mechanics working there. I have to figure out who the Vespa magician is.
Tom is correct in that nothing sounds like a Ducati. I drank the proverbial BMW cool-aid back in 1996, but I still get a little emotional when I’m in close proximity to a Ducati in motion. Sound like he is not only knowledgeable but passionate about what he does. Your are very lucky. GAW
What an excellent piece of writing with this interview! I admire the way you see to it that you are not pretentious regarding who you are and what you’re up to! It’s an amusing anecdotal look at you. I think you’re the kind of writer every reader wants to relate to. Thanks Steve for reminding me it’s no small feat to write with humor. 🙂
The mechanic at Pure Triumph , before they went under, used to call me The Rider when I took the Bonneville in for warranty service the first two years I had it.I figured that was my job, to ride it and his to keep it going every 12,000 miles.
Now, four years later it has 50,500 miles and I’ve never had a problem. Ducati’s need a service every 7,500 miles and they aren’t cheap. Not for me,a Ducati, too high maintenance.
Tom is both our click and clack. Besides being a seriously good mechanic he’s our comic relief. Sometimes he gets so excited when he goes over a new bike with a customer that he almost scares them, making noises, grunts, groans, ect. I sometimes need to step in and explain Tom’s passion. It’s all good, I hope that he’s here forever. He’s a great part of our team. Craig Kissell
GAW: The sound and performance of a Ducati is unique. I’m not one to appreciate machinery generally but it’s hard to miss the workmanship in them. Not bad Kool-aid to consume.
chessie: Thank you for your kind words about the mechanic story. I can only say whatever worked in this story was beyond intent. I just sort of recalled what had happened and kept typing until I got to the end.
Didn’t hurt that Tom had a bit of charisma.
Nice conversation. I was getting into this going: “Eesh, this could be bad…” But you proved me wrong, it was interesting. And I know exactly why he loves the sound of that Ducati. I can’t put it any better than “Satan gargling motor oil.”
I’ve also got to say, “Way to go.” on the scooter scene. That’s no easy feat to rack up all dem miles. Hell, it’s hard on 650, and if I remember back hard enough… yeah, the scooters were a WHOOOOLLE lot of fun, but I never was able to do real distance.
Brady
Behind Bars – Motorcycles and Life
http://www.behindbarsmotorcycle.com/
Great writing Steve. Makes me want to ride my Vespa 750 kms to Kissell’s for regular servicing and hang out with you over coffee at Saint’s while Tom changes the oil.
Conchscooter: The Triumph remains at the top of my list of motorcycles — a deep affection that goes back to my youth. The connection was built on the way they look but their simplicity and reliability in their modern form only enhances how I feel about them.
The Bonneville is at the top of the list followed closely by the less utilitarian but still beautiful Scrambler.
If I ever call my insurance agent to add a motorcycle to my coverage I’ll bet it will be a Triumph.
Craig Kissell: I stopped by the shop yesterday and saw Tom. He smiled and said hello so I guess I didn’t piss him off.
Glad you liked the post. Hope to write about more of the characters working at your place!
Brady: Thanks for stopping by and reading — always nice to hear what people think.
Your description of the sound of the Ducati sounds pretty accurate. Definitely a lot of power and energy in it. A far cry from the Vespa.
The new scooters are a lot better suit for riding distances. My GTS will easily take me 350 miles in a day. And the big wheeled scooters will do anything the big cruisers or touring bikes will.
All a matter of personal taste and temperament…
David Masse: That might be a little far to have your machine serviced. But if you do get down this way let me know so I can buy you a coffee!
Listened to the interviewer (Stevel Williams and the interviewee (Tom) in the audio clip. The photographs
to me are as the voices on the audio clip. So often the voice and the photo don’t match, this time they did. As to the Duc and
its exhaust each to their own for the noise is more than just distracting, annoying. But then I’m an old fart who figure loud
noisy machines belong on a closed course.
My other concern which is sort of back-handed is the service shop itself.
Have seen over the years too many dealers acquire the franchise for a line of product,
and then because of various problems drop said line or even for whatever reason disappear altogether. Am hoping Kissell has a broad enough customer base to survive over the future years.
Recall touring with Canadian friends of similar age to Russell PA in the fall of 1981 with my then new Honda Goldwing. Friends in Rusell drove Harley-Davidson machines. He required a small part so on the Saturday we drove to his H-D dealer in Jamestown NY and to the local Honda motorcycle dealer also in Jamestown. There was a new Burgundy coloured Goldwing on the retail floor. We in Canada would still be waiting on the colour three months later.
Writing this the friends I went with are deceased from various ailments including the friends I visited, my own Goldwing was sold two years ago with over half a million kilometres on it and one wonders if the two retail outlets are still in Jamestown. May Kissell and
its good people be there thirty years or more from now!
Bryce: Good to see you check in. I was wondering where you got off to.
As a Vespa rider who wears earplugs when riding and likes the rather silent exhaust on the GTS I am about as far as a person can get from enjoying a loud motorcycle. I suppose if I was entralled by the power and performance it might be different.
Kissell Motorsports has consolidated their offerings to all European motorcycles, Vespa scooters, and the Genuine scooter line. No more ATVs and they handed off the Kawasaki line to another local dealer. When you walk in the place now and see the Triumphs, BMWs, Ducatis and Vespas it’s a pretty impressive display. I hope the business lasts through the next couple generations of Kissells.
Which would be best to become in this economy? Auto Mechanic or Motorcycle Mechanic?
I’m say Auto Tech is a recession proof……Motorcycle not so much.
I love cars and motorcycles.
I want to restore my 1956 model Enfield motorcycle and i need to change its piston shaft too.For that I have been searching through many online solutions but i am very much confused .Can some one suggest me some good mechanic for this job
Jaqlene, this link to a Youtube motorcycle restoration project may help you: http://www.tinyurl.com/3drd2lm
Motorcycle mechanics are responsible for repairing and overhauling two wheeled motorized vehicles. I have one normal bike which having lots of problem so I want one personal good motorcycle mechanic those helps me to repair my bike properly.
motorcycle mechanic: I can’t even venture an opinion on whether a motorcycle mechanic or auto mechanic would be the better career path. Personally, I always follow my interest when it comes to jobs…
David Masse: Thanks for posting the link to the YouTube video!
I have one normal bike which having lots of problem so I want one personal good motorcycle mechanic who helps me to repair my bike properly.
great
Hi, I think a little training can boost motorcycle mechanics work, if someone looking to become a mechanic in career field. I would say that your article is quite useful and informative to me.
motorcycle mechanic
The thing i love most, is creating a good relationship with my mechanic.And Steve, i am glad you have one! And you know what? Stick to your Vespa. No Ducati!