A Crowning Moment In The Life Of A Motorcycle Technician

One of the benefits of working in a Honda motorcycle dealership, is that most reputable dealerships were required to send technicians to Honda specialized training to become Honda Certified or Master Technicians. 

Living in Brooklyn during the 1980's, I was fortunate to being closer to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where American Honda training facilities were located. I received my American Honda Technician Certification in less than 2 years while working for a motorcycle Honda dealership in New York. In addition, every year dealerships were mandated to send their best technicians to attend specialized training to stay updated on the new models, technology, and repair procedures.

Graduating from Phoenix, AZ, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in 1986 was a milestone in my life, and represented the culmination of years of hard work, persistence, and personal growth regarding my future in the motorcycle industry.

In 1988, Honda introduced the Gold Wing GL1500 model with a flat-six-cylinder engine.  Being selected to attend a week-long specialized training at the American Honda training facilities on the new Gold Wing GL1500, was one of the most memorable moments in my motorcycle technician career. 

Being selected for this training proved that my hard work and experience had been recognized, validating my skills and expertise and differentiating me from my peers.  At that moment in time, I felt I had reached the pinnacle of my career. Even though my motorcycle technician life has been over since 1994, I am very proud of the things I was able to accomplish.

Parece Que Fue Ayer - Seems Like Only Yesterday

Uno de los logros mas significantes para mi, lo fue el dia que me gradue de mi alma mater, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute en el 1986. Este año marca el aniversario numero 40th de mi graduacion. Para ser honesto, la unica razon por la cual vine a Estados Unidos lo fue para estudiar en MMI en Phoenix, AZ. Tengo que admitir que ha sido una de las mejores decisiones de mi vida.  

Uno de las motivos por el cual personas buscan una educacion avanzada es para tener un mejor futuro. Ya sea un futuro financiero o para desarrollar su maximo potencial intelectualmente. Es importante adquirir las herramientas necesarias para crecimiento personal y para mantenernos actualizados; a la misma vez se abren nuevas puertas y oportunidades en el futuro. Parece que la graduacion en MMI fue los otros dias; ya han pasado 40 años. 

Seems Like Only Yesterday

When it comes to education, nothing means more to me than the day in 1986 when I graduated from my alma mater, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute in Phoenix, AZ. 

While looking at some old pictures, I came to the sudden realization that this year marks a significant milestone, my 40th year graduation anniversary from MMI. To attend MMI is the only reason why I relocated from the Enchanted Island to the United States many years ago. Seems like only yesterday.

A Nostalgic Reminder Of Great Times

It is being said that acknowledging the need for honesty with yourself is a courageous first step toward clarity and personal growth. For that reason, I have to be honest and confess that for reasons I won't get into it here, initially I wasn't open about using AI in photography, until now. 

First, let's go back 40 years. In 1986, a few months after graduating from MMI, I purchased a SuperFlow 110 flowbench. For my own selfish reasons and to save money in the process, my initial interest was to build my own Kawasaki drag racing cylinder head for a Kawasaki dragbike I was putting together at that time. The SuperFlow 110 flowbench was the best motorcycle tool to optimize performance I've ever owned. 

Unfortunately, taking selfie or casual photos was not a common trend back then. Throughout the years, I recall having maybe three images of my SuperFlow 110 flowbench. The selfie pic sitting next to the flowbench disappeared years ago during one of my many moves; only the two images shown here have endured the test of time. 

That is where AI comes in. For the past two weeks, I've been using AI to create motorcycle scenarios using old photos taken years ago during motorcycle events and gatherings I've attended. 

I made a decision last night, to try to recreate a SuperFlow 110 flowbench using one of the remaining flowbench old photos taken in my Brooklyn apartment. I gave AI a few prompts, and in less than 5 seconds the application created the amazing photo featured on this post. 

It even shows a Mitutoyo Micrometer, the Neway Valve Seat Cutters and a Mitutoyo Dial Indicator with a Magnetic Base Kit.  I know is not the real thing, but to me this AI caricature is better than nothing. It is also a nostalgic reminder of great times during the first part of my life as a motorcycle technician. 

Reborn: 1975 Kawasaki Z1-900

In 1984, I was reaching the one-year mark of living and getting used to a new life in Brooklyn, NY. At that point I decided to purchase a used motorcycle in order to get around. In New York cars are not needed since public transportation is very efficient. Besides, my goal was to continue saving enough money to attend Motorcycle Mechanics Institute school.

What initially began as a beat up half-dead 1975 Kawasaki Z1-900 platform, ended up as a KZ-1015cc to be exact.  And I bet you cannot tell the bike was spray-painted in my living room using spray cans paint. Those were the good old days.

My sister visited me in 1987 and took a picture with my pride and joy. 

El Baul de los Recuerdos - 1985

Acabo de ver un video en la pagina de un amigo en Facebook, que me recordo mi experiencia de ser el unico estudiante de color y de habla hispana en 1985 en Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. Vivi en Phoenix, Arizona por un poco mas de 12 meses.

Si me conoces hace un tiempo, sabes que la unica razon por la que vine a vivir a Estados Unidos fue porque deseaba estudiar y recibir el diploma de (MMI) Motorcycle Mechanics Institute. En el 1985, MMI en Phoenix, Arizona era la mejor escuela en Estados Unidos para uno lograr ser un tecnico graduado de motocicletas.

Recuerdo que muchos de los estudiantes en aquel tiempo pensaban que yo era Mexicano. Varias veces trate de explicar que no era Mexicano, que era de Puerto Rico. Decian que no sabian donde era Puerto Rico. Trate de ubicarlos explicando que P.R. forma parte del archipielago de las Antillas Mayores del Mar Caribe. Tampoco sabian donde era el Mar Caribe.

Llego el momento que desisti de explicar y preferi dejarlos por ignorantes. El racismo se expresaba tan abiertamente que me di cuenta que era una perdida de tiempo el tratar de educar a algunas de estas personas.

Despues de terminar de escribir esta experiencia, acabo de darme cuenta que en el 2026 se cumplen 40 años de mi graduacion de (MMI) Motorcycle Mechanics Institute en Phoenix, AZ.