Hi, from Sydney

[RailTracks]

Hi I just felt like signing up and saying hi to my fellow bikers in singapore. my name is Mark I live in Sydney Australia i'm moving towards being quallifed as a motorcycle mechanice. I work on mainly BMW in Sydney.

I just got back from a trip to Singapore - and when to sepang (malaysia) for a track day and loved it.

 

I'm thinking of trying to get a working holiday to singapore because i want to live in a diffrent culture but i don't know enough to know if i can even do it or not. i have a few questions if anyone can help me with this it would be great

1. What does a motorcycle mechanice get paid in Singapore? (an avarage)

2. how much would a room cost me?

3. how much could i get a ok to good 2nd bike in Singapore?

4. how would i go about cheaking qualification diffrents between Australia and Singapore?

I'm sure i will have more question as time goes on but this will help me to get things started.

i attached a photo

 

Thanks alot in advance from Australia

[xavw]

2. how much would a room cost me?

 

Complicated question to answer, in short between $300 (a grubby bunk bed in a shared room, in a red light district) to a few thousands ($2k upwards) for a small room in swanky condominium in town. Generally, a bedroom without attached toilet in a suburban part of Singapore would cost about $400-$600.

 

But food in Singapore is generally cheaper than compared to Oz. $15-$20 can get you 3 meals a day, at a hawker center/food court/coffee shop/small eatery.

 

Most of bike shop mechanics seem to come from Malaysia and China, and are used to servicing smaller bikes. Not sure about bigger bikes or European bikes in general.

[cougar]

And local mechanics pay range from S$1.8k to S$4k for some of the bigger shops. Those would be supervisors and trainers of junior mechanics. Its a cheap labour market here, cheap, cheaper, cheapest is what the bosses likes about doing biz in Sg.

[RailTracks]

xavw thanks for that. so 400-600 a month yeah? I notice the cost of the food i love it.

 

cougar. if its about 2k + i should be able to get by?

i do not really work on smaller bikes. here in oz big bike are the normal thing to see on the roads but the scooters here are growing in numbers.

thanks for the help

 

does anyone know someone i can call and find out more information about this idea of mine?

does anyone know how long people do apprenticeships in singapore for motorcycle mech?

 

have any of you been to oz and ridden bikes here?

[thrasher]

hi you can try refer to this? hope it helps. http://www.contactsingapore.sg

[Icomeforyou]

Just to add on, the pay rates for mechanics also do vary widely, only larger shops will have a proper hierarchy of employment a place and be willing to help you handle your paper work for visas and all.

 

The room part is accurate, 4-600 +- 100 as it varies on location, cooking/non-cooking, air-conditioned or not will factor into play. Some landlords charge a flat rate of utilities bills, others just split it up depending on how many people live in the same room.

 

2k + (Quite optimistically looking salary, do bear in mind that in Singapore, the average starting pay for a diploma holder is roughly 1.8-2k as well) is generally enough to get by, and if your forte is bigger bikes, then you might first want to try approaching the big players here (HD, BMW, Ducanti) workshops to see if they have any vacancies available, couple that with your prior experience in BMW bikes, it would most definitely be helpful.

 

As for your 3rd question, what sort of bike are you looking at? Singapore's bike license is split into 3 classes,

2B =

2A =

2 = >400cc

 

All have to start at 2B after a year they can advance to 2A , and after another year to class 2.

 

Q4) What qualifications exactly? Your educational, vocational or driving license.

If educational, i'm not too sure but you could try the ministry of education website. I tried to find information, but it would be better if you just emailed them MOE contact

 

Driving license there are many schools, one of which is SSDC, you could also just email them to check.

 

Last of all, welcome to Singapore =)

[xavw]

Oz is a big country, believe most aussies ride longer distance, and through rural areas, more of that wide open roads stuff.

 

In SG, a bike is mostly a communting vechicle through urban areas. We encounter crowded expressways, regular 2 lane roads, slippery multi-storey carparks, and we get free parking in some areas by squeezing throught the gaps between parking barriers/gantries. lane-spliting is common here, and some people also park on the pavement. and the fuel economy of a smaller bike can't be beaten. so small bikes are much more practical for a typical biker here.

 

Also small bikes vs big bikes is influenced by the license system here. Most people obtain and stop at a Class 2B riding license which enables them to ride motorcycles less than 200cc, it goes to class 2A and 2. So you have small bikes which make up maybe 70% of bikes here, and the mid-size bikes like Honda CB400 making up maybe 15-20%, and the big bikes Ducatis, Harleys, BMWs, Pan-Europeans, Hornets, Fazers, Busas maybe 10% of the bikes.

 

One workshop which does more big bike is Looi's motors.

 

Also check with immigrations on visa requirements/working in Singapore

[xavw]

And Ministry of Manpower for working in Singapore

[cougar]

If you can rebuild engines, you should aim for the big shops, maybe once the track is ready, lots of potential to do racing bikes here.

[kmax]

Employment

since you can work on BeeMmmmDoubleU bikes.. you can send your resume to PML (BMW agent in singapore)

 

http://www.pml.com.sg/

 

http://www.bmwmotorrad.com.sg/

 

i knew a chief mech for BMW cars earning 6,000 S$, and he is not singaporean, without any diploma or degree. (but almost 30 year experience with BMW cars)

 

and the salary here is net income you are getting, not 35% tax like ozzie.

(for you as foreigner, locals need to contribute to CPF, similar to superannuation in ozzie)

 

But he is permanent staff... good luck

 

i dont think other local establishments wont be able to employ you with decent pay. (coz labor here is cheap anyway)

 

 

Lodging

easy, try to find a local girl, hook up with her and move into her apartment (provided you are single)... many local girls like Caucasians (dont flame me... that's a fact)

 

Licence

that you can worry later.. but ozzie licence should be able to convert to Singapore licence

 

Second hand bike

Take a look at garage sale in Buy/Sell section of this fabulous forum.... you can find from Harley, BMW, to japanese..

Edited January 19, 2011 by kmax

[DeusExMachina]

Srsly, looking at local bike shops in SG, I don't think a mech's pay is high at all. Unless you're working for the main agent like PML, HL, Harley, or Mah... the average mech's pay is probably like that of a fresh grad... or maybe even less.

[thrasher]

Since you're coming to SG to work, you will definitely need an EP(Employment Pass).

[RailTracks]

sorry for the late reply

Thanks everyone for your replys and links i will go over it. as long as the pay is good enough to live on and maybe a little extra to start with but its always good to have more then less lol.

 

yeah oz is about the wide open roads hehe and trying not to be caught by the cops lol

I could live with a 400cc bike.

does anyone know if i imported a bike how much i would be up for? what about a track bike does that have tax on it ?

 

when i am finished my training i will be able to strip and rebuild a bike engine and all.

 

really think i could convince a girl to lodge me so easily ? i did get looks while on holiday there

 

i have been on bigger bikes for 3 years or so and will be more when i come over i should be able to just transfer it over??

 

so the bigger bike shops will be the go?

 

cheers Mark

[deadstrength]

Lodging

easy, try to find a local girl, hook up with her and move into her apartment (provided you are single)... many local girls like Caucasians (dont flame me... that's a fact)

 

I'll second to this as the local girls likes exotic stuffs like men!

[GuiNNeSS]

Nah...that local girls like caucasian men thing is just a urban legend.

 

If the guy isnt rich or in a well paying job. The Caucasian will be dropped after he has been milked of sex. Then our dear boy up here, will end up on the streets eventually. But then, there has always been fairly well to do females that does lodged the caucasians, but then the boys/men has to deal with really princess-sey temper and watch his steps/words/eyes and actions.

[biting_point]

Nah...that local girls like caucasian men thing is just a urban legend.

 

If the guy isnt rich or in a well paying job. The Caucasian will be dropped after he has been milked of sex. Then our dear boy up here, will end up on the streets eventually. But then, there has always been fairly well to do females that does lodged the caucasians, but then the boys/men has to deal with really princess-sey temper and watch his steps/words/eyes and actions.

 

Female's honest POV!!! :thumb:

[RailTracks]

Nah...that local girls like caucasian men thing is just a urban legend.

 

If the guy isnt rich or in a well paying job. The Caucasian will be dropped after he has been milked of sex. Then our dear boy up here, will end up on the streets eventually. But then, there has always been fairly well to do females that does lodged the caucasians, but then the boys/men has to deal with really princess-sey temper and watch his steps/words/eyes and actions.

 

hahahahahahahahaha. i love so honest nand open, well i never cared much about earning **** load of money so i never bothered to get a "well paying job".

"milked for sex" sounds intresting lol .

Are not most girls "princess-sey temper

 

i would rather have my own bed anyway just how i am i guess.

Edited January 24, 2011 by RailTracks

[swiftee]

Lodging

easy, try to find a local girl, hook up with her and move into her apartment (provided you are single)... many local girls like Caucasians (dont flame me... that's a fact)

 

with HDB prices on the rise here no guarantee that the local girl wont be sharing her parents' apartment

[Johnny25]

hi railtracks....

[kmax]

sorry for the late reply

Thanks everyone for your replys and links i will go over it. as long as the pay is good enough to live on and maybe a little extra to start with but its always good to have more then less lol.

 

yeah oz is about the wide open roads hehe and trying not to be caught by the cops lol

I could live with a 400cc bike.

does anyone know if i imported a bike how much i would be up for? what about a track bike does that have tax on it ?

 

when i am finished my training i will be able to strip and rebuild a bike engine and all.

 

really think i could convince a girl to lodge me so easily ? i did get looks while on holiday there

 

i have been on bigger bikes for 3 years or so and will be more when i come over i should be able to just transfer it over??

 

so the bigger bike shops will be the go?

 

cheers Mark

 

well.. aside from lodging and love affairs..

 

yes, big bike shop is only option that you have, check out gmax race, it's been operated by caucasian guys, Claudio if i am not wrong..

 

http://www.gmaxrace.com/

 

and you can import your own bike, but to register here would be whole lot of paper work and craps. and only you can import bikes less than 3 years old

read up more from first hand experience.

http://f800gsrider.blogspot.com/2009/04/self-importing-motorbike-from-uk-to.html

 

you can also bring in track machine. but we do not have garage here (except for work shops) and trailers are rare item.

 

and we do not have race track locally yet.. (coming soon.. so they say)

[RailTracks]

Hi, I know the guys a gmax racing I did a trackday at sepang. They also rented up a bike for the day so I will contact them when it's time

 

So even If I don't plan to register it needs to be only 3 years old? Or if I keep it as just a track bike it's cool? Do I need to pay any sort of import tax?? Unregistered or registered?

Thanks for the links

 

Hi johnny25..??

[kmax]

Nah...that local girls like caucasian men thing is just a urban legend.

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/lovestorys5_149.html

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/images/110128_lovestory149.jpg

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/lovestorys5_141.html

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/images/110128_lovestory141.jpg

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/lovestorys5_002.html

 

http://www.stomp.com.sg/lovein/lovestory11/images/110109_lovestory002.jpg

 

http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/stomp_love_story_2011/547352/love_story_we_come_from_2_different_worlds.html

 

http://static.stomp.com.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/stomp/547352/thumbnail/love_story_we_come_from_2_different_worlds-thumbnail.jpg

[kmax]

Hi, I know the guys a gmax racing I did a trackday at sepang. They also rented up a bike for the day so I will contact them when it's time

 

So even If I don't plan to register it needs to be only 3 years old? Or if I keep it as just a track bike it's cool? Do I need to pay any sort of import tax?? Unregistered or registered?

Thanks for the links

 

 

you can get track only bike and choose not to register on the road.. but how are you going to transport around ? trailers are not common in singapore.

 

i ever saw only a few times..

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs022.snc6/165273_1765349051211_1163693440_32079424_7402642_n.jpg

 

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs785.ash1/167518_1793135865864_1163693440_32152880_4674630_n.jpg

[kmax]

Hi, I know the guys a gmax racing I did a trackday at sepang. They also rented up a bike for the day so I will contact them when it's time

 

So even If I don't plan to register it needs to be only 3 years old? Or if I keep it as just a track bike it's cool? Do I need to pay any sort of import tax?? Unregistered or registered?

Thanks for the links

 

 

you can get track only bike and choose not to register on the road.. but how are you going to transport around ? trailers are not common in singapore.

 

i ever saw only a few times..

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs022.snc6/165273_1765349051211_1163693440_32079424_7402642_n.jpg

 

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs785.ash1/167518_1793135865864_1163693440_32152880_4674630_n.jpg

[biting_point]

you can get track only bike and choose not to register on the road.. but how are you going to transport around ? trailers are not common in singapore.

 

i ever saw only a few times..

 

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs022.snc6/165273_1765349051211_1163693440_32079424_7402642_n.jpg

 

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs785.ash1/167518_1793135865864_1163693440_32152880_4674630_n.jpg

 

the 2 trailers are actually the same ones..

owned by Mr Ong from Dirtwheel..

 

to do your own trailer and get it OTR, prepare about SGD8k..

need to do inspection yearly and pay road tax too..

insurance wise not very sure..