Japan's first training course on maintaining Harley-Davidson motorcycles is proving a hit, with more people enrolling than expected, officials at a car mechanic school in Sendai said Wednesday.
The Akamon car mechanic school in the city of Sendai set up the two-year training course in April in line with the growing popularity in Japan of the American-made motorcycles.
The school has so far accepted 40 students, more than the 25 it initially expected, school officials said.
Known for their roar and speed, Harley-Davidson motorcycles have been growing in popularity in recent years. A total of 8,802 were sold in 1999, compared with 5,102 in 1996. Maintaining the motorcycles requires special tools that make measurements in inches instead of centimeters. Mechanics with expert knowledge of the motorcycle have been sought after here.
Harley-Davidson Inc., based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is fully supporting the course, providing free training materials, including 18 motorcycles, engines and parts.
Students who do particularly well in the course will get additional training at Harley-Davidson factories in the U.S.
Steve Phillips, vice president of Harley-Davidson, attended the opening ceremony at the school on April 11 and gave words of encouragement to the students, saying the company's growth depends on experts who can give customers good service.
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