Top Tech Kara Has an Artist’s Touch

Redefining the Modern Motorcycle Technician

With a master’s degree in fine art and philosophy hanging on the wall at home, Kara chose a toolbox over textures, finding a life where creativity meets mechanical mastery. Her path from the arts to a two-wheeled technician with a talent for cracking complex diagnostics may seem unconventional, but it’s as entertaining as it is inspirational.

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Kara’s journey to becoming one of Australia’s leading Yamaha motorcycle technicians began not in a service department, but as an international traveller and university student with a childhood spent riding dirt bikes. After finishing school, she spent a year living in Hungary. At 20, she moved to Melbourne to study fine art and film, embarking on seven years of artistic exploration that culminated in a master’s degree focused on fine art, philosophy, and humour. But metal and machinery were already calling her name.

The discovery of a passion for metalwork, including bronze sculpture and fabrication, didn’t go unnoticed. “During my studies, I became interested in metalworking and tools,” explained Kara. “One of my lecturers had a friend who was a motorcycle fabricator and introduced me.” It was here that Kara discovered custom motorcycle creation and found her calling.

Keen to break into the world she had discovered, Kara offered to sweep the floors and do odd jobs around the custom bike service bay in exchange for hands-on experience. From floor sweeping she graduated to bike pre-deliveries and basic servicing, and eventually to full custom builds, earning her stripes in a way few technicians do. “I didn’t follow the traditional apprenticeship path,” Kara explains. “I learned the old-school way, working under experienced technicians while studying, sweeping floors, researching, and building my skills.” Through determination, relentless curiosity, and years of learning, Kara became a top tech.

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After eight years with the custom shop, Kara felt it was time to spread her wings. When an opportunity to join the Peter Stevens Dandenong team arose, she leapt into the multi-brand, high-demand world of dealership work. In her first week, management tested her with the task of dismantling and reassembling an engine. Kara completed it in just two days, earning instant respect from management and co-workers. From engine rebuilds to gearbox work and advanced diagnostics, Kara’s custom-shop-honed skills set her apart. She also gained access to tools she had only dreamed of at the custom shop: genuine Yamaha diagnostic software, factory-grade technology, and the chance to specialise in Yamaha products.

Her background in wiring harnesses, combined with a natural affinity for electronics, made electrical diagnostics her domain. With soldering iron in hand and multimeter at the ready, Kara tackled faults others avoided. Management noticed and secured her a place in the Yamaha Training Academy Silver Course for electrical diagnostics. Her outstanding results led to her selection for the 2025 Oceania Yamaha Technician Grand Prix, held at Yamaha Motor Australia’s Sydney headquarters. The competition gathers the best Yamaha technicians from across Australia and New Zealand, with the winner representing the Oceania region at the Yamaha World Technical Grand Prix in Japan.

Kara embraced the opportunity, and while she didn’t take out the top honours, the camaraderie, competition, and challenge of the event have her already setting her sights on 2027. “Learning about new models and systems like the MT-09’s dual CAN bus… it was an amazing experience,” she says.

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Kara believes the road ahead will be filled with technological discoveries — more advanced electronics, hybrid systems, and electric motors. “I plan to keep specialising in electronics and auto-electrical work, adapting as the tools shift a little more from spanners to multimeters and test lights,” she says. “I’m keen to tackle the next wave of innovation.”

To many, the role of a motorcycle technician may seem like just putting on oily overalls and performing basic mechanical tasks, but Kara is quick to dispel those notions. “It’s a blend of craftsmanship, logic, and creativity,” she explains. “It’s a profession that combines hands-on skills with problem-solving abilities. I’ve even fixed my own plumbing and repaired my washing machine. An engine is an engine, and working on them is a lifelong skill.”

Kara’s story proves that the best technicians are those who transcend the expected path and follow their passion, wherever it leads.