Meet the Team: Gerald Meyer aka Mr High Performance
Meet Gerald Meyer, AMAC Motorcycle’s Senior Mechanic. Learn about his South African racing pedigree, what he rides and how he can get more from your daily ride than you imagined.
Meet Gerald Meyer, Senior Technician and performance specialist at AMAC Motorcycles
Would you wait two years for a job? And would you move half way round the world for it?
According to Gerald Meyer, AMAC Motorcycle’s new Senior Technician, the answer is yes - if it’s what you love.
The motor oil runs deep in this man’s veins.
A quick look at his career highlights a clear passion for technical problem solving and results under pressure. He’s one of those rare beasts that loves fault finding: diagnosing and tweaking a bike’s performance to its best on and off the track.
Most days at AMAC you’ll find him magnetically drawn to the dyno, which has been recently kitted out with new mapping options under Gerald’s guidance.
Gerald has honed his motorcycle craft in his homeland of South Africa since his early teens, with stints with Yamaha, Ducati and Suzuki. For 14 years he ran his own workshop and built a reputation as the performance bike technician to have on speed dial, due in part to his racing mechanic pedigree.
Drawn to high performance bikes and, by default the track, Gerald found himself on Bike SA Magazine’s racing team as a race technician, and in their first year as a team, blitzed the field, winning the Championship on a 1198S V Twin Ducati for Donovan Fourie in 2007.
“We tested, learned and perfected the bike as we went,” says Meyer. “Building a race bike from scratch and beating Ducati factory trained teams where real money and many seasons was involved felt great. We ran away with the championship.”
Gerald has worked on drag bikes and circuit bikes, won the Battle of the Twins championship in South Africa and worked in various race teams in the National SuperBikes (South Africa) and the British Superstock for Shoesmith Racing.
The man knows how to compete.
He’s a bit of technical data geek too.
From 2005-2010, Gerald was Bike SA Magazine’s Racing Technician, responsible for building, setting up and maintaining their large fleet of race bikes, and managing the technical data for South Africa’s largest motorcycle publication.
“I take what I’ve learned trackside, and make it work for bike owners of every budget. You can get a whole lot more than you expect from your manufacturer’s set up.”
“I’m adapting to the higher safety standards here in Australia - South Africa may have been a bit wilder!”
So how’s life in Cairns?
“It’s been a whirlwind,” shares Meyer. “COVID put the brakes on our planned move for two years, but now we’re here we love it.”
Gerald and his wife relocated this year and it’s been non-stop ever since. They plan to buy a house and make Cairns their home.
“AMAC has been a home for drag bikes and performance bikes,” says AMAC Office Manager and drag bike racer, Kylie Ripepi, “and Gerald adds another layer of technical and performance expertise to the team that customers are loving.”
“We waited so long to get Gerald across to Aus,” says Laurie, Head Mechanic and co-founder of AMAC. “He’s fit right into the team and we’re pretty proud of the diagnostics and performance tuning he delivers.”
What’s in the garage?
“While I have had many bikes in the garage, including a Ducati 1200 Enduro, Honda Africa twin, Kawasaki ZX10, my all-time favourite bike is my Suzuki GSXR1000 (custom) Turbo,’ says Meyer.
With his bikes taking the slow boat over from South Africa, for now you can catch him on a Ducati Hyperstrada. Well, you can try.
Tech Sheet
An all-rounder with 25 years experience, Gerald is also a specialist performance technician, focusing on:
Engine rebuilds, performance modifications and fault diagnosing
Suspension rebuilds, set up and performance tuning
Engine performance modification (Cams, pistons, GasFlo and blue printing, etc)
Fabrication, modification and customising
Electrical fault finding and repair
Accident assessment and repairs
Expert Race Technician (suspension, data logging, fuelling set up & track support)
Dyno tuning (ECU Flashing, piggy-back fuelling systems and stand-alone management)
Keen to see what your bike can really do? Book a dyno tune or explore performance mods and set up with Gerald.
Morgan Park Track Days coming up on the 10th & 11th August 2021
AMAC Motorcycle’s next Track Days at Morgan Park are coming up! Join us on 10th & 11th August 2021.
Morgan Park Track Days coming up on the 10th & 11th August 2021
Morgan Park Track Days coming up on the 10th & 11th August 2021. (Morgan Park in Warwick)
Want to use your own bike?
AMAC Motorcycles can arrange your bike to be transported from Cairns to Morgan Park and return (fully insured transport)
All you need to do is arrange your flights, car hire, accommodation and track day fees.
See link for Track Day booking
https://championsridedays.com.au/.../morgan-park-raceway.../
Contact us for price and more information - info@amacmotorcycles.com or phone 4033 5532.
Big shoes to fill! Forma Boots arrive at AMAC
Forma’s range of adventure/MX boots, street-style motorbike shoes and sports bike boots add serious protection and style to your ride. See what’s new in-store.
Forma’s range of adventure, street and sport motorcycle boots have you sorted for any type of adventure.
Forma boots | Forma |
Motorcycle boots have big shoes to fill; they need to keep you protected from the elements and safe on the bike, yet comfortable enough to wear off the bike.
All Forma boots are European produced and are equipped with:
12 Months Warranty
CE® level protection
Anti-bacterial insole
Below are all the boots we have in store.
Sport Boots
Planning on hitting some tracks? We’ve got a significant range of boots to suit sports bikes.
In addition to the standard safety features of all Forma boots listed above, these sport boots are crafted to be lightweight with a microfiber upper and an anti-shock mid sole.
Adventure Boots
Composed from full-grain oiled leather and intended to be lightweight for agility and control, Forma’s adventure boots are among the most popular boots around the globe.
Not only do they function as road boots with dual sport features, these adventure boots offer:
TPU ankle protection
Waterproof technology
Street Style Boots
Need boots that are comfortable all day and look good?
Constructed with full-grain oiled leather and a full length zip for easy on and off, Forma’s range of street boots are designed with style and comfort in mind, so you’ll even find yourself wearing them off the bike.
Waterproof technology
YKK zips
New to buying motorbike boots?
Here’s a couple of hot tips to keep in mind:
Your feet, toes, ankles and ligaments are vulnerable on a bike. Always ensure your ankles are protected and your feet are fully enclosed. Motorcycle boots and shoes should fit snugly without being tight.
If you’re planning to go anywhere at pace or over uneven terrain, look for reinforcements in high contact areas (toes and ankles).
Look for materials that are thicker than your average fashion boot or shoe. Motorbike leather and textiles will have slightly less flex but offer higher abrasion resistance.
Treated leather is great for varying weather (particularly important in the tropics, with heavy rain and puddles aplenty) and street style boots will often have permeable textile sections for ventilation on hot days in traffic.
There are a huge range of boots and shoes to suit you, your ride style and your destination.
Forma are globally recognised for a reason. They produce high quality boots that will stand the test of time.
At a glance, the protective elements that are built into these boots are unrecognisable. Come in and see for yourself all the features that make these boots the best on the market.
You won’t be disappointed.
Adapting to Covid19
With Covid19 a lot has changed - and fast - here's how we're keeping our team, our customers and our community safe while delivering essential services.
Motorcycles and scooters are being used by our local cafes, restaurants and businesses for home deliveries. These are important services for people who are isolated and help keep our local economy going.
Motorbikes are also cheaper to run and we know customers are switching over to their bikes for short runs - and stress relieving rides.
To provide essential services while keeping our team and our customers safe, here’s how we’ve adapted our operations:
Staff are observing all social distancing, hygiene and cleaning routines as recommended by the Australian Department of Health.
In addition, each person works from an individual bike bench to minimise use of shared tools and allow for social distancing in the workshop. All tools are wiped clean with disinfectant before use.
All packaged parts are cleaned before receiving.
Our parts suppliers including tyres and gear, as well as our amazing local transport providers remain in operation.
Need to book a service?
Call ahead. Our team is arranging booking times to minimise overlap with other customers.
The inside Office will no longer be used for customer service. Instead, a customer drop off zone has been created out the front with shade and weather protection. This area ensures we can observe the 1.5m distance rule plus it has plenty of fresh air!
To drop off your bike, head to the customer reception area. The team will let you know where to park your bike outside. We’ll wash your bike before taking it inside the workshop.
When you pick up your bike, payments can be made using tap-n-go card payments.
We’ll also wash your bike before handing it back to you.
If your bike is already in the shop but you can’t pick it up, we can arrange a drop off. Unloading will be done by the team only.
Of course, if you're unwell, please stay at home.
Unfortunately, customer pick-ups and drop-offs for customers will be unavailable until further notice.
Ordering tyres, gear or parts
This may be the perfect time to get those small DIY maintenance or self-build projects done.
We source specialist parts and machine and manufacture custom parts.
To support everyone staying at home and to reduce the need to travel we’re in the process of setting up an online store with delivery options.
Got Questions?
Call 4033 5532 or email the team info@amacmotorcycles.com.
Times are strange. Keep riding, keep safe, keep in touch.
Team AMAC.
Blackbird Motorcycle Wear arrives at AMAC
When we looked at opening a retail store (which we did, come check it out..) we had a list of tough criteria to apply to motorcycle gear. We did our research. We took our time. We teamed up with Blackbird Motorcycle Wear..
Everyone, eventually, grows up.
You get wise to what you like, what you need and what you want.
You develop your own style — your choices start to reflect who you are, what you’re willing to try. You realise that you’re multi-faceted: not one dimensional.
Some – ok a very minor few – come to this naturally, but most of us take their time (with the occasional nudge from loved ones). Everyone’s journey is different.
When it comes to motorcycle wear, however, it can be hard to find quality, affordable and stylish pieces that offer rider protection.
When we looked at opening a retail store (which we did, some epic before and after shots to come), top of our criteria for motorcycle gear was: stylish gear that’s made to last; is comfortable; reliable; designed for the rider; and importantly, gives you choice. It was a long list. We did our research. We took our time.
We’re very happy to announce that AMAC Motorcycles has teamed up with Blackbird Motorcycle Wear to bring great quality motorcycle wear to Cairns and FNQ.
An Australian brand with a growing global cult following, Blackbird Motorcycle Wear designs motorcycle jackets, jeans, gloves, tees and accessories with the ride and the destination in mind — meaning their gear looks and feels good on and off the bike.
If you have a classic motorcycle, cafe racer, custom bobber or flat tracker, this brand is for you. If you have a modern bike and you’re looking to personalise your look beyond the typical fare, we have something for you.
Blackbird Motorcycle Wear Boston gloves, available in men’s and women’s sizes at AMAC Motorcycles, Cairns.
Across their range, Blackbird captures that vintage, retro feel that’s seen a renaissance in the last few years and which easily adapts to the urban rider looking to build their own style.
The men’s Wakefield jacket, made of quality natural milled leather, feels as good on as it looks and is built to last.
Naturally milled cowhide makes Blackbird’s leather jackets and gloves super soft and built to last. Removable liners, vents, perforations and textile options help adapt to our warmer climes. Removable CE armour comes standard with every jacket.
And ladies, we think we’ve found the best women’s motorcycle jeans on the market. Seriously.
The ladies in our team — one experienced rider and competitive drag racer and one new-to-road-bikes with champagne-tastes-on-a-beer-budget rider — tested them out before we stocked them, the verdict: every one of us now has a pair.
The women’s Montana jacket features perforated upper panels for ventilation and pairs perfectly with Blackbird Motorcycle Wear jeans, available in black or blue, fully lined or integrated patches.
That’s because Blackbird jeans have been designed by women riders (finally, a designer who understands!). They feature stretch skinny denim that feels great, looks amazing; a drawstring tie waist for a personalised fit; a high cut waist for no awkward reveals, and a faux zipper crotch. Available in black or blue with either a full-length DuPont™ Kevlar® fibre liner or integrated patches at the seat, hips and knees.
We’ve started off with a select range in store and we can order in any item and size from the Blackbird catalogue. You’ll see our range increase over time with helmets and boots and quality accessories.
Already our customers are telling us these are the motorcycle apparel choices they’ve been looking for.
But you’re the ultimate judge.
Come and see our new store and tell us what you think - you might just find your best look here.
Open Hours
8.30am-5.30pm Monday - Friday.
9am-12.30pm Saturday.
The Inaugural AMAC Track Tour to Morgan Park
Andy, our GM, breaks tour code and to tell us all about the AMAC Motorcycles 2019 Track Tour to Morgan Park raceway.
Ready for the track: the AMAC Motorcycles Track Tour Morgan Park 2019 group
For riders who want to hone their skills and explore the full capabilities of their bike, there’s no better place than a race track.
Andy, our GM, breaks tour code and lets us in on what happened on…
The AMAC Motorcycles Track Tour to Morgan Park Raceway
We’d been planning for months and as our August departure day arrived, anticipation became a physical thing - but let’s backtrack a little first.
In 2018, the AMAC Motorcycles crew, together with a small contingent of the regular Gillies Range riders, took part in an open track weekend at Morgan Park, two hours south-west of Brisbane.
This experience whet our appetite and we’d been day-dreaming about AMAC organised track events ever since - but we had more questions than answers. We decided to run a track tour to Morgan Park in Warwick, south-east Queensland, with some of our longest-standing customers to work through our ideas.
By August 2019 we had another adventure organised: complete with bike transport, insurance, flights, transfers, accommodation options, a partnership with the team at Champions Ride Day, and of course, some custom Tour tee swag. The first official AMAC Motorcycles Track Tour to Morgan Park was a go.
I can’t say I was the driving force behind the trip. I’d like to thank Doddsy and Laurie for putting up with my constant planning emails and coming through big time with the detailed arrangements, and Karl for adding his trailer and can do attitude to the mix.
Trucks don’t load themselves, unfortunately
Keen to get on the road, the small detail of loading the AMAC bike transport truck and trailer with 14 bikes, tyres, tools and gear, first had to be attended to, which is the exact time Josh had another appointment, apparently.
With my copilot Michael in the AMAC truck and Karl with his new trailer, we set off to Warwick.
Departure day saw us moving south at around 5.00am, and in Gordonvale where we stopped for breakfast and fuel we also decided to check the air pressure on the truck tyres. Rookie error. The compressor system wasn’t rated for truck tyres and a fully loaded flatbed, so all we accomplished was to successfully deflate them.
For the entire journey we kept asking people what tyre pressure was good for our truck, we never did get an answer we were willing to rely on, so we guestimated.
Despite our obsessing over tyres, we made good time with no issues. We made quite an entrance arriving at our accommodation in Rockhampton, drawing an appreciative crowd talking all things motorcycling.
Karl had made good time and overtook us on the road. When we met up just south of Mt. Morgan, Michael took the wheel, giving Karl a rest, while I managed a disagreement between Skippy and our front bumper.
Sports bikes can jump
Day two included an eyebrow-raising moment when I encountered a series of whoop-de-doo bumps that saw the front wheels of the truck get some serious air time. However, our bike tie-down system held fast and my bleeding nose was quickly dispatched with a toughen up old bastard from Karl. He did, however, indicate similar bumps ahead with his brake lights from then on, much to my relief.
We arrived at Warwick late afternoon and shortly after, were joined by the rest of the tour crew who flew into Brisbane.
Karl spent the night camping at the track to keep a close eye on the bikes and as we watched a club cars battle it out at Morgan Park, excitement for our own weekend of track work built.
A parade of ridiculously smiling faces
As track days often do, we set to last-minute track preparation and briefings, which included unexpected work on Donny’s front brake calliper.
What then proceeded is best described as a parade of ridiculously smiling faces as each tour member carved it up in their respective groups.
Our group ranged from racetrack first-timers, to experienced ex-racers. Hooked up with track coaching from the team at Champions Ride Days, every track rookie proved their capabilities – at least two of them blew by me on day two.
Dark horses and racing lines
With two days on the blacktop and plenty of adrenaline, here’s what the crew were talking about by the end of it all.
The surprise package on day one had to be Michael: lapping riders mid-field in the fast non-racer group, showing us his Gagiva can definitely go with a bit of motivation from a very capable rider.
Josh suddenly had his race face on and was taking things very seriously – I get the feeling he’s hooked.
James, with a serious commitment to the learning curve, paid careful attention to absolutely every detail and demonstrated just how valuable track time is for riders who want to improve their bike craft. I’ve no doubt you’ll see this in James' riding back home.
Arf, a bit of a dark horse, blew past me late on the second day as if I was standing still.
Gules, wasn’t far behind Arf, and with a bit more track time will be a very competent road rider/racer, For a first-timer, his corner speed was impressive.
Jeff, coming to terms with the extra power the Suzuki had available and, by the end of day two, was putting on good speed and thankfully go through the weekend without incident – as I was under strict instruction not to return to Cairns if he was in any way damaged (his daughter has contacts in low places I’m told).
Right from the start, John showed he was capable of a very smooth and exceedingly consistent race line, lap after lap. Probably the best I saw all weekend.
Brad, needed all the purchase the extra wide bars could give him and again, was right up there at the front of the pack by the end of day two.
Of the gents churning out laps from the front, Karl led by example, with surprising few excursions at the end of the main straight. Nothing to worry about by his standard would scare the shit out a normal human.
Donny, after a slow start, highlighted experience is a pretty even match for Karl’s youthful, and mildly mad, enthusiasm. Staying fairly well matched all weekend, both put in a couple of race tussles.
Rhys seemed to be concentrating on his own speed and getting things just right. I suspect he wanted to get the Blade back in one piece as he had committed to a new Ducati with the Blade as trade-in.
Toddy showed that horsepower is not the be all end all: consistently lapping riders mid-field amongst the blue group on the 600, with probably the biggest grin on his face. At one stage I thought the top of his head might fall off, the smile went that far back.
Rhys’s dad joined us as well and after losing a faring on his first outing, settled into his usual consistent pace. The 900 still looks cool even without the faring.
Mike? Wow. Definitely a well-versed rider. He wasted no time at all getting into the groove and had impressive speed all weekend (didn’t tell me he could do that shit).
The classiest group of all
It can get a little boring talking to grubby blokes all weekend, that’s why it was great to have several wives, partners and girlfriends in the crew. By far the classiest group on the tour, and with a growing number of women riders in and around Cairns, I have no doubt that we’ll see any number of ladies owning the track in future tours.
A track weekend is a great experience for any rider, no matter your riding capabilities. We’re certainly hooked and look forward to the next AMAC Track Tour in 2020.
If you’re interested in joining us, register your interest or follow us on social and we’ll keep you posted.
- AM.
AMAC Track Tours are a Thing Now
Needless to say we had a ball and from experience and feedback from our customers we learned a lot. Future AMAC Track Tours will only get better.
What’s Included?
We organise:
Flights
Bike transport + insurance
2 Days on the Morgan Park Raceway
Fuel and pit support trackside
Accommodation
Track Tour tee
Through our Morgan Park ride day organisers, we help participants sort out their own:
Race day licence
Tyres
Gear hire (if required)
Photography
Check out our Events or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.
Photos by Peter Trapnell, courtesy of Karl.
Why We Love Motorcycle Restorations
Why we love it when a customer delivers a rare, historically significant or sentimental bike to our door..
The chance to restore a motorcycle and bring out its character is what we aim for.
AMAC was founded with a few goals in mind:
Work on bikes
Work on bikes
Hang out with people who like bikes
Celebrate motorbike history and bring motorcycle culture to life
We service and rebuild and tune all types of modern and classic motorcycles (that’s that AMAC stands for: all modern and classic). However, we love a project.
Our greatest passion is for restoring bikes: particularly those that celebrate unique design; motorcycle culture; performance; or technology that was cutting edge for its time.
Our co-founder and Head Mechanic Laurie Fornera, is renowned for his ability to breathe life back into the sorriest of bikes. “Some people often prefer to have an old bike that’s a bit of a showpiece, which has heritage and character, rather than own a new bike that’s been mass produced, says Laurie.
“I enjoy the process of discovering a bike’s character and delivering to its owner’s expectations.”
AMAC’s other co-founder and long-time collector Andy Martens, also feels strongly about restorations. “I believe in the heritage of the motorcycle – if nobody were to restore bikes, we’d lose not only their history, but the motorcycle culture that went along with it.”
While Cairns may seem regional to folks not from around here, there have been many a collector and true-believer who have delivered rare or historically significant bikes to our door.
We’ve had the privilege of restoring a custom 1986 Ducati Bimota DB1; a 1986 Honda RC30; a rare imported Honda SP2; and many more. Keep an eye out for restoration projects on Facebook or AMAC News.
Got a project bike you’d love to restore?
See how we approach restoration projects in partnership with our customers, or connect with us to get started.
A Home for AMAC Motorcycles
We've found the perfect location and home for AMAC Motorcycles - come and take a look.
The hunt for the perfect location and workshop for AMAC Motorcycles took some time.
We wanted to get two criteria just right:
1. A location that's convenient for our customers; with
2. A workspace capable of fitting in all of AMAC's motorcycle services and equipment.
After several options were knocked back we found it: a massive shed with plenty of space for the workshop floor, a dyno performance testing corner, secure bike storage (coming soon), an outdoor space for future ‘bikes ‘n BBQ’ events, and the all important - bike gallery.
Though chomping at the bit to move in, the workshop first got a makeover - polished floors, a major clean up and beefed up security.
Our location at 165 McCoombe St, Bungalow means we're less than a 10 minutes easy walk to Stockland Earlville.
If you're dropping your bike in for a service or repair we offer pick ups and drop offs.
Have a look at what we put in the workshop!