About MotoVixens

Bike Update

February 24, 2014 By Carol Carpenter

Well it’s been a busy few weeks of eBay offers and orders, getting and replacing parts for the R6 to race this year not to mention the mad rush of drilling body work for the painter in anticipation of the first race. My boyfriend, Troy, has been invaluable in getting my bike race ready and KFG has been wonderful in rebuilding parts to make sure I can make the necessary improvements on the track. Troy will be racing his Suzuki 1000 this year and we have formed a racing team called White Tiger Racing with sponsorships including SLICK, Mantis, RideLiveBe, Impact Armor, Yoshimira Racing, Silkolene and Vortex to name a few. We are constantly working on more and are looking at GiMoto for suits and hopefully a helmet sponsor as well.

Many of you may not be aware, but this winter I started working with a coach doing voice overs and finally finished my demo in studio just a few weeks ago. So this truly has been a few very exhausting weeks! I hope all you Vixens have taken your baby out and let her purr or roar a bit, even though Mother Nature has been less than kind to us lately. She needs to get out and stretch a bit too! Check her over and make sure she’s ready to go, clean chain, change brake fluid, check the throttle to make sure it’s smooth and not sticky, go over her a bit and tighten any loose bolts and check tires/pressure. She’ll be ready to roll when you are!

Don’t forget there will be a Tire Seminar at the EuroMoto Show in Lynnwood this weekend…the only change is that it will be open to everyone and not just women. Hope to see you there!

I’ll be posting weekly and sometimes more, so stay warm Vixens and Ride!

PeachesMag.com

September 4, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

I recently had the privilege to write a post for www.peachesmag.com about my mission for MotoVixens. Palmer Davis, founder of peachesmag.com, was at the last Ducati Bellevue Women’s track event and did this brief video about our day. Peachesmag.com is a sexy site for women by women and their main focus is to empower women in every aspect of their lives. The following is the article I wrote:

A year ago, the idea of racing around a track would have seemed completely absurd and truth be told not even on my radar. Yet, here I am today not only racing in my novice year, but just getting my head around all the details of what it takes to be competitive. My introduction into motorcycling has been fairly current and it started as an escape, doing something that I feared, yet I knew would be empowering should I ever find that “zen” place so many motorcyclists speak of. There was something mysterious and intriguing about that and I started my journey only to seek that place of peace. Motorcycling was my escape from hardships I was facing, personal struggles that required and sucked every ounce of energy I had, it was the one place I could be that required full focus and concentration and forced me to leave all that “stuff” behind and be in the moment. Motorcycling helped me reconnect with myself and allowed me to see things differently, with more clarity and patience, it made me a better in every way.

I started with taking an MSF course, which I strongly suggest to anyone who wants to learn to ride, this will give you the “basics” of riding. However, those basics will only get you so far and won’t prepare you for the road conditions you face on a daily basis. I also encountered difficulty in finding gear and spent a great deal of time surfing the web and buying/exchanging items to find gear that actually fit. There are a few brands that carry gear for women, but they vary drastically depending on your body type and sizing is confusing. Male riders can pop into any shop and try things on, but women don’t have the same luxury since many stores don’t tend to carry much women’s gear, making it a challenge to find gear to try on for sizing purposes. Helmets tend to be easier, but boots and gloves are also an issue as most stores are limited in the sizes and styles they carry. Since I advocate all gear all the time, I bought whatever fit when I first started, but have since found which brands fit me best and tend to stick with those manufacturers. However, sizes do change from year to year, so what fits this year may not necessarily fit the next model year. Being female in a male dominated industry definitely does have its downsides. In my frustration, I decided to start a website for women riders, www.MotoVixens.com in hopes that uniting women riders would allow for us to one day have a larger voice in what we demand from manufacturers, schools, dealerships, etc.

I started the site as an educational resource with links to sites I found particularly helpful and had great success with in terms of gear, linked schools for continuing education and blogs pertaining to riding. I worked with Ducati Bellevue in hopes to open up an avenue for women riders to learn how to ride more competently and with more confidence. Since starting my website, we have been fortunate enough to collaborate with some of the best companies in the Pacific Northwest. Ducati Bellevue welcomed the idea with open arms and has been instrumental in hosting Women’s track schools in conjunction with their track days as well as clinics to educate women about their bikes. 2 Fast Motorcycle Instruction and Track Days has been responsible for the performance school provided by Ducati Bellevue for the Women’s Track Event. WMST is an instructional school that provides MSF, cornering classes, intermediate and advanced motorcycle training and I have since been certified as an On Street instructor (classes for women to be announced next year). In addition to the educational aspect of riding is also the technical and mechanical portion we tend to take for granted. Women riders face a greater range of issues from physical height and weight issues to not fully understanding proper maintenance of a motorcycle. We are only on two wheels, it is even more important for us to make sure those stay in contact with the road. Suspension is key to a secure ride, whether on street or on track. I would suggest that you have your bike setup to you to make your ride not only more comfortable, but safe. There is a resource page on my site that lists various companies that accommodate whatever needs you may have, take a moment to check it out and feel free to call them with your questions and concerns, they are always willing to help you any way they can.

My mission is be a strong voice for women riders, bringing their issues and concerns to those who can make the difference. This is why partnering with Ducati Bellevue and 2 Fast to provide a track school was so important…I hope in bringing events like this to women riders they walk away learning more than they could’ve imagined, sign up with their girlfriends, make new friends, gain confidence and feel empowered. The beauty of this event is that you can sign up as many times as you like and walk away with new knowledge every time. There is so much information being taught you couldn’t possibly digest it all in one day. I continue to learn something new every time I get on my bike, new ways to do things differently and more efficiently…turning, gear selection, positioning, etc. Take the school as often as you like, it can only make you a better rider and what can be better than that?

New York IMS Show

January 24, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

With John Ryan in Greenwich Village

What an exhausting and exciting show New York was to be a part of! I had heard that New York would be busy, but I had absolutely no idea that it would be so crowded that you couldn’t walk up work your way up an aisle without having to shove your way through. It had been about 20 years since my last trip there and the energy of the city keeps you going even though your body is screaming at you to stop. I met so many new people there and caught up with people I hadn’t seen for a while, this community (once joined) is so like family, I just love that. Meeting East Coast gals are awesome, no nonsense and very nice (unlike what you’ve heard), we spoke about MotoVixens and growing it nationwide as an online resource for all women riders. Not just with articles/blogs, but with a forum to communicate and to also have a classified section to allow riders to sell their motorcycles, gears and parts as well. If you haven’t checked it out, the forum and the classified sections were put into place just before the New York IMS Show.

With Trevor from CA Superbike School on last day of show

The individuals I met were so diverse, authors, consultants, artists, photojournalists, instructors, doctors, lawyers and an opera singer (yeah, that one surprised me too, she was a young blonde, totally threw me for a loop) and too many more to even name. What was so amazing is we share this common passion for our sport, we all love riding and that one common interest bonds us and makes us family in many aspects (how many drivers do you know would stop and help a fellow driver on the side of the road?). Knowing what we know about IMS shows, when potential customers see ladies working booths they think you are there to just sell and don’t ride (many don’t). It is so funny to watch how people treat you upon meeting you and assuming you don’t ride to talking to you and finding out you do, their expression and enthusiasm changes as they tell you about their bike(s). We know talking to someone who doesn’t ride is a bit like banging your head against a wall, you must be a rider to understand why we love the sport so much.

I worked with Rick Mayer of Rick Mayer Cycle and for you unfamiliar with him you should really check his website out www.RickMayerCycle.com, he makes custom seats for every bike. In fact I am considering riding down there to have one of my seats customized this spring/summer, just need to find something big enough to carry all my stuff I need (a girl still needs to look good off the bike). I had the privilege to meet John Ryan, a long distance rider who loves to break records, he went from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska to Key West, Florida (5,645 miles) in 86 hours and 31 minutes, beating the record by 9.5 hours. He is part of the Iron Butt Association, an organization which breeds members with incredible discipline, mental and physical endurance and challenges you to test your limits. I also met Melissa Pierson, the author of the book The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing: Long-Distance Motorcycling’s Endless Road, which is about John and this incredible journey. What is remarkable is that John is a type 1 diabetic and has to check his blood sugars regularly, imagine doing that and riding these types of distances. What it comes down to is determination and passion…I suppose that is why I love being a part of this slightly dysfunctional family, we may be quirky, but we all love the same thing.

It is winter, but I hope to see some of you out there, I’ve been doing it even in the freezing fog (not a shining moment as I questioned my sanity). So stay warm Vixens and just ride!

Happy New Year

January 2, 2013 By Carol Carpenter

My new track bike!

It has been a hectic holiday season for myself and so many others, so my sincere apologies for not posting a blog last week. On a last minute decision, I left town on a trip that would span 3 states and 2375 + miles (40+ hours of driving) to pick up a motorcycle trailer my brother gave me as a Christmas gift. On Christmas morning he sent me a text picture of it and said “Merry Christmas” and after discussing timing (it is rare he is even in town, he travels constantly), bit the bullet and told him I’d make the drive down to pick it up. There was also my mother’s china which I had the privilege of owning for so many years and had been waiting to become a part of his family. The china was too delicate to ship and would require me physically bringing it to him for it’s safe arrival so I could kill two birds with one stone. Mike’s birthday was on December 30th and I spoke to Kelly, my sister-in-law, in having a get together for him to celebrate. The timing of this trip was perfect in every aspect and I was looking forward to the solitude after such a tumultuous year.

It was an amazing visit with family, old friends and new, I got to ride with my brother for the very first time while test riding the Yamaha R6, my soon to be track/street bike (this was the memory I will treasure the most), through the streets of LA splitting traffic (he was very careful not to do it too often knowing it is illegal here). I knew that trailer was not coming back empty, my gut told me that I would find one while I was down there. Getting to spend time with Devon, my niece, and Kelly just talking and catching up and then learning everything there is to know about the trailer I now own.

I know my brother was concerned the first time I climbed on a motorcycle, he saw what every guy in my life saw, a little gal trying to control a beast of a machine. What was so empowering was the process, the knowing I could do it and not only just do it, do it remarkably well. The bonding moment I had with my brother that day is something I will remember for the rest of my life, the sheer joy we both had riding the streets together, watching the child come out in him as he popped wheelie after wheelie, the protective nature as we split traffic to make sure I was OK in his mirrors, it was exhilarating. Ending the year with this experience was very special to me. My brother and I have become closer through motorcycles, it is something we both love and can talk about, it is something we can share for many years to come and for that I am thankful.

Happy New Year everyone! I hope that this year brings everyone much love, happiness and good fortune. The new year symbolizes a fresh start, a clean slate to accomplish whatever you want and a chance to make amends. It is what you choose to make of it, so make it great!

About MotoVixens

October 30, 2012 By Carol Carpenter

MotoVixens was founded by Carol Carpenter after discovering that education and resources for women riders is not only difficult to find, but scattered throughout various online resources. Once a rider finishes their (BRC) Basic Rider’s Course and receives their endorsement, it’s basically up to you to put your seat time in and learn on the fly. The fact is that learning in a parking lot is no match to what you are about to encounter on the street. Women riders have a burning desire to learn and excel so it was only natural that MotoVixens was created to fulfill that need.

We are an online resource where you can learn about subjects women face as riders that can be quite diverse including websites that carry women’s gear, choosing motorcycles, riding schools (beyond the BRC), track days/schools, special offers for members, health and safety, links to special events (currently only in Seattle) and articles related to women and motorcycling.

Stay tuned as we work to include your state onto our website. We will not list or review any business unless we have attended or checked them out ourselves, when we tweet we are in your area and the business under review, please let us know your personal experience as it will sway our decision to list them on our site. This is your chance to help other women make well-informed decisions, have a voice and for businesses in this industry to be accountable for their actions. It is our mission to help empower women to become more confident and proficient riders one woman at a time. Our motto is Ride C.H.I.C. – Confident, Hard and In Control.

SO VIXENS, LET’S RIDE!!!!!

Carol T. Carpenter

Why MotoVixens was started…

October 3, 2012 By Carol Carpenter

Carol Carpenter

I started MotoVixens as a tool to empower women riders. While starting my company, I discovered many women riders knew very little about their motorcycles (including how to inspect their bikes before a ride) and how to make their motorcycles run optimally for them. As women, we need to make sure our motorcycles are setup to function properly under our weight and height (for those of us that are height challenged this is even more crucial). Please see our video with Brian Trudeau of FS2 under our blog posts.

There are also very few options for continuing education after the Motorcycle Safety Class where you receive an endorsement to operate a motorcycle. You can’t attend an intermediate class quite yet, since chances are you aren’t quite seasoned enough to be confident in that class, so now what? Private lessons are available, check with your instructors or contact different schools in your area and find out if they offer any. Ask other riders, they are incredibly friendly and will give you recommendations. Truly though, it is about practice, seat time and real life situations. I rode with others when I first started out on the street, having that added security helped me feel more comfortable while I was starting out. It is hard to transition from a parking lot to the street then to the freeway, there is so much to look out for and it requires your full attention. Don’t be hard on yourself, learn, ask questions, get educated (read, join a riding group or attend a riding school) like I did with California Superbike School (see blog).

In Seattle, WMST, has an On-Street course that takes students out on the road under the watchful eye of instructors. Each student is wired into a Bluetooth unit that they can hear their instructor with as they take you on the challenges of the road you will face every day, so check them out at www.gowmst.com and see all this school has to offer. WMST also offers women only classes so you not only learn, you can let your guard down and really have fun. Another option is also track days. Track days can be nerve racking, but we are currently working with track schools to put on “women’s only” days so that women can rule the track for a day without worrying about being cut off by men zipping around the track. This gives you even more opportunity to hone your skills or ask for help with lines, breaking and cornering speed.

I am the Ambassador for Women’s events for Ducati Bellevue (Bellevue, WA) and am working to offer day rides (in the spring and summer), maintenance events, track days and seminars with a hope someday Ducati will implement this program through their dealerships nationwide. Ducati Bellevue is one of the first to implement a program like this and I am honored to be a part of the Ducati family and their desire to educate women riders.

My wish is to help women not only learn the basics of their bikes (like how to change their air filter or oil filter) or what your checklist should be before going out for a ride, but to love riding so much that they want to know everything about it. We should educate ourselves so we can know our bikes inside and out, but at best knowing the basics is essential. Having that knowledge makes the ride more pleasurable and allows us to concentrate on the task at hand, enjoying our bikes, friends and the beautiful scenery. I am looking forward to many years of sharing my passion and helping women RIDE CHIC (Confident, Hard and In Control). See you all out there on the road.

Vixens Ride!

Carol T. Carpenter

How Did I Get Here?

September 25, 2012 By Carol Carpenter

Carol Carpenter

Have you ever pondered how you got where you are and then wondered number one, “How did I get here?” and then number two, “What the hell am I going to do now?” That was my dilemma when I divorced after 21 years with two teenage boys. As women, we sacrifice for the better of all and then when things don’t go as planned, we find we never considered a backup. I should’ve, could’ve suddenly doesn’t matter because you didn’t.

I threw myself into my passion for motorcycle riding and learning everything I could about riding techniques. I attended the CA SuperBike School, Level I & II in April 2012 to whet my appetite for conquering those dreaded corners. Then I took those concepts and applied them directly on the track and street. In July 2012, I went back and finished Level III & IV, in the numerous hours of riding I spent applying those techniques, the sense of accomplishment, the love of the sport in it’s purest form, I found myself. I joined riding groups, spent endless hours riding all over Puget Sound and I finally found my peace. Riding came to me at the most inopportune time, yet it became my saving grace.

Things happen for a reason, we may not fully comprehend what those reasons may be, but it seems to always work out. You just have to have passion, surround yourself with amazing individuals and persevere. Riding and helping women riders is and continues to be my passion. As any woman rider will tell you this is a male dominated industry. We are after thoughts, we don’t have the same access to gear, products and information as men do and as a result it makes it incredibly intimidating to not only learn how to ride, but ride confidently. I hope that my website can help you find what you need and give you valuable information in one easy to navigate site. It is my goal to continuously work at bringing you the latest information, update reviews and resources as quickly as I can, in order to help you make informed decisions and improve the enjoyment of your ride.

I say we Vixens need to stick together and Ride C.H.I.C. (Confident, Hard and In Contol). Hope to see you out there on the road.

Carol T. Carpenter