I recently came across this article in the LA Times and I am stunned that women are being relegated to “girl” bikes, what an absolute insult to our intelligence and abilities. Those of us that have chosen to ride, ride on guy bikes, plain and simple. There are no bikes scaled down for women, so why put us on the less powerful 250cc – 350cc bikes? What a complete put down. Sure 9 out of 10 motorcyclists is a male, but does that mean that we can’t or shouldn’t ride? NO! If anything, as women we have always had to overcome these prejudices, it is just a fact. What we can do is empower women to become better riders, give them the information they need to make decisions, educate and give them options, encourage them and remind them they can do whatever they want.
Read the LA Times article here
Many women want to ride, yet they always tell me that bikes are too tall, too heavy, too scary, etc… So let me tell you that I am what they term “vertically challenged”. I am 5’4″ tall and I have found solutions to my “shortcomings” because for me there was never any question what types of motorcycles I wanted to ride. I presently ride a 2012 Ducati Monster 696, I have ridden the BMW S1000RR’s mostly on my tiptoes and a Ducati 848 EVO that was equipped with lowering links (on the balls of my feet). I don’t look at these challenges as problems, it just requires more creative tweaking. The desire to learn just has to be there and the mindset to overcome these minor challenges. Don’t let others put doubt into your mind (i.e. that bike is too heavy too powerful for you, etc.), educate yourself, practice, persevere. I knew I wasn’t a confident rider when I started so I fixed that, I researched and then attended a track school (track schools are not just for people who want to race, they are for everyone). It was the best investment I ever made, I made that investment in me, I am a mother, sister and aunt, I want to enjoy my sport without fear. Fear comes from being uneducated, so educate yourself and be a confident rider, you are worth that investment.
Read the LA Times article here
As for the motorcycle world, we can’t change Rome in a day. It will require many more years before manufacturers will listen, but they will if we express our grievances in numbers. When 9 out of 10 riders is male, we are small potatoes even though we are growing in number every year. Be patient things will change, we can be part of that change and pave the way for future women riders everywhere. I love liter bikes, I love the raw power, but I have yet to find one that fits me perfectly (I’d give to touch the ground on the balls of my feet). Maybe that will happen someday, but for now it forces me to be a better rider than a male counterpart who does not even have to consider all the issues I must overcome just to ride that same bike. Women riders are a special group of people, we don’t complain, we do. It is up to us to speak out and tell the industry what women want because I don’t know about you, but I would like to see more adjustability in suspension, more dealerships offer free setup, more knowledge in helping women enjoy their rides. Let’s make them start thinking for us, that is how we can get the ball rolling. But in the meantime, Vixens, let’s ride!
Read the LA Times article here
Carol T. Carpenter
