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
