This topic deserves a book not a post, but it keeps turning up, so let’s open this up to all of you. I’m curious what the women have to say. A comment yesterday from Hanny over in the Netherlands said manufacturers should take more notice of women riders. I’ve thought about that before but what should they do?
Motorcycle clothing companies are moving a lot more aggressively to capture that market, Joe Rocket and Icon certainly emphasize their women’s riding gear, cut differently and lots of colors and patterns for women only yet all of the same protection found in a man’s jacket. Harley Davidson has always had a women’s line, too, with very distinctive clothing. Some women want that but others prefer to look the same as the guys. Helmets and boots follow the same pattern, though the difference is really only color and women can get identical items that appear exactly alike.
What about the motorcycle itself? What exactly is a woman’s motorcycle? I suppose it would be one that has slightly shorter dimensions, lower seat height, less reach to the bars, recalibrated suspension but exactly the same in every other way. Women like colors much the same as a man, would any of you women really want a pink motorcycle? That draws attention to the “Look here, woman rider” idea but what if she likes black or red or any other color and just enjoys riding like anyone else?
The problem is some women want to ride and be accepted as just another rider, enjoying the sport and sharpening their skills, taking in the scenery or getting a knee down, just like the guys. However, some women want everyone to know it’s a woman riding this bike, probably the same ones who prefer the pastel jackets and special patterns. Both views are equally valid, but which one is in the majority? Let’s also not forget the women who ride behind their husband or boyfriend and are perfectly happy doing so.
If a company decides to manufacture clothing or motorcycles aimed at women riders, there’s a good chance they’ll satisfy some, not satisfy others and even offend a few. How can they safely wade into this territory? The best thing is to ask and that’s what I’m doing here. What do women riders want in clothing, equipment and motorcycles? C’mon ladies, let’s hear what you have to say.
Mary-Ann says
All I would like is lighter bikes. Maybe two-strokes? Although my boyfriends RGV250 is no lighter than the RSV Mille my dad used to have.
Other than that I’m not bothered about colours because I like pink but I also like lots of other colours too.
Carol says
I researched bike weights before shopping for what was locally available. My next elimination requirement was reach to the handlebars. The third requirement was being able to pull in the levers, surprisingly a lot failed this test. Seat height isn’t as big an issue now that a lot of bikes sit low. Color has never been an issue with me, although given a choice I would buy something red. I ended up with a 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 750, black with gray teardrop and red trim. I would love to have red leathers but couldn’t find any that were reasonably priced so I have black. I have a bigger issue with the fact that I can’t find anything that has the Kawasaki name on it to wear. My local dealer doesn’t carry anything.
Marjolijn says
I’m a tall girl so I don’t really need different specs in bikes. I would like to have more choise in clothing. More length for my arms and legs, or a racesuit to fit.
I must admit I like a pink bike, but maybe because only a few girls have it. When all girls are riding a pink bike, there’s no fun in it any more.
But the main thing I want, is just ride a bike and enjoy!
Elaine says
I am a tall girl too, so bike size isn’t an issue for me. I don’t have my lisence yet, but have been riding 2-up with my hubby and absolutely love it, so I will be taking the course this coming spring and looking for my first bike shortly after. I do want people to know that I am a female rider, but I am also as daring and skill oriented as the next guy. Can’t wait to get a knee down.
Being a woman I tend to go for looks and would love a pink and silver bike. Ever since I started getting interested in riding I’ve searched for an all white sport bike (or even almost all white would suffice, but the contrasting color would have to be silver or light grey, none of this red or blue or yellow or black crap) with no luck. (Love the Ducati’s, but they are slightly out of my price range.) This year’s GSXR 600 is the closest I’ve found that would suit my tastes. My favorite bike is the CBR 600 (which is what I will be looking for this summer, probably in black). Can I get that in white please? Pink and silver would be to die for.
*sigh* Guess I’ll have to save my pennies for some custom painting.
Anyway…
I’ve been wearing a red Joe Rocket nylon & leather jacket, but that’s only because I couldn’t find anything else that fit. I’m seriously eyeing some of the more feminine pink/white jackets from Icon, however my current jacket has good armor in it and most of the new stuff I’ve been looking at for women doesn’t have (without having to buy an armor vest and/or guards). Are safety and esthetics so hard to combine???
And helmets?! I love Icon’s Mainframe Kitty, and will definitely get it if I buy the matching jacket and chaps, but it would be nice to have a wider selection.
Yes, I am as feminine as they come. 🙂
Shelly Barry says
I just finished a training course and am looking for my own bike. I’m small, so I’m having trouble finding a lightweight bike that I’d be comfortable with. As for color, I would like pink, but my husband (halfway jokingly) said he wouldn’t ride with me and a pink bike! My second choice is white, but it’s hard to come by. As for attire, a wider selection and color would be great!
chasey says
Well i’m quite small and I have found few bikes that i’m comfortable on. I love my honda shadow 125. I want a pink paint job and pink leathers and anything else but I’d probably end up looking like lady penelope. I love riding and i love pink and I think that motorcycles and femininity can mix. I manage it. But there isn’t a LOT of choice out there for riders like me.
Seray says
Hi ladies!
I am only 5’4″, but my Yamaha ’03 R6 fits just right! We girls have longer legs than the guys, and a shorter torso than men. I tried out many different [sport] bikes, and felt at home on the Yamaha. Honda CBR’s were next best, but Suzuki
I don’t go in for frills – no pink paint or baby blue fringe for me. My black and silver baby looks quite nice flying down the highway. I spent a bit of money on a better exhaust and injection system, pivot kit and light integrator, but I felt all that was necessary to keep me from spending more money on an R1 this year.
I am a truly feminine girl with a need to ride seriously with the boys. I do, however, proudly sport a purple boot protector over my high heeled Tims and I would like to know why jacket designers seem to forget that we have chests to be accounted for. Fieldsheer seems to fit better than the rest. Forget Joe Rocket if you are looking for a leather jacket unless you are only an ‘A’. My biggest pet peeve is the glove situation. I really struggle to find gloves that fit my short fingers and don’t look dorky. Alpinestar and Icon are O.K., but the little fingers are still and inch too long ??? Oh, well.
Actually, as fashion conscious as most women are, why don’t bike clothing/accessory designers capitolize upon it? In general, the men have most of the cool stuff and we have to struggle to find something that just fits and looks O.K. Perhaps one day I will have the money to open my own clothing line. (Not! Chemistry is my game.)
The important part is that we women are out there to stay. Stay safe!
Wendy Snoke says
I’m a mother of 4 and just took up riding last summer. I’m 5.5 and about 120lbs. So I’m not little or big. I looked at a ton of bikes and talked to plenty of people before purchasing a motorcycle. I finally talked to a really nice girl about my height and weight. She really helped me. I would suggest talking a a woman who has a similar life style to your own. Men kept telling me to buy a Rebel, but I found it to be small. I ened up with a Sportster 883 Low. I went with the low because my strength is in my legs and not my arms. I just got rid of those mid controls and went with the forward controls. Much better for those long rides. You can stretch your legs out more.
As far as clothing, I don’t want to look like a “Harley Mama”. I would like things to be for fitted. I want people to know I am a woman. It would be nice to have some varity in motorcyle wear. Most don’t want people wondering if they are a male or female….
Tammi says
I’m a 5’10” woman who rides her own and I’m becoming thoroughly frustated, as well, with the limited feminine choices in jackets. I too love fuschia/pink and consider myself somewhat of a girly girl, too.
That said, I would be extremely happy if I could find female riding gear that:
1) accomodated my long limbs.
2) Accounts for the possibility of a woman with broader shoulders. Include a Petite, tall and plus-sized line. One size does NOT fit all! And an American size 14 is not by any means, XL, silly boys!
3) Had feminine appeal: colors & function, i.e. protective armor
4) Not overpriced.
I think there’s a good choice of bikes for the tall woman but the shorter woman has a valid complaint there.
It will take more women getting together to design & created these products themselves. It’s an avenue I’ve been considering if I could just find more info on how to begin a clothing line.
We won’t be happy till it’s women “for women, by women”.
Pat says
When it comes to clothing, I want comfort! On long rides, I want to be warm, dry and have nothing binding or pinching or creeping. It also needs to keep my skin attached, should something happen. Fashion is of little interest… but being seen by other drivers, is.
I want a bike that is comfortable on the long rides… the sporty and I get along, but at highway speeds, the vibration becomes annoying. Once a bike is moving, how big/heavy it is becomes less important relative to your skill level… it’s only an issue when backing up or picking it up. The latter of which usually isn’t a problem, with most bikers willing to help lift. (and don’t let guys give ya attitude about choosing a bike based on weight… I know very few guys that can lift a 600-700lb bike on their own!)
My next purchase will be a big twin w/room to store my “stuff,” extra lighting, heated grips, narrow enough seat and short enough footboards to allow me to be comfortably flat-footed on the ground… and, one I can back up w/o assistance.
A word of caution if you want a sportster… they are top-heavy. Women have more lower-body strength and sportsters require upper-body strength. Consider a low-rider; the weight is distributed better and the rake is much better than a sporty. (any big twin has better weight distribution than the sporty) Test ’em both; you’ll be surprised at the difference in handling. Sport bikes out handle Harley’s as they are designed differently… but if you want the Harley experience, buy a Harley.
The bike you choose should be based on the kind of riding you expect to be doing and YOUR comfort, not what someone else thinks you should buy.
If a dealer won’t let you road-test, take your money somewhere else!
Pay Attention~Ride safe.
Shuree says
I probably ride longer, and harder in the most crowded southern california traffic and streets than any other girl rider in a 500 mile radius. I ride a 2005 Suzuki Bandit 1200. After 8 yrs of riding, and an average daily commute of some 100 miles, and 5 hits on both highway and intersection, I can tell you. THEY TREAT YOU DIFFERENT WHEN THEY KNOW YOU ARE A GIRL!!! I am SO SICK of wearing ill fitted mens gear, I am SICK of not being able to find all of my girly pink stuff, and still be as protected as Joe Blow in the crotch rocket beside me!! While I can and do ride circles around MOST male riders around me, I have NO desire to be their equal. EACH time the general public can see (when I am dress-geared down) that the 5ft3 180 curvy figure on the bike is a WOMAN…they MOVE out of the way quicker, and are alot less aggressive toward my bike driving between lanes and doing other things that only a motorcycle can get away with in heavy bumper to bumper traffic. Besides…just once I want to hear “HEY watchit B@#$H! Instead of “Hey! Watchit A$$@#$E!” at least I could feel like a real LADY that way!!
Jenn says
Glad the Southern California folk know the difference; here in the Southeast (GA) the purple butterfly patch on my leathers might get me run over!
Ladies– find a seamstress. I sew when I don’t ride. I sewed “gussets” into my leather jacket to make it flare over my hips, and since I’m “only” an A, (thanks Seray), that was all I needed. The clothing companies should hook us up, but if they won’t, then do what it takes to ride.
You don’t need to be flat-footed at the stoplights for the bike to fit. As long as the ball of one foot can touch down, you have control. Don’t be scared and get a little under-powered bike and regret it. That being said, of my 3 bikes (’03 Harley Dyna, ’02 BMW R1150RT, and ’92 Honda Nighthawk 750), I find the 4-cylinder chain-drive Honda to be my all-around favorite.
For years I made sure I looked like a guy on a bike, even tucked my braided hair under my leathers, so nobody would pick on me. Five years later, it doesn’t matter. I’m out there for the speed, the wind, the exhilaration, and never mind what Joe Blow thinks on his Harley or his Duck or his Cement Mixer truck. You’re gonna pass ’em anyway, right? Except maybe the Duck.
Gear for the ladies? You bet! At 5’7″ and 150 lbs, I found a summer textile “San Jose” jacket by Power Trip that I just had to have. Other than that, I modify leathers to suit me. If you have long nails (I don’t) check out TourMaster gloves, men’s size Medium or Small. I also just discovered that TourMaster boot rain covers actually work, and keep me dry.
My only experiences with women who wore pink leathers led me to avoid all colored leather at any expense; very dangerous riders! Glad you fuschia and baby blue girls are out there somewhere, proving me wrong!
Pat had it right–Sportsters are not for the average female build! If you want a comfortable Harley go check out the Road King, I love my Dyna FXDX too, harder to scrape the hard parts on that.
I gave up on “real-world” women’s rider gear years ago, so I am constantly surprised by new stuff designed just for us. I’ll still sew my own, but now with a butterfly patch just ’cause I like it! Hard-riding women are out there, I just know it (cause I sure don’t see them here), and when they spend money on gear that works, all the back-seat passengers will be onto it, and then it will take off!
Don’t lose heart, ladies. It’s already coming around. Just keep riding, do whatever it takes to keep riding.
Jenn (Augusta, GA)
Norma Jean says
Hi everyone, how is the riding? Well I have always leaned toward anything daring and non-traditional when it comes to being a woman- indeed I was somewhat of a tomboy growing up. I would climb trees, scavenge in the jungle, go off road bicycling, and pretty much anything that required movement in the outdoors.
However, I wonder if it was to compensate for my shortness and slimness. At 5 feet and 100 lbs, my stature screams well “TINY”, but I love to ride. I am still new in the riding arena. I have only been riding for 3 years, but boy do I love to ride. I started riding because of my husband. In fact, he chose the bike for me, and the gear, too. That being said, I pretty much look like a tiny version of my husband.
My main concerns as a female rider include: the size and variety of clothing for riding, and the height of the bike. You see as much as I was a tomboy growing up, I love my femininity now. Hold the pink stuff unless it were understated. Though I have noticed ICON and JOE ROCKET carrying more women clothing it doesn’t do much for me because of my petite frame I swim in it which, doesn’t go well with me because I DO want to advertise my femininity. Thus, as mentioned above, women come in all shapes and sizes so it would be nice to see clothing lines reflecting that. Personally, I prefer less frilly looking and more form fitting clothing (especially the jeans and the tapering of jackets) that offers PROTECTION as well.
As for the bike, I have a Virago 250, and it is a great first bike. The height and the overall handling of the bike works well for me. Even still, I intend to upgrade to a bike with more power and speed. Overall, I would try any bike as long as the HEIGHT is compatible with mine.
Nina Austin says
Well I am a 5’6, 120pd., sportbike rider. I ride an 05 GSXR 600. I love it! I hate the way the leathers are made. Female gear is made for female passengers, not female riders! It’s uncomfortable and never fits right! I wish there was a company that make custom leathers for females for a reasonable price! The bike is not a problem at all. My bike is not lowered, I tip toe and yes I can even pick it up if I happen to wreck it! I don’t know what to do! I want to look good and feel good in my leathers! HELP!!!
Felicia says
Hey girls, Joe Rocket has a new 06 line of clothing out that may help some of us. I’m 5’9..160lbs , I ride an 03 Hayabusa and love to ride wit the boys. I’m not down with the pink but do like nice neutral colors that actually fit.
Gina NYC says
Wow, lots of interesting comments here, but I’m short and want to ride a BIG bike – and by that, I mean a 140 hp monster of a machine….unfortunatley, at 5’2″, it makes it tough to ride something w/a 33″ seat height! All the boys keep telling me when I have more experience (i’ve been riding a ’04 kawi vulcan 500ltd (ninja engine) and a ’03 ducati monster 620cc (lowered a full 2 inches and it bottoms out as a result) that I should have no problem w/tippy-toeing one of these, but I don’t feel confident about that.
As for clothes – forget about it! I’m curvy and tiny – a lot of the women’s xs don’t fit me b/c my chest is too big, my waist too tiny, my hips too wide and my arms too small – the sport gear does not cinch down small enough to not flap in the wind. It’s frustrating and infuriating – the guys have all this gorgeous stuff and we’re left w/biker biotch clothes (sorry, not into heavy metal) or girly backseat wear(I learned to ride b/c of that stupid t-shirt – I DID NOT FALL OFF!)….none of which has any protection!
So on the pink – no way – I don’t own anything pink and haven’t since my mom stopped dressing me, but I am still a girly-girl and would like flattering gear. As for being known as a woman on a bike – I get props from the boys in the city b/c it takes a lot to brave nyc on a motorcycle, but on the highways in the suburbs, the jerks in the beemers think it’s flirting to chase you (on the duc, I can easily ditch ’em, the kawi is another story – until i get over 100mph – teehee).
So the long and short of it is that the boys get the long and we girls the short of it. I’d like a 1000 cc sport bike w/a 28′ seat height, and the same clothes the guys get (b/c I want the same protection too!), but cut for the curves of a woman’s body. I have talked to everyone I know about starting my own company and when I hit the lottery, look out, cauz’ there’ll be a new dog in town – and she’ll have the scent of a woman.
Becca says
BOOTS!! That’s what I want. I want to have a men’s looking boot, like the race boot style but in women’s sizes.
NO PINK!! Just because I’m female doesn’t mean my only choice of colors should be pink or baby blue. Thank you Alpinestars for my new Stella T-Dyno jacket in black & grey.
GLOVES!! I’ve seen this on a couple of other posts. I would like gloves that fit but have full protection with kevlar and carbon fiber. Especially the hard knuckle protection of carbon fiber like my husband’s gloves.
BIKE — I’m very, very happy with my Ducati Monster 620. At 5’3″ this bike fits me perfectly. However, it would be nice to have a choice in the Japanese sport bikes. They’re all too tall for me. I don’t want special paint jobs with pink and flowers. I think that’s ridiculous. I want the same paint choices and performance choices as the guys. Just a lower seat height.
Even though we don’t all agree on the colors, I’m so glad to see other women riders!! YEAH!!
Lisa in Cleveland Ohio says
Great to read the posts by all the othe women riders out there!
I agree, we need stuff that fits! I’m nearly 6 feet tall and all the womne’s riding jackets have 3/4 sleeves! HA! I find myself looking at men’s jackets, just to cover my long arms! But then they are too big elsewhere!
A great website to check out is http://www.she-rides.com Great clothing and helpful, just no “talls” for us girls!
In terms of the newer riders out there, making their first bike selection: I bought a used Suzuki Intruder VS800. It has a low center of gravity and has been a TERRIFIC bike to learn on, after attending Motorcycle Ohio in 2004. I love that bike! Only 450 pounds too.
Marpesia says
Hmmm….interesting topic. I started riding six months ago on a Kawasaki Ninja 250. I liked it because I could “flat-foot” and that gave me a feeling of security. i sold the bike yesterday because I am ready to move up to something with just a bit more power. i am headed over to Kawasaki to purchase a new Ninja 650. It is light and the seat heigt is such that I can still stand “flat-foot.” Now comes my gripe…..CLOTHING! Can I just get something that looks kewl that fit’s and comes in something other than pink? I have strong arms (I play tennis) and most cute jackets are so tight in the arms it is insane! I like pink….but I want to choose pink because I want to…not because I have to. Forget riding pants….ugly, ugly, ugly! I want something with protection that looks cute! But other than that….I love riding!
Tee says
Nice topic, interesting comments. It has been 11 years since I have officialy started riding motorbikes. I’ve ridden small, medium and really big bikes, ultra sharp sportbikes, supermotards, softenduro and naked ones. I have come to realize that the fact of female riders being small, petite, tiny or whatever you may call it, really doesn’t stop determined girls from riding fast, well and safe (with a lot of practice ) ….but in those 10 years I have realized also (maybe I’m getting to close to the age of 30.) that I no more have the desire or patience to waste my time with heavy, tall bikes– sure they are great bikes to ride – agile, and not at all heavy during riding. But which normal girl/woman with no masochistic tendencies wants to break her back with a big, heavy bike every single ride through the city where the heavy bike becomes even heavier. I wish fore more light and high-tech soft enduro and supermoto bikes – not necessarily with lower seats, since the mass of the bike is the biggest issue, not the height of the seat (although I’m only 165 cm tall – or should I say small?).
JoAnne says
What is it with the pink thing???? Pink is for little girls in my opinion – but to each thier own i guess.
Personally, what I would like to see more of is better sizing in the womens gear – I am a small person…short legs, short arms, and short fingers! 🙂 invariably i find gloves that fit the palm great but are way to long in the finger!
Something i would like to see would be helmets meant for a woman – our foreheads are shaped differently than mens, therefore the helmet doesnt sit the same on us as on a man – can get rather uncomfortable on a long ride.
Jessica says
Being a latin women, I have the J. Lo thing going on (big hips, big gluteous maximus!) and a short stature (only 5′ 2″). Most of the women jackets I have purchased are to snug at the hips and to long on the arms. I usually have to buy Med or Lge and the arms end of being to long. Now the jackets are coming with the zippers at the hips or adjustable waist bands, which helps one problem but doesn’t help the arm situation.
Also, the problem I come across with my short fingers and women’s gloves. I still having about a 1/2 inch to an inch of play at the tips of the fingers, though the palms fit right.
Another problem with short hands is reach for the levers…since I live in the city it’s alot of stop and go and your hands start cramping after a while.
As for bikes, I have a Suzuki GSXR 600 which was lowered and works great for me height wise. It seems like a lot to complain about, but doesn’t take away from my passion of riding.
Color wise….I like the pink jackets, helmets, etc. are very cute, but then again can’t picture wearing them. I’ll be the typical women and coordinate the gear with the bike!
Coleen says
I would love to have a pink motorcycle! I have found a pink motorcycle jacket, halter, and even chaps! I’m still looking for pink motorcycle boots though. I love the color pink, but I also love motorcycles and it doesn’t really appear that the two go together…yet!! I have rode on the back with my husband and on my own both, either way I want to be seen as a woman. I don’t care if people think I’m a girly-girl and if they are offended by a color then I feel sorry for them that are so close minded.
Beth says
Don’t they know that pink is the hottest color out there? It’s the new blue!
All i want is a Pink Harley!
Abby says
I don’t have a problem with the bike or the clothing. I ride a customized H-D Softail Standard I’ve owned for 5 years. I don’t stand flat footed when I’m stopped, but it doesn’t bother me. I have control of the bike. I feel like my motorcycle is a part of me. I’ve had people pull up next to me at lights and comment on how comfortable and relaxed I look. I like people to know I’m a woman, but I don’t have to dress special for that.
I have a few clothing items I can’t live without, and my leather jacket is not one of them. I bought one of the Gore-Tex fleece jackets from H-D. It’s expensive (around $130), but it’s worth its weight in gold. It’s an amazing windbreaker. It’s also not over branded like most of H-D’s stuff, so anyone can wear it. H-D also sold a corduroy coat a couple of years ago that is extremely comfortable in cooler temps, especially with the fleece jacket I mentioned under it. It has great arm movement, unlike a leather. I like the corduroy jacket because it doesn’t look hard-core biker chick, but it’s very effective. I also love my lined leather chaps. Don’t know the brand; I picked them up at swapmeet. The one thing that I can’t seem to find to fit well is a rainsuit. It seems they are either made to fit guys or very small women. I don’t have a problem with the top half, but I can’t get pants that fit to save my life. I also hate that rain pants are so hard to get in and out of that I usually wait until it’s too late.
Andrea says
Hi Ladies,
Glad to see more women on the road these days. I’ve been riding sports bikes and touring bikes for 31 years and to say I’m sick of not being able to get good bike gear that fits is an understatement. I also don’t like being mistaken for a guy on the road. In Australia, if they see you’re a woman on a bike, they take more notice therefore; you’re safer. Being visible is being safe. I get my gear custom made with all the proper armor and in bright colors to help unobservant car drivers see me.
We are getting more women sports riders, so we need proper women’s sports riding gear. With that I mean sports boots too. A lot of our stuff comes form overseas so one day some smart person is going cash in on this new market.
I’m tall and been riding big heavy machines for years, so I don’t have too much trouble riding what ever I like but other women don’t have these advantages. I’ve watch many women riders struggle to find a bike that they can put their feet flat on the ground and feel comfortable with the weight. If you only want a small bike that’s fine but once you get up into the bigger bikes, smaller people don’t have much to choose from. They have to stretch over a big tank to reach the bars and then levers are may not adjust down enough. The other thing we’ve notice is that a lot of bike seats are as hard as rock and twice as comfortable. I get my seats custom made to suit my bony butt. If you haven’t noticed, a women’s derriere is shaped different too.
Guys if you want more ladies to enjoy this sport with you, cater for us more and you’ll be surprised at what we can do. It’s a tall order but are you up for the challenge?
Dawn says
Like so many of the other riders out there, I too wish they made clothing that FIT PROPERLY in girly colors. And in sizes meant for real world women. I wear a 16 and my pink leather jacket is a 3X. In a men’s world I would only be a Large, not even an XL.
I love pink and pastels and I ride a silver 600 cc Honda Shadow with pink and black saddlebags. I even have a pink jacket, even though it doesn’t fit the best, it seems to be cut for the passenger, not the rider. But it’s much more visible than the black or darker colors, and I want to be seen, not run over.
I’m a woman and proud of it. I don’t want to look like the biker babes, I want to look like me, feminine, but with the full protection of real biker wear.
Chantale says
I would love to have a black bike with pink detail in it (not too much just like stenciled lines or something) but a whole pink bike I think would maybe be a bit much…
Charlotte Wolfe says
I am one of those women who want others to know a women is riding a bike, and want it in a color that suites me. I don’t think it would be a pink one though, probably purple or mauve.
Also, I want to start a type of motorcycle training school. Here is MI I’ve already contacted the Secretary of State about my idea.
Any takers?
kneeslider says
Charlotte,
What type of motorcycle training school? Specifically for women? If so, what makes it different?
J. says
Yes…I would love a pink bike. Just got my permit, but have been riding with my boyfriend on his bike. Just ordered my pink helmet and other pink accessories. I am considered a “strong black woman”–whatever that means, but believe a woman can be strong, feminine, assertive…all at the same time. Pink is the ultimate symbol of femininity, and any female biker who can sport a pink bike and “ride like a man” can get the respect of any biker, driver, etc.
Bekkstar says
I bought a yellow ducati monster 620ie last September (my second bike now), and had her custom resprayed a gorgeous sparkly hot pink in March this year. She’s got a silver GT stripe from front to back and stylised ‘ducati’ on the tank with a silver star above the ‘i’ instead of a dot.
I picked up a light pink, sparkly M2R helmet in March aswell, and am so looking forward to some custom leathers next year in (what else) pink., or maybe Joe Rocket Trixie leathers in pink and white….
……….i love to ride, love the speed, love the noise and the rumble of the remus performance pipes on my duc, and i love being super feminine too……
MichailS says
I know my GF has these opinions:
– Brake & clutch grips that fit smaller hands.
– Bikes other than gliders with low seat height so she can reach the ground.
– Light bikes that can be lifted by smaller people. Preferrably featuring handles that can be gripped.
– STOP ASSOCIATING BIKE RIDING WITH BIKINI-CLAD BIMBOS! Why the hell would a woman want to be a biker, when all she seems to be to the biker community is tits and ass?
Every time I speak of the lack of woman-bikes with pals, they invariably mention one ugly, slow and boring bike that would be “woman-friendly”. Thing is, why should women settle for ONE blasted bike out of a thousand? They have wallets just like men do!
Biking is like computer gaming. When you ask the manufacturers why there are so little games for women, they answer that it is because there are so few women playing games. When you ask women why they don’t play games they anwer that there are no games that appeal to them. One side has the money and the other wants it – but you don’t se the latter go after it. Strange, that.
When my GF took up riding, I went with her to a shop where she had a long look at a Bandit but reckoned that the handle grips didn’t fit her short fingers. When she asked the salesman if there were any after-market gear to swap to he just shrugged and went off. That’s kind of a strange way to approach a customer, but quite emblematic for every bike shop I have seen during my 17 years and 6 bikes of riding. >_
Christy says
GIVE ME HOT PINK EVERYTHING for my black ’05 Honda 600rr… I want to make sure people know that I am a woman and it is MY bike 🙂 (not some guy who let me borrow it)
I want hot pink accessories like decal stickers and things like oil caps, knobs, lights, etc
WHERE IS THE PINK???????
Angela McIntosh says
I am 53 yrs old and about 5ft8in tall. My husband bought the first bike of my own for Christmas of 2004. It was a Honda 750 Spirit. This was a great starter bike. They offer some different custom looking paint jobs. Just the right height and weight for a woman. However, for long highway rides the small bikes beat you up. I just traded up to a 1300VTX Honda about 2 months ago. What a difference. It would not have been a good bike to begin with, but now I love it. Smooth on the road , smooth shifting. Much more comfortable..
And, yes , my husband is going to custom paint it this winter. Pink!
Zayna says
Hi,
I bought my first bike last Nov, a Harley Davidson 2004 Sporster 883 with Flat Black paint and straight bars. I have transformed her into one of the most Stunning Bikes on the road, just yesterday a guy riding a Harley took a look at her and nearly dropped his bike. Yes..she is PINK (Magenta). I also had the handlebars changed for an easier reach and lowered. One of the biggest changes I made as far as getting lower was a Custom Seat. I took the seat to an upholstery shop in town and had him scoop about 2 1/2 inches out, bring the sides in (to bring my legs closer) so my legs dropped down and added to the back, so it holds me forward where I should be and keeps me from sliding off the back. The cost was about $150.00, but Well worth it. my feet are flat on the ground and my knees Bent. I am 5’4 1/2 in and 125 lbs and I have no trouble riding her or keeping her balanced while stopping. The Sportster is just a Fun Bike to ride.
As far as the clothing….it does take some effort, I live in LA, so Melrose or Hollywood has great Goth stores with some pretty sexy leather and lace stuff. The internet has sites with some of the same stuff. I don’t want to be a Harley Davidson Clone…so I mix it up!
Courtney says
i have been riding dirtbikes for about 8 years, i am 16 and just got my bike licance. i know im going to take lessons and all, but im curious about what to look for in a bike. what should the weight be, or the hight.
im in need of some assitance
but this whole pink thing i must say i do not agree, but to each there own
Court
tgif says
Hi, I am in my late 40’s and I am sure I talk for a lot of women out there what they want on a bike. As a women gets older unfortunately we start getting sore joints and some bone density starts getting thinner. (called, women’s changed of body). Anyhow, it would be nice to have a bike that doesnt vibrate as much or not at all if possible. and a comfortable seat that holds our back since our bodies are in changing mode. Handle bars cant be too far but closer to our body or something comfy. So basically I would say a bike that doesnt vibrate too much and low enough so we can put both feet on the ground perfectly…
cheers
tgif
Joyce says
I know pink isn’t for everyone but I like pink. I don’t want to be confused for a male rider or have anyone think I’m just borrowing my boyfriend’s bike. I like the added respect I get because I’m a female rider.
I want (pink) gear that shows off my figure but also protects me. I guess I’m “lucky” because my chest is smaller and I have long fingers for gloves. Even with this my gear still feels like I’m wearing a guy’s jacket. I also wish it was easier to find things in softer colors.
Korin says
This will be my third riding season this year. I started out on a Suzuki sv650s, because they were able to lower it and I could reach the levers. I am only 5′ so I felt limited by all the guy riders flying by. Last month, I upgraded to a ’06 gsxr 750, I AM LOVING IT!! My fiance has a hayabusa and now I am starting to get some respect from his male friend riders. I wish I could walk into a store and choice from a wide variety of items. There may be three different type of gloves, two shirts and a handful of riding jackets. I flip through the books and still settle! If I want a t-shirt that represents my bike, I have to either settle for a man’s small or get a ladies that just says suzuki. I just want companies to recognize there are more women riders and understand that our body dimensions are different from men, customize a line for women, designed for women. As for pink, I have never been a pink type of girl, I always loved blue, but it would be nice to be able to have the choice available whatever your preference is!
Edith says
I like light motorcycles that get good fuel mileage. I have a pink 1959 Harley 165 Hummer that I have owned for decades and it is a great bike. Although it is a two cycle, it gets 90 miles per gallon on the highway. The tires are a little worn and cracked, but still grips the road (except when it’s raining).
Pam says
I’m 5’8″ and ride a HD Street Glide. It’s true that it takes upper body strength to handle a bike that heavy, but I have found that being “centered” really helps. The best way to get yourself prepared is through yoga. I agree that the arms are never long enough on jackets and mostly the style is not long enough in the body.
I know it gives a sexy slim look to be shorter and tapered at the waist, but it’s more important to keep the wind out! I’m not a girly girl, so I’m not looking for anything pink. I do feel a little safer cause more people notice a girl on a bike, especially a cobalt blue Street Glide. I do notice alot of women riders look scared to death like statues. You need to find the bike that fits you and becomes part of you, so you can look as cool and comfortable as you feel. I respect anyone on 2 wheels!
Judy says
I am so disheartened by the sport-bike manufacturers lack of concern for the woman not of “normal” size. If I lived in Asia or Europe I would not have this problem because I could purchase a Honda RV400R without having to go through the “gray” market. I am 5ft and 97lbs and have been riding for 7 years now and my only options for a “genuine” sportbike is the Kawasaki 250 and 500 where I can fit (like any normal sized rider) and I find it unacceptable. I refuse to ride a “cruiser” bike – some people just like one kind of bike and not the other and I believe they should have options.
The first manufacturer that wakes up and realizes that there is a market for vertically challenged people (people under 5’2) who like riding flat footed will sweep that market in the United States because they virtually have no competition. I had to purchase my RVF400R basically “illegally” because if you do buy one overseas it is next to impossible to title in the U.S. If these manufacturers find the market is not strong enough – than at least make a flat soled 3 inch shoe or boot that gives us the height we do not have.
As far as color – that is the least of my concerns – buy a bike that fits and get it painted if you need it to be pink. I say give us (the shorter and taller) people a few options – we are not all “normal” sized people. Is that asking too much (Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha)? Do we all have to ride 250 or 500cc Kawasaki’s? Get with it!
premieragent says
I do agree about the line of clothing. It drives me nuts. I have been riding for about 22 years now. My husband is painting my Honda 750 pink. I cant wait. But for clothing I wish we had confortable jackets and etc. I believe with such ill fitting jackets its kind of a safety issue, it limits our arm movements sometimes. But I will deal with it cause I have a need for speed. lol
signed pinky
Amy says
hi. i’m 5 feet tall. what are my choices for riding a sports bike?
Jan says
I like all the ladies out there with the powerful bikes! I wish more of you were in the Minneapolis area. I get serious looks when I pull up to the usual biker haunts by myself. I don’t have girlfriends that ride their own. It gets lonely! But that won’t keep me from riding.
It took me 17 years to get up the courage to buy my dream. I purchased an used custom 01′ red Suzuki SV650S (Yes, a crotch rocket)!. It is a great bike. Well balanced, quick responsive throttle, smooth shifting and low maintenance. did I mention very little chrome. I got my bike to ride, not to rub. After cleaning up after my husband, myself and 3 large dogs, who wants to clean your favorite toy. And although it is not my fathers bike (he’s a Harley man, as is my husband), I love riding and have fufilled more dreams while riding with them.
At 5′ 3″, 225 lbs, the seat height has been a bit of a problem. Biker boots have helped as did playing with the suspension. But because I have dual exhaust under my rear fender (stock is one side pipe) I was limited to lowering the bike one inch with a lowering kit. The lowering kits (two metal bars) are used for race bikes. Mine say Hayabusa.
As for gear I was lucky enough to find basic boots and jacket at a bike leather store. Under my helmet and all the gear, I probably look like a big guy to most. I found a light weight pink leather jacket at Torrid, a retail store for plus size women that seems to cater to goth. When I wear it I don’t have as many tail gaters crowding me trying to see the chick on the rocket. It’s probably not going to save any flesh like my armored jacket, but I feel real cool and sexy.
My problem with riding is I now have a baby. Yes, I rode when I was pregnant. The docs say you can ride until you show, which would have been 6 months for me. I stopped at four months due to the Minnesota weather and needed repairs. I only rode once last Summer in the Lightening Run, a local charity run for Diabetes. It was good even if it wasn’t the coveted St. Croix valley rides or even Sturgis. I look forward to the days when I can share riding with my son. For now, I’m enjoying watching him change day to day.
Keep the brown side down Ladies! I hope to see you on the roads or at the stops.
Val Gregory says
I’m a long-time rider with proportions that allow me to wear men’s gear with very little modification. But I’m still interested in what’s out there for us in general. I’m getting the sense from this set of responses that women may have a wider range of variation in proportions than men do – chest size, hips, thighs, limb length. Makes it tough for an off-the-rack designer to come up with stuff that will fit, especially for what is STILL a limited market. Which gets us right back to the chicken-or-the-egg problem of “if there were more women, we’d make more/better fitting gear”/”if the gear fit more women, more women would to buy it”.
Let’s face it, how many of us have trouble finding jeans that fit? I sure do!
And if you’re just getting started, you likely don’t know enough about your riding style, about what’s comfortable FOR YOU for a long day in the saddle on the trail, road, street, or track (or able to spend the extra dollars!) to be able to go custom. But for many of us, that’s the only way we can go.
Don’t get me started on gender bias in dealerships – I’ll just say that finding a dealership that treats you as a valued customer first is a treasure. You’d think that’d be common business sense.
Aside from that, what THIS woman motorcyclist wants is for the snow to stop falling so I can RIDE!
See y’all on the road (just as soon as it quits icing over),
Val Gregory
’90 Hawk GT
Littleton, CO
Anita Vermillion says
Im an avid female biker 5ft 11 and over 200 lbs I love all bikes but find comfort on the bigger bikes with more cc’s. I was really offended when I went to buy my second bike and the salesman said “Oh you need to look at these 650cc’s, they are good for female bikers” Needless to say I about went through the roof because this man was about 4ft 3 and 100 lbs and was telling me what skill level I was without seeing that I rode in on a Yamaha Road Star 1600 cc. I am not saying all men are stupid but come on you dont ever judge the skills of a woman just because she is a woman. Wake up America and notice that women are powerful and strong and have skills beyond the women of the past. I would put my riding skills against any male rider any day. Its not even about what you can ride its all about the fact you like to ride. Unite and ride with pride and leave the drama at home
Anita Vermillion says
JUST WANTED TO SAY WE ARE ALL NOW SUFFERING FROM P.M.S…..PARKED MOTORCYCLE SYNDROME BUT IT WILL SOON BE CURED WHEN THE SUN STARTS SHINING BRIGHT AND THE WEATHER IS 80 DEGREES
SEE YOU ON THE ROAD MY DIE HARD ROAD WARRIORS
KEEP THE CHROME UP AND THE RUBBER DOWN AND THE WHEELS GOING ROUND AND ROUND
Jenn S says
I’m 5’2, 110lbs and I of course had to shop around when looking for a bike. Unfortunately my husband wanted a bike at the time and we couldn’t afford two, so we had to settle for something we could both ride. This is a problem when he’s 6’2, 270…..how do you find a bike that fits both of us? I’m a big Yamaha fan, and I wanted an r6, but since my hubby is a first time rider, we settled for the yamaha 600r. Weight wise it’s a little heavier than I’m used to. I learned to ride on a gsxr 600 that was already lowered for the girl who owned it, and it fit me perfectly. With my 600r it’s not only heavier, but the seat is wider which causes me to have to straddle the bike differently. I purchased adjustable dogbones which come in handy. We can adjust the bike to whatever size we need w/in 5 minutes and with 3 lowering options, I can put my feet flat on the ground. As for riding gear, both Joe Rocket and Icon have come out with more women-friendly gear. My old Icon leathers were uncomfortable, but I just purchased a new set of Icon leathers that fit perfectly in all the right places. I might be built small but I’m a very busty girl bordering on a D, and to my surprise, the icon jacket in a M fit me perfectly. Now I’ve got comfortable leathers and a ride height I can deal with, but the weight of the bike is still a bit of an issue. If i’m parked on the slightest hill (and i laugh considering I ride mostly in the mtns of SC and NC)and I need to go backwards to move, I have to get one of the boys to push me otherwise I can’t move the bike at all. As much as I dislike the BMW bikes, maybe they have the right idea adding a reverse! It sure would come in handy for the smaller girls like me w/o enough strength to push backwards up a hill!
Sarah says
I’m 5′ 6″, size 20+(depending on brand) and from UK. Let me tell you, it’s pretty hard to get any biker gear for women here if you’re over a size 16, let alone specify what colour! And yes, I wanted shocking pink! Why not? Other clothes for women seem to come in many colours, so why not biking gear with a good range of real womens sizes too? It’s not asking too much is it (?), we are a growing bunch of women who ride their own bikes – I want my hands around the grips on my bike, not the waist of a bloke, whilst perched on the back…I want to be in control! So, anyway, I got my hot pink helmet and gloves from USA!
I’ve been riding for 10 years, had a Sportster, GSX 750 and a Triumph Speedmaster (wasn’t!) and am due to pick up a new Harley Streetbob next week! The bike is quite big and heavy, but you don’t feel it when you ride it, only when slow manoevering, but has a low(ish) seat and centre of gravity, so I’m happy I will handle it fine. Just stay relaxed and confident.
So, all us Girlie Wirlie Riders, go ride whatever bikes you want and if you want to add a splash of feminine colour and fun to yourself and/or your bike – Go Ahead – Enjoy it!
Cheers Sarah!
Gloria says
Often I belive its a matter of confidence but for me the bigger problem is a lack of beginner or smaller bike for either sex. When i go to a dealer looking for a smaller bike for in town commuting the sales man tries to ridirect me. I ride a 650 Guzzi but i would love a 125 or 250 for in town. The new ninja 250 is exactly the same as the one from 20 years ago. The eliminator 125 is nice but not really my stile. As far as colors go if the bike was white it could be easely repainted but that is not a big deal for me. I’m 6 foot so i don’t need a small bike I just want one. Also I feel that a lack of small bikes makes it difficult for anyone to get started.
Nicole says
I am 5’4″ and bought a ’04 CBR600 (BLUE) and had it lowered so I could comfortable stand and hold it between my legs. The weight is not an issue because I can pick it back up if I back into it (yes it’s been down). As far as protective gear I could care less about colors as long as I can be seen. The only complaint I have is with helmets, I look like an astronaut wearing my HJC helmet because it’s the same dimensions as a mans large with a ton of added padding on the inside to fit my small noggin. Maybe there’s a better helmet out there but I have yet to find one. I do appreciate Joe Rocket making fitted womens riding gear because it’s safer when it fits properly, so that would be the main thing I would look for from other vendors. I don’t even mind if I have to special order fitted gear as long as it is offered. That alone would let most people know it’s a woman rider not the colors we wear. It’s a fact that no one will make everyone happy but I appreciate someone taking an interest in finding out what women riders’ want.
Thanks,
~Nicole
olivia says
Im about 5’10 & 150, I bought a Suzuki GSXR 600 before I even knew how to ride. I love my bike! When I went to the training class they tried to put me on a Buell- WAY uncomfortable!!! The position on street bikes feels natural to me. Bikes do seem to weigh alot, but only when you’re at a stand still -(375lbs) OH & really heavy when youre trying to move it around in a garage or something! ]
At one point- I also wanted a bubble gum pink bike with sparkles & even had my friend ready to do the paint job for me! Very quickly changed my mind after I realized that its not practical – a stock bike is fine! But you gotta get a Yoshimura Muffler- so atleast you can be heard!
Ive only been riding for about 1yr, and technically have NO gear. I got a Suomy Hawaiian Helmet last Summer, But its SOOO hard to find anything to match yellow. PLUS- I dont want to look like Big Bird-LOL!!! I like Icon & the kitty Suits, but these companies never make anything geared for females – colors, bikes, clothing, boots, decals – but if they do, its very limited. WHY ISNT THERE MORE STREET BIKE GEAR FOR WOMEN???
alicia says
hey all im 5 ft 103 lbs and i am surprised there are some females out there my size who ride….now when i say ride i mean like lip eating knee rubbing rides. i am on my second bike been riding for a year, ppl think im a little boy and im like whatever id like to see you keep up. my current 636 06 is the limited silver and red flames edition, so i says to my husband i thnk i want pink so ppl dont think im a dude and plus everyone is like oh no dont do that so just to be different im going allllll the way bright sparkle flake pink and same for the rims and gotta get a new helmet and gear to match! but in closing who realy gives a damn ab the color its whats between the handle bars that really counts!
tam says
I want to buy a bike but dont know which one to buy. I am 195lbs and 5’6 and about to take motorcycle lesson and want to make the rite choice. Please someone let me know or have a website for me to look at. Thanks alot!
Vick Oliverio says
Hello ladies,
After riding behind my husband on a Goldwing for 13 years, I decided to get my own license and bike in November of 2006, and bought an old Honda Nighthawk 450 to train on after taking a safety course. That was a great trainer, but I was also shopping for my “real” bike, and I finally settled on an all-white Yamaha VStar 1100 Classic, which I’ve now been riding for 2 months and love! I sat on every bike out there, test drove a few, and this was simply the one that fit me best.
Since I’m using it as my commute vehicle (40 miles each way, 15 of that on a poorly paved-and-graded mountain highway, the return trip late at night) it was important that it be comfortable, have enough power and manueverability to get me out of difficult situations, easy for me to flat-foot and handle (despite it’s 600 lb weight it’s a nicely balanced bike!), get good mileage (48 mpg) and be very visible. And it’s not only a pretty bike, but Yamaha’s are reliable mechanically. They also make a VStar 600, if you want something smaller. I can’t say enough good things about this bike, do consider it if you’re looking.
As for armor–I tried them all on, and have settled on Fieldsheer Adventure jacket in silver and 4 season mesh pant (comes in black or white), which I’ve ordered but haven’t arrived, so I haven’t riden in it yet. It fit me well in the shop, was adjustable and had removeable liners for changes in weather, and has a fair amount of reflective material on it. It’s not terribly feminine, but is at least fitted instead of boxy, and actually shapes to my considerable curves pretty nicely. It also was very reasonable, compared to almost everything else I looked at. If it actually rides well, I’ll post again….
BTW–I also find that when other drivers realize I’m a woman they are much kinder to me than they are to my husband, and little kids seem to love my bike–they wave and smile at me and I can tell they telling their moms, “you should get one!” 🙂
Vicki
Dinna says
i am 5’2″ and under 120, so yes i am afraid to get thrown off my bike but the feel of sitting on something so wonderful kepps me rideing
Theresa says
Hey girls! I’m really wanting to learn to ride a sports bike and was wondering what would be best for me. I am 5′ and about 120 lbs and was unsure which sport bike would be right for me. My husband rides a 2007 Suzuki GSX-R 750 but I think that’s way too big for me to handle. I want something like his but I’m too small to be riding it. I need help since reading the postings on here you gals all know your stuff about bikes. Any suggestion I would appreciate!
bik3rbunny says
Theresa,
I recommend buying a motorcycle buying guide and checking out seat heights first. There are tons of lowering kits out there, so when you find something you like you can lower it. The lowering kit will determine how far you can go without changing the ride/feel too terribly much. Currently Buell has two sporty low seat height bikes, XB12Scg (seat about 28″) and the Blast (seat about 28″). Read through sport bike forums. There are plenty of short riders on un-modified rides too and they talk about how they deal with riding a “tall” bike. Also, good site to check out for info and support is: http://www.vtwinmama.com There is a page showing good bikes for short riders and some listed are sport bikes. Don’t rush, do your research and then go with what feels the most comfortable based on what your own criteria are.
Rae says
In my opinion, there is plenty of riding gear for the woman who wants to look basically the same as the men who are riding. There is also somewhat of a selection for a woman who likes light pink and light blue.
The problems are that there is not much in white, there is not much variety when it comes to color. I would really like to have gear that looks feminine, but not too girly. I want a jacket that fits my curves and that doesn’t ride up in the back when I’m on my motorcycle. I want something in which I could remove the padding and wear it anywhere. I can’t understand why a company doesn’t come up with something like that! If I knew anything about manufacturing clothing and motorcycle gear I would start my own company and make a fortune.
If motorcycle companies need inspiration, they should try looking at some of the snowboarding/ski gear made for women. It doesn’t have to be light pink or blue in order to be feminine. Nice plaid patterns mixed in with some solid colors or some striped material might be nice.
I would also like to have some more choices in lighter colors because I don’t feel safe in all black and It seems like there is an overwhelming amount of black out there.
So to sum this up, I want to feel feminine but not like a little girl when I ride. I’m looking for a jacket that can double as a going-out jacket and a riding jacket. I want something that fits a tall girl with curves. I’m not short and straight. I want a leather jacket that also breathes. I want a choice in color and pattern. If you can make gear like this, I will buy it ASAP!
Renee says
Hi All:
I’ve been riding since I was a small child. Now at the age of 50 with a couple of spinal surgeries under my belt, I find I still have the desire to have my own bike again. While I dearly love riding behind my hubby on his Road King Classic, I would also like the option of riding my own bike. I’m very short (5’1″); long waisted but with very short legs. I would love to find a bike with enough power to keep up with hubby on the highway but not to heavy for me to handle since my upper body strength has diminished with age and from the surgeries to my neck. I have considered a Sportster 883 Low, but don’t care for the vibration at highway speeds. I also would feel more comfortable on a bike where I can at least put both feet on the pavement without having to wear my high-heeled riding boots. I also have very short arms and would require something with forward controls. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Misty says
I think more needs to be offered in terms of color and fit… go to a bike night and inevitably several of the girls will have the exact same jackets and helmet. I like the hot pink/magenta and can only find the lighter pinks. I don’t care if pink is cliche. The visibility of bright pink is very good, and I definately like to be noticed as a female rider and not a male. I don’t know why women want to be “one of the guys.” We are not guys, we are strong women, and we don’t have to try to blend in with them. I definately want some pink on my bike as well, but something very custom.
I have the Joe Rocket Trixie leather jacket. The hips are too wide and the jacket is too short. I am about 5’6″. I had to buy it on the internet, because- big surprise, very few motorcycle stores keep a women’s selection in stock. Because so few stores stock them, I did not have the luxury of getting to try on both sizes, so I went with the medium. The jacket does have pads on the back, elbows, etc. so it offers good protection, but not nearly as much as the few men’s jackets I have ridden in.
Why are there hundreds of helmets for men, but only a handful for women? Even then we don’t get the cool designs that men get. I like the pink, why not just use the same men’s designs but change the colors? I see men’s helmets with color-changing scorpions and monsters fighting and cool tribal designs. Why not for women? I like pink but that doesn’t mean I want flowers and butterflies on everything.
As for the bike, I ride an ’07 GSXR600. I had it lowered about 1.5 inches and my feet are still not flat on the ground, but it is managable. The front end was a pain to lower, they tapered the fork tubes as if to purposely deter people from lowering it.
Joe Rocket makes some okay women’s jackets, but I don’t know how they fit because no stores near me carry them. I don’t like much of the Icon stuff, I don’t like the patches and logos they put all over the girls jackets. I just want something simple, visible, with a cool design, a good color selection, and good protection.
Manufacturers, listen up: you make it and we will buy it.
Bethany says
I am a new rider. At 5’4″ I am thrilled with my Victory Kingpin. It is lowered and has pullback handlebars and the pegs were relocated (back…obviously!!!!)
This bike fits great and even thought it weighs approx 740lbs. It feels very light! They have some really beautiful colors too! This bike has PLENTY of power to keep up with the boys or ahead of them. Best of all…..does NOT shake your arms off!!!
Some of their gear is pretty girly. But I would LOVE to find someone that caters just to us girls! And it doesn’t all have to be pink…..just cute! And I would REALLY love to find a helmet that fit properly!
klaraklu says
I am surprised… I have always gone with the idea ‘it’s not a fashion parade out there and i just want to be safe’. OK I admit I doin’t look very sexy with my riding gear (by the way I am 5ft 3 and average build and am lucky that i always find gear that fits) but i could not care less whether it’s black, grey green as long as it makes me visible and will protect me. Padding, armour, give it to me i’ll wear it. What matters is what i look like once i take the gear off and I can do my hair properly (don’t start me off on hair and helmets!).
But yes bike height is definitely my main concern: i have a kawasaki eliminator 125 and it’s absolutely perfect for the city (and yes girls it’s red). However having just passed my big bike licence i am looking at my options and i love the Ducati Monster 600 and the HD Sportster 883r. Any recommendations from any ladies on these 2?
Mary says
In terms of gear I could go either way. I like some of the “girly” colors and patterns, but also like the blacks, silvers and royal blues that frequently don the men’s apparel. my style changes with my mood…and personally i’d like to have gear for women in a variety, not just girly ones, but more masculine looking gear too.
as for bike colors, i prefer black, blue and silver, but i can’t speak for all women. why not offer bikes in colors that would satisfy the girly girls and the ones that want to blend in. manufacturers would then need to determine how many of each color to produce based on their R&D regarding the amount of demand for girly bikes.
however, in terms of your comment regarding “slightly shorter dimensions, lower seat height, less reach to the bars, recalibrated suspension”, etc – i don’t think this is necessarily unique to women. it is definitely a problem for me personally – i’m only 5′ 1″ – but i think this is an topic that concerns both women AND men of small stature. the bike manufacturers have very few models that work well for individuals with shorter legs. any bike that a shorter person would want requires lots of extra dollars to modify it to the point that it is comfortable and safe to ride. i would love to see bike manufacturers come out with solutions for the shorter sportbike enthusiast – for the sake of men and women alike!
Airborne173 says
Hello ladies:
I’m really glad that so many women are out-there representing. I’m only 5’1 and I have a Gixxer 750. I have to lowered plus I ordered a customize seat. All together lower the bike almost 5 inches with 3 inches of ground clearance. I believe that if you want something so bad you should never give up. About the clothing. I went into italian website and found lots of small size riding gear that fits me well and I am sure it will fit you as well. Try it. http://dmoz.org/Shopping/Clothing/Leather/ Good luck.
tgif says
well, yesterday i went to pick up my new bike…got a honda shadow areo 750…its a 2004 and i tried it for the first time and it runs great…ive done my refreshing courses cause last time ive been on a bike was in my teens and after 30yrs i didnt want to get back on without the course…this weekend is on the road test..i already have my permit…well had it since i was a teen…anyhow im not sure yet if i will be hooked like my husband so im giving it a try for the whole summer then i will decide if its for me or not…in life you have to try things to know what you want… 🙂
Janet Schultz says
It’s great to see so many of us women riders out there voicing their opinions…not that most women really have a problem doing that. I would love to see attractive riding gear for fuller figured women. I’m 5’6, but I don’t fit into the “size perfect” category. Unfortunately most of us aren’t shaped like the girls in the catalogs. I ride two up with my hubby right now, but plan to take the training class in the near future and will start seriously shopping for a bike rather than just window shopping. I’m a girly girl, but for my gear I really prefer blue, black and silver. Can’t anybody make some really cool crotch rocket gear for us bigger girls? I really don’t want to look like a “Harley chick.”
Lissa M says
Hey, I have been fascinated with motorcycles for what seems like forever ;). I’m finally old enough to get my license (i have my drivers’ and i am very comfortable on the road), and I have also been riding on the back of my dad’s bike for quite some time now, and I really want to feel the power myself. I am perfectly willing, also to buy my own bike, if i can find a used one in good condition near where I live. Unfortunatly, I have never gotten to do anything other than ride on the back, because, apparently, his Yamaha Vstar 1100 classic is much to big for me to handle. It’s probably an excuse for me not to touch his baby…. But he is totally supportive of my riding if I buy my own bike. AND I’m rambling. ANYWAYS, I am a swimmer with better lower body stength, although, I’m no weakling, I ride horses! I’m 5’11 and 172 pounds (no lie ;)) and I’m wondering what a good bike would be for a starter. I’m not much for a sports bike, i’m more into a moped type feel… (don’t worry, I’m just kidding) I’m more into the cruiser look and feel.
I would LOVE some suggestions! Thanks!
Lissa
Bethany says
Lissa, try a Victory. Made by Polaris, it is an American cruiser and quite frankly a badass bike! You are plenty tall not to need any height modifications they have several styles to chose from. But most importanty the are balanced extremely well. They are not top heavy and you don’t ever feel that you have to muscle the bike around. The best part is if you do need to make modifications such as pull back bars or control adjustments they don’t cost you a fortune. Check one out…..they also let you do demo rides at the dealership locations, which is a huge plus. Let me know what you think.
Meg says
After 10 years of riding a 1200 Custom Sportster, I bought a 2005 Harley Softail Deluxe. I just love it! I’m 5’5″ tall and don’t have real long legs, so I’m delighted that I can flat-foot my bike with no problem. It’s beautifully balanced (as was my Sportster); I’m still getting used to the additional weight of it but the Deluxe is quite maneuverable. I’ve been lucky in finding boots, etc. that fit. Wish I could find “off-the-rack” chaps that fit better (I can’t afford to have them custom-made), and I wish manufacturers of motorcycle leathers would come up with some styles for women that are cut a little longer (maybe hip-length)–Not all of us female riders have real little waists at nearly 50 yrs. of age so those waist-length jackets don’t fit all that well! Oh yeah, just for the record my bike is arctic white pearl & black which is just fine with me. Keep the shiny side up!
Ashley McDonner says
Wow! It’s really great to see all the responses this article has gotten…You see I believe the real problem is no one has ever stopped to ask a female what they want to wear when they ride… nor have we been asked how to make a bike more comfortable. I must first say that I am the proud owner of an 06′ Suzuki GSXR 1000. While my riding is mainly focused on the drag strip, I have had to modify my bike to fit me. No offense to the brilliant designers of my bike, but at 5’1 and a buck 05 – you can imagine that I struggled to over come the fact that i plum couldn’t touch the ground when i bought her! That was a site – but unless the makers of bikes want to put electric adjustable seats so that we ” little one’s” can reach the ground – we are just gonna have to deal with it! And I could have gotten a smaller bike – but awh heck , what kinda fun would that have been! In fact – the gsxr 1000 has a reputation for being a difficult bike to drag race… but not for me! It’s perfect! Created for an average 150 lb rider, my weight offers minimal input in performance of the bike… in other words when i want to turn i must really throw my weight around – and in a straight away, she about as straight as straight gets! But the same is not as so for my male counter parts!
AS FAR AS RACING GEAR – I must say I’ve been very dissapointed. I have had a hard time finding appropriate “Race Ready” garmets that are suitable for track purposes – otherwise JOE ROCKET and ICON seem to have the best selection of street gear for the lady street rider. I am not informed enough to comment on the selection of female apparel for ladies on cruisers!
Street bike or Cruiser… It’s always great to see a chic out there on her own bike!
As far as a pink bike – as picky as we women are – I think we’d like to be able to design our own… maybe offering custom ordering with custom paint schemes would be an option major bike manufacturers would consider… I’d pay extra to have a bike made from the ground up just to fit me!
Wanda says
Meg–I enjoyed reading your comment. I am single -n- 44 and just bought a 2005 softtail Deluxe. Maybe its a midlife thing! I took the course 3yrs ago. I have not been on a cycle in over 20 yrs. This is a heavy bike and I am nervous riding. But I just got the boost I needed! Thanks
Pat Dawkins says
I’m 5-2, so seat height is a problem. Mid location of footpegs and major pullback handlebars. Light weight and well balanced. Beefy tank and old school look. Even Bobbers. NO Forward controls at all. In fact I wish someone would design a Bobber Trike for women. Low riding, cool looks. Got to get ready for old age.
Anne says
Hey, I’ve been reading what all the ladies have to say about the pink bikes. It’s cool and all that some women like pink, but I see a serious trend here. Since when is “pink” supposed to be identified with bike riding? I’ve always considered myself a feminine person, but pink for a motorcycle makes about as much sense as a pink wedding dress. Motorcycles in themselves convey strength and a masculine beauty…not to say that there is nothing inherently feminine about a bike. However, a pink motorcycle signals: “I am weak. I am emasculating the motorcycle.” I am a woman and see motorcycles as a real symbol of power and sexual expression. As a woman, I want to accentuate the strength I already have. The fact that I wear sometimes pink shows that I appreciate my feminity; but riding a black, red, green, or grey bike gets me in touch with the Yang I need to balance my feminity and step out of the feminine comfort zone. The result is a super exciting, thrilling, strengthening experience on a machine that is more powerful than I am, yet allows me meld with, to guide, and to share in that power.
Michelle says
Hi Everyone,
I own a brand new Suzuki Boulavard S40. It’s a 650 and weighs about 350 pounds. It’s light, quick, and perfect for my 5’3″ frame. It’s black and has pink rhinstone hearts (decals) on it. These are only temporary because I’m getting quotes to have PINK FLAMES painted on it! That’s right pink flames. I also have a black and pink leather jacket and my black and pink saddlebags are being UPSed to me as I type this. I had to search high and low to find anything pink for motorcycles. I purchased everything on-line and even then I had to call to see if the color pink was available. When I go into a motorcycle store if I can find anything for women it’s a shock let alone anything pink. More dealers/stores need to understand that more women are riding and should cater to that. There should be a wider selection of apparel for women. We need gear that fits our bodies. Even the smallest men’s gear doesn’t fit right.
I don’t thnk having a pink bike or pink accessories makes the bike less masculine or takes away from riding. I’ve seen dozens of men driving old hot rods decked out in pink. No one dared call them feminine. For those of you who say I’m not a pink person, that fine too. Not everyone is a grey person, or blue person, or whatever color you choose. I think it’s all about personal preference. If riding a pink, purple, black, or green bike makes you happy then go for it. As long as your gear protects you and your happy then go out and enjoy the ride. I’ll just be enjoying it on a bike decked out in pink!
Sue says
WOW… it’s great (?) to see that I’m not alone in my frustration of inadequately available, well fitting, feminine and affordable clothing!!
I am a complete newby.. am booked in to get my licence next month, but have been looking around for ages to find some great gear to wear, even on the back of my boyfriend’s fireblade. I am a girly-girl too, but I am not asking for full pink leathers and bikes… I just want the ability to feminise the leathers and bike… I have recently come across a website for custom ordering leathers.. http://www.tigerangle.com you can customise everything on the jacket to match your taste!!! Very exy but one of the few options available that I’ve come across so far.
As for a bike… I share the standard sentiment that bikes do not match a feminine frame. I am only 5’6, slim and not particulary strong in the arms, so having a heavy bike scares the heck out of me. I love the Honda 600 RR or the Suzuki GSXR600, but my boyfriend is having a coronary and wants me to get a 250 for a while… I guess I have to agree with that sentiment… I am a woman afterall and it’s about what looks good!! haha..
But what options do I have available in a 250 range that look good, are comfortable, and have enough power to satisfy my speed demon side????
Well back to scouring hundreds of sites for me… looking for perfection… or a miracle that manufacturers actually read this and bring out some new lines for us!!! In every colour possible to satisfy our girly/fashionable tendencies!!
Stay safe!!
Lovie Zago of the TV show LA Rider says
OK so I started riding when girls rode on the back UNLESS they could whip the guys (you know the ones). My first bikes were dirt and mini bikes. When I moved to Hawaii(courtesy of the US NAVY) I met the coolest guy from NY who was 19 and raced for the local Suzuki dealer and he really taught me how to “RIDE” a street bike. I never cared that my Kawasaki GPZ750 looked just like everyone elses, they all knew I was a girl. Now move to the states and I am 30 something and decide to get a Harley. The bigger bikes (comfortable bikes) are TOO Heavy right (I am 5’4″ and weight under 100lbs) so I buy the 03 Sportster Hugger. Now I still have my Sporty and I have customized it(Hot Pink, lots of custom fabricated pieces, shiny chrome) so You can’t tell its a sporty but … IT Still rides like one. I want the comfort of a Road King ( I borrow my bosses all the time but it’s heavy, awkward and really too wide for my legs/spread) Can’t the manufacturers make this bike (or any of the Touring bikes more LADY Rider friendly. Not all of us are big burly women, and even the tall, stocky and bigger girls like it to be known that they are of the female gender. I am a welder, I work on and have even built bikes but I am a very petite LADY! Come on we make as much money as the men, Don’t the bike builders want it? It does my heart good to see the women who, race and ride, and still look like women…
Keep it up Ladies…
Lovie Zago
Kat Taylor says
Just been reading all your experiences and made me feel a bit more positive about not giving up! Just returned from what should have been my CBT today – went full of enthusiasum but was actually turned down because there wasn’t a bike small enough for me to ride! I’m 4ft 11ins tall and my height has never stopped me from doing anything until now. I was told to try a Haotian Vixen – the instructor even telephoned a local dealer to make sure they were in stock. Even this bike’s seat was too high (couldn’t reach the floor with both feet), I was told that the Suzuki GN125 would be the same height but are they? Does anyone know of a 125cc bike that I could buy and alter to pass my CBT. Grateful for any advice
best wishes
Kat
Em says
Kat,
Don’t bother with the GN125 – I had one, but it barely got over 55mph. I did my CBT on a Honda 125 with MUCH better performance. I am 5’6″ and had no problem with either bike – but the GN125 didn’t seem to be especially low. Good luck
As for bikes for girls – something that I can get on/off easily, and a nice range of clothing colours.
JJ says
I’m 5’4″ and 110 lbs, and my main wish would be to have a standard-style bike, like the Suzuki GS500E, in a height that will fit my 29″ inseam legs and weight 325 lbs or less with gas. I’m not sure if the latter is possible.
As for clothing, women comes in so many different shapes in terms of hip and chest size that I think the best way to address this is with discreet zippers on the sides with leather/fabric that can expand clothing where needed. I’ve seen this at the bottom of jackets for wider hips, but perhaps a zipper can be hidden at the side of the chest to expand the upper part of the jacket for women with larger breasts.
Krista says
My husband bought me a Yamaha YZF600 for our anniversary. Now, the black paint was fine, but since I’m not the most feminine-figured woman, I really wanted to let all the guys know from a distance that I’m a girl. (It doesn’t help that I have a large chest so neither women’s nor men’s jackets fit me right.) So…for my birthday he painted it pink (he lovingly refers to it as Pepto Bismol pink). I LOVE IT!
What I’d really like to see are more women’s gear for the larger-chested women…and yes, in various colors and styles. I’m lucky to have a retailer that carries women’s gear, but just not in the right sizes.
Bad Kitty says
I am so happy to see more and more women taking up the sport of riding!! I ride a bright yellow, leopard-spotted, modified 250cc Honda Reflex (yep, a scooter!) that I dearly love and most of my gear is black or has yellow accents. Yellow certainly has a way of standing out and commanding your attention in traffic. Just can’t stand pink. Too girly….I suppose the leopard-print is girly enough, though, tee hee.
Anyway, here’s my list of what I want, as a female rider:
More choices in gear.
More gear that is PROPERLY sized and proportioned!!
More ads and magazines targeting female motorcyclists (without all of the scantily-clad bimbos).
Motorcycles and scooters that are more “petite female friendly” (yes, scooters have the same problems, folks!)
Stay safe, ya’ll!!
Cyndi
Linda says
SHORTER seat height……….there is only one or 2 bikes i can flat foot it on in the 750cc to 1100cc range , im 5ft inseam doesnt mater, some short women have longer legs and can ride a 27,5 seat height no problem, i CAN NOT,i need at 26 or lower ,i have to find a 250 dollar lowering kit to fit , I’m also limited to wareing MENS chaps which dont fit right, hate that……….
dont like forward controls, or straight handel bars, PINK EEK, and how ar u going to resale it to trade up…..dont think so not for me
JM says
Size of the bike is number one. Being 5′, I can not reach on any bike flat footed, so I’m building a custom. I have a Honda shadow 600, reach on my toes and have gotten used to it, over three years (but I still don’t perfer it). The hand grips (esp the clutch) are more than a comfortable reach.
Color is not a big deal. Every woman and man that rides has a different personality, and therefore, a different perspective on color. I love pink; but not because I want to be noticed as female on my bike. I just happen to like feminin stuff; it fits a part of my personality. Mostly, I just care about me when I’m riding. But, of coarse, not every woman that likes pink fits my profile. Thanks for asking.
Pam says
Does anyone have hair issues after riding? What do you do to keep it in good condition and are there any products out there that help?
Lisa Vyvyan says
Hi
Well i am 5ft. I ride a kawasaki zzr250 candy cardinal red quite a nice girly colour i wouldnt want a pink bike though, my husband lowered it for me but i could do with it being another inch lower. I dont know of any other bikes that would be suitable for me. Any ideas are soo welcome.
Lisavyvyan@sky.com
surabhi says
I am only 4’10” with wieght 45kg.I wanted to know is there any bike,which i can ride?
thanks
Nikki says
Well, I’m a small sized lady but still 5’6″ and I really think the sizes and variety of jackets for women, with all the protection a men’s jacket would have, should be greatly increased. I have a jacket, but it is a little big and only has some of the protective armor, unike my husbands. It’s all I could find.
As far as the bikes go, I’m blessed with long legs so I don’t have a problem as long as I stick to smaller bikes. However, it has kept me from upgrading. I would also like there to be more color choices. I like black just like the men. Yellow can be good. But I wish companies would get away from that bright blue that has been so popular. I personally don’t care for pink or pastels. I like good ole black and white. If a company would come out with a line of bikes with all the power but smaller dimensions they would get a lot of business not only from the ladies but even men that are on the shorter side. I know a couple that sacrifice the power of bigger bikes just beecause they feel too stretched out.
Lynn says
I am also so happy to see that other lady riders out there are having the same issues as I have been. I’ve been riding on the back since I was a teen and learned to ride then as well..but then along came kids and jobs and responsibilities but now that the kids are grown and on their own, I decided after a long ride one weekend behind my hubby that it was time to start riding my own bike again. I started out on a Honda Rebel 450 (that I borrowed from my son) which was just perfect to get my “bike legs” back again. ( I have no idea why Honda quit making the 450 Rebel..it is a perfect sized bike for a woman, even a small one) Then I took the riders safety course and switched over to the bike I now ride…a 750 Honda Shadow ACE…I love that “classic” look and it fits a short legged woman like a dream. It’s low enough to the ground and I added some handlebar extenders to it to bring them a bit closer to me, but the only problem I still have is that the levers have such a wide spread that it is hard for someone with small hands. My husband has adjusted them as close as they can go, but it is still a stretch and sometimes my hands get cramped. But yes..why can’t bike manufacturers start at least making some options available to make these bikes fit smaller women riders. Even if they are replacement parts to allow us to adjust bikes to fit us better!
But bike clothing for women!! That’s a whole ‘nother story!! All women are NOT built alike..when will they ever get this!!! I have thought SO often about starting my own lady biker clothing line. So much stuff out there is made for little tiny girls where their idea of a large is a size 8. And we do have chests and they do come in different sizes!! I am very large chested and I can’t find anything to fit that doesn’t smash me into a “uni boob” which isn’t pretty and is even less comfortable!! I just spent quite awhile chatting with a Triumph dealer and he was saying the same thing to the Triumph clothing manufacturers..that our women are built like women, not pre-teens. The Triumph clothing was sized so that an XL was equal to about a size 8 or 10. That is just plain crazy!! I wouldn’t even mind paying a bit more if I could find clothing that FIT!! All of the other manufacturers should take a hint from the Harley D. company because they have to have the best women’s clothing merchandising department anywhere. But that kind of leaves out any of us who dont’ want to be an advertisement for HD. And colors…why not something with just a touch of pink or blue in it. Keep it black which seems to be the biker color of choice, but add some feminine touches to it like design and a little bit of color. And most lady riders I know want their clothing to fit without being made to look they are either wearing their husbands T-shirt or else looking like a cheap tramp. Boy, the more I think about it and complain, the more it makes me want to start my own clothing line for REAL biker women. Functional – Sylish -and made to fit ladies of ALL sizes and shapes!!
Thanks for letting me vent and it does make you feel better to know that I’m not the only one out there with this problem.
Lynn
Denise says
Hi ladies. I’m just getting into motorcycles … my training course starts on April 25th and I’m very excited. Bought an HJC helmet yesterday … modular face flip which was cool. Got lots of comments about the amount of hair I had to tuck under the helmet … Went to the Toronto Motorcycle Show to check out new offerings … every dealer, salesperson, etc. thought it was my boyfriend interested in the bikes. He rides too so okay, he was interested; but no one even asked if I was interested. But then I’m 34, 5’10, 155 lbs, black … I imagine I don’t exactly fit the typical rider profile.
Biggest problem I’m going to have is finding a jacket that fits. I’m *only* a B, small waist, but long torso and long arms. Tried on a few size small jackets that fit in the body for the most part, but crept up too far in the arms. And no, I don’t think it will look just fine if I wear gloves as the sales people kept suggesting. What about those times I’m not wearing gloves?
Anyway, my quest continues for a nice black Joe Rocket jacket. I’m really hoping I don’t have to settle for a men’s jacket.
As for colours, it’s all black all the time; maybe a little silver/gray for accents. I wouldn’t even approach anything pink, but I’m also envious of those that do and can pull it off!
Thanks to my height I don’t think I’ll have trouble finding a bike … looking at a Suzuki 500 or a Kawasaki Ninja just cause they’re cool.
I keep asking if it’s ok to choose your bike based on looks … is it? I don’t know much about what’s under the seat just yet. Perhaps my next bike will be a more technical ride; for now I just want to get out there!
Lisa says
Hello Ladies,
Wow how nice to read all the feed back,theres some really great advice to be had.Its true you can’t buy experience but its awesome to pass it on.
I have been pretty much raised with motorcycles,I started on an 125 suzuki,it had really lrg balloon tires wide full seat it was a 70’s model I was about 11 when I started riding it.But I was fortunate living on a farm,lots of practice area :).After I got my learners I rode a 1980?Honda 250cc Custom it was a good starter bike,I am almost 5’2 weigh 105lbs have an inseam of 27inches,My next bike I got was a 650 Yamaha Maxim,after my friends took a bread knife to the seat lol,it was custom lowered perfectly for me.Mind you there was’nt much for cushioning!But it was perfect I liked the controls right there and the way the handle bars were close and curved toward me,I really loved the bike it felt comfortable.I am now 40 and its been about 6 years now that I have’nt rode,been a passenger though.I was at the Harley Shop in January and the sales guy asked what he could sell me?I told him they did’nt have a bike that fit me,well he said they did and to go with him.So we go in the back and theres a new Shiny Black Bike,So I sit on it,and well holy wow!! I can touch the floor almost flat footed,I take it off the kick stand without having to fight the weight of uprighting the bike,it feels good!! the controls are easy to reach,and my salesman is smiling.He now tells me it is a 2008,1200 SportsterLow.I am in love!So on April 15 I picked up my new bike I ordered it in Red and it is beautiful,I took it out for a ride and I absolutely love everything about it!The only thing I may do in the futue is get a custom paint job on it,I was thinking whimsical faries?yeah girlie but its because I can.
As for riding gear wow,try,try till it fits.My leather chaps I found were too high up on the waist.So I did undo the stitching at the top on the belt part and shortened the waist from that end,then after that I cut them on the bottom,and also the legs were loose so I took them in on the inside seam,I used my sewing machine for this.I guess I pretty much rebuilt them lol I think nowadays its getting easier to find riding clothes.
Helmets are anouther thing but Harley has a line called Diva Helmets and they are designed for the girls even have pink!,also Honda has pink full face and 3/4.Anouther thing that you can do is get a solid color Helmet,and use either permanant marker or paint pens,and either free hand or stencil your own custom design on your helmet 🙂
Happy Trails Ladies
Cheers from Lisa in Alberta,Can
Paulomi "Polo" says
Hey Ladies,
I’ve just scheduled my MSF course and need some tips from women on what would be a great beginner sportbike. I’m 5’2″/135lbs and need a bike that is comfortable to mount and easy to control. B/c of my stature and experience(lack of) I don’t think I need that much power in a bike….yet.
The only problem I have with a lot of the smaller sportbikes is they have a “dirt bike” look to it. I’m looking for something more with a solid body. Preferably in black.
What do you all say? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated and needed.
rachel says
I have been riding for a couple years and love it! I’m short and I ride a little yamaha virago 250. I absolutely love it. I also love everything pink and I will buy just about anything if it is pink.
Ya of course you will offend some women with a “girly” line of bikes/accessories. (Everything offends somebody…) But for women who are girly, but also adventerous and strong, we want everyone to know “we are awesome pretty women on bikes and we can do it all….” I love to encourage other women to ride! There is such a stereotype that if your girly and like to look pretty, than your weak; and if you’r boy-ish ruggid, your a “worn biker chic” who’s not pretty.
I would love to have a variety of “girly” choices! The more women on bikes the better! Especially when we can express ourselves w/ our appearance. Guys “pimp” up there bikes to custom, and us women have to jump thru hoops just to get a “girly” item. All women need to have a variety of clothing, accessories, etc… In every color, shape and style… Have fun with it, women are a beautiful advertisement for any thing.
Keep up the women riders!!!!
Kara says
Ok so I admit it….I LOVE PINK..it happens. Im 5’4 and unlike other people my height i have super short legs and a long torso, so seat height was a huge problem. I ride a yamaha r1 and even with it lowered 2in im still on my tip toes but it works. I would love to see a lighter bike with the same performance as the big boys. I dont plan on going all pink with my bike just hot pink accents in place of the red accents on my stock grey. I love the colors of it stock but I just want to add my own girly touch.
Melody says
I like a bike with bags. I like to take my rainsuit, extra coat, extra boots or shoes, gloves with me everytime. I however enjoy having maps, extra sunglasses, music, camera with me at all times also. I like having hard bags so that all you do is open the side or top to get exactly what I want without moving anything. However, I would like a bike that is the height of the street cruiser similar to a Harley Streetglide; balanced and powered like the 1800 Wing only smaller. None of us really need 1800s but good power such as an ST1100 Honda, only lower center of gravity, would be great. Perfect quick power for passing and yet good on gas. Good luck with this design.
Sandy Markham says
I am a new rider. I wish it would catch on that all women are not 5′ 5″. I too am almost 6′ tall. I would like to see riding gear in tall sizes AND is there a women’s boot out there that will not add another 2 inches to my height? I’m looking for a low profile sole.
Anna K says
Hey everyone, I must say this has been really helpful. I just started getting into riding, doing my course this summer. I love all the suggestions here about bikes and clothing. I’m 6’1″ so I already have a problem buying regular women’s clothing! esp pants, so I’m not really looking forward to looking for stuff for riding that fits! I have a few guy friends who ride who have suggested gear, but I’m sure it’ll still be difficult. I went to a dealer to look at a few bikes and he recommended a Kawasaki VN500 as a starter bike for my height. I’m definitely going to keep checking back here! Thanks!
Cheryl says
Unlike most of the posters I ride a Silver Vespa GTS 250ie. I do not want pink but then again I don’t particularly like pink but think it is fine if others do (with red hair pink isn’t that hot a color for me anyway). Living in a hot, humid climate I want something with airflow but when I’m on the freeway I want protection too. Since I ride a classic scooter I don’t want gear that looks like I should be getting on a Ninja. Give me color, red, blue (not powder), green (not neon please), cream (my mesh jacket is black with cream shoulders and accents), purple. Give me kevelar reinforced jeans that FIT. How about a woman’s cut of http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/olympia-moto-sports/recon-transformer.htm which would be great for summer weekends.
Curves, got those in plenty since there is over 16″ difference between my waist and hips/bust. When I find a jacket that fits the front of my chest invariably the back is huge and waist is well, flappy. Pants when I can find them to more or less fit look like something I’d wear on a ski slope.
While I’ve been able to take black leather pants to the tailor and get the waist recut they don’t exactly have armor in them (thick cowhide) but face it when it is 94 with 95% humidity (today’s weather) leather isn’t what you want to wear.
My son at 15 has his motorcycle permit. We can walk into any motorcycle shop and get him gear that fits, too bad I can’t. The women’s gear seems for the most part to be as others have mentioned designd for a passenger, usually a petite flat chested one at that or else offer no protection being designed to “display assets”.
James gay says
After reading some of the complaints/comments in this discussion, I have a few comments of my own. First, I remember a time when 750cc was considered a BIG bike (Harleys notwithstanding), I myself ride a Triumph Thruxton and find it plenty fast enough.To the point, in these days of “super sizing” too many brands don’t offer anything technologically advanced or even stylish in displacements in the 250cc to 500cc range. Most of the offerings of the “big four” look cheap, and are poor performers to boot. Not everybody, men and women alike, can safely handle some of these porky juggernauts so popular these days.Second, as far as color is concerned, why don’t they offer white motorcycles that can be painted after purchase to suit the buyer? The few parts(fuel tank, side covers/fairing, and fenders)could be removed once and replaced once, labor charge free as part of the sale.The dealer or the buyer could have it done at any auto body shop;and it would simplify production for the manufacturers.In any case repainting is not that big a job; how many bikes are still as they were when they left the factory? Third, until more sizes and styles become available to the ladies, why not buy something “off the rack” in a larger size and have it altered for fit and color. I agree, it’s a stopgap solution at best. The reason that this forum interested me is because my buddy and I discussed the growing popularity of motorcycling among women in general, and we pipe dreamed of an exclusive brand of bike for women. There is an untapped market out there if someone would exploit it. James G.
Minda says
Like many of the posters here, I too am just getting started. I took the motorcycle safety course and went and got the endorsement on my license. I am 5’0″ and about 110 (it is encouraging to hear there are other small bikers out there who are making it happen!). I rode a Kawasaki Eliminator in my safety course – it fit great and wasn’t too intimidating, but it’s only a 125cc and everyone says I won’t want that after I’ve been on it for a couple weeks. I went to a couple different motorcycle shops and sat on different bikes. A lot of people had recommended the Honda Rebel 250 as the perfect women’s starter bike, but it wasn’t very comfortable. Yes, the seat is pretty low and I could put my feet completely on the ground, but the square battery case digs into the legs when you’re standing if your legs aren’t long enough to straddle pretty wide around it. I ended up buying a used Kawasaki Vulcan 500 which fits wonderfully when I’m riding it. I can’t quite flat foot it, which is a little difficult since I’m a new rider and still working on my confidence. I’d like to be able to completely put my feet on the ground to feel more in control when backing it or maneuvering out of my driveway. I think it will be perfect as I get more comfortable, but it’s a little big and intimidating to start. I would love to have lighter beginning bike options (that’s plural – it’d be nice have choices) with low seat heights that aren’t ridiculously underpowered.
James Gay says
To Minda,(and others) something that I failed to mention in my last post was that HAGON in England offers aftermarket shocks and lowering kits. And if you look in their advertising pictures for these kits, you will see that they are targeted towards women. HAGON makes a good product, I have shocks and fork springs on my Triumph Thruxton; and I’ve been really happy with them. They also offer custom (bespoke, in British terminology)shock lengths for both dual and monoshock set-ups.
aisha says
hey guys!! yes, im a chic. 5’4 and when I first got my bike, height was a little problem. But my boyfriend had it lowered so, POOF, no more problem! and oh yeah, my bike is custom painted. what color you might guess? PINK! CANDY PINK to be exact and black. I love it! Forgot to mention what it was, gxsr 600. Hey what can I say? I’m not just super feminine, but i love my PINK!
Marsha says
I don’t ride by own, but maybe someday. I ride on the back of my husband’s Honda Nighthawk. Two of our sons have their own – one has an ’80’s era Honda Ascot which he has done lots of mods on and the other has a KLR 650 dual-sport which he has also modified to suit himself and for practicality. Sadly, #2 son is in OK so won’t be riding with him very often any more. Our daughter likes to ride behind her oldest brother and both of us need pants. I’d like to find some petite mesh pants to go with my mesh jacket, with liners, that have an adjustable waist, like many women I have an average size waist for my height and a larger than average booty and hips. My daughter has a leather jacket (mine’s mesh) but only wears a 0 – 2. Maybe some chaps but not much luck so far. I have some boots but they aren’t comfortable walking. They slip up and down on my heels and I regret that I went ahead and bought them (local store ordered them in for me to try). I have a narrow heel in comparison to a medium footbed. Last Saturday we went pants shopping with our stim check and only my husband got pants! Wah!
JM says
Hello again, After 5000 miles on my shadow 600, I am finally compfortable reaching on my toes. I didn’t believe it would ever happen. I am finally comportable and relaxed enough to let the bike stay upright at stops with balance, not strength. Rides are much more enjoyable now, and longer. But, I’m still building my custom. It’s being built at voodoo choppers (excellent shop), 1200 HD engine, 200; 18 and renegade cheyenne wheels. You can watch the prgress at voodoochoppers.com @work.
Some of you are having trouble finding small and comfortable stuff. MOB leather of michigan makes small chaps – I still have to hem them. But they are pretty small. I take a size small, and I think they have XS and XXS. (I’m 5 feet and 120lbs)
HD boots are extremely comfortable. Buy at least one size smaller. There’s a cheaper brand that’s just as comfortable, Sorry don’t remember the name, try searching Zappos.
Brittany says
Just putting in my 2 cents: I’m one of the tall skinny camp at 5’10” and 143 lbs. I have long arms and a long torso, but none of it is bulky! I’ve found that women’s jackets tend to be too short in the sleeves and tend to choke me when I’m in a relaxed posture (say, sitting up at a stoplight.) They’re also a tad short in length. Men’s jackets fit PERFECT in the arms (right width and length) and have the perfect torso size. The only thing is, I look like a tiny football kicker wearing a linebacker’s pads in the shoulders – I think I could fit a pack of grapefruits in there with me! I’ve found that Alpinestars does not offer the bit fit for me, but I’ve been unable to try on many brands – the only ones that seem to fit will look like cruiser jackets – long, and belted at the waist, and I ride a SV650S! They only worked because I could go one size up, have the sleeves be long, and belt the crap out of it at the waist!
I am one of the people who don’t like pink on bikes…it’s just my personal preference, I’d feel like an attention monger riding around going “look at me, I’m girly AND I ride a bike!” To me, those two things are separate. I wear heels and pink dresses and makeup when I’m not on my bike, but when I am the girliest color you’ll ever see me in is white. Don’t get me wrong, It’s nice when someone pays respect to me after realizing I’m a women by seeing my hair or my slimmer physique (or boobs, ha ha.) Pink just isn’t something I’d rock on a bike. A pink backpack, maybe…but nothing else 😀
heather s says
I’ve only been riding this past summer. I had always wanted a bike but had never had the courage to get one. I turned 30 and got a 2008 Bonneville Black. I didn’t really know what to get. When I was younger I’d wanted a Harley Sportster, but then I started liking vintage bikes and figures Harleys weren’t my style any longer. They just weren’t my type of cool anymore. I didn’t want anything flashy and I no longer desired to have a bike that was all chromed out. I didnt want to get an old bike because I have no idea how to maintain a bike properly. Then I seen the newer Triumphs, researched a little, went to a dealership, sat on it to make sure I could touch ground, and bought it on my 30th birthday. Other than that, that was all the thinking that went into the decision. I knew I didn’t want too big of a bike, but I also didn’t want one that was too small. I’ve seen people on bikes that look too small for them and they look kinda silly to me. As far as color choices, it was either black or some vintage colors (brit green, silver, cream, wine, etc) — as on the Triumph scramblers. I initially wanted a Scrambler but I felt a little nervous on it because it was a little bit of a stretch for me; I was disappointed and tried the Bonnie next to it and had it delvered the next day. As far as everything else goes, I just use an American Eagle jacket and whatever boots (I don’t ahve the skills or time for long trips yet so I don’t need much else). All the jackets and boots I see are too Harleyed out or just not my style. I’m not overly feminine, but it’s very obvious I’m a woman and I’m not rough and tough looking like some Harley clothes imply to me. I’m not into all that black leather, tats, feathered hair stuff. I just would like to find everyday looking riding clothes. I can’t find gloves that don’t interfere with my comfort level either. BTW, im pretty much 5’8, 150 lbs, and the Bonnie fits great to me. I really want to 50th anniversary edition coming out in 09 though but I guess the black will have to do.
heather s says
i also wanted to mentiont that the dealer i bought my triumph said that i was the 3rd female in 3 days he had sold triumphs to. that had never happened before apparently. i thought it was kinda neat… I think most females just want a bike that fits them and their unique personalities. there are no one size fits all; that’s the great thing about women and humanity in general. the only reason women don’t drive bikes as much is fear — i know because i, too, had (and still have a little) that same fear. but it goes away and i definately do not regret my purchase.
heather s says
brittany — you are soooo right about the women’s jackets being too short in the sleeves and torsos. that’s why i wear an American Eagle “motorcycle” jacket (style only, not very functional) I swiped from my brother. It didnt look overly manly and fit great, with a little padding in the elbows and shoulders.
Lynette says
For me, protection is the #1 criteria in selecting motorcycle gear. Part of protection is visibility–being conspicuous to other drivers/riders. I wear a white Nolan flip-face helmet and a hot pink reflective waist belt for increased visibility in low light/night conditions.
When seeking a mesh jacket for summer, I wanted high visibility and good armor and went with Firstgear’s Countour mesh jacket in pink and white.
I became known by my big silver bike (Moto Guzzi Norge 1200) and that pink jacket, so when it came time to buy a cooler weather jacket, I picked the Joe Rocket Trixie in fuschia, white and black and again selecting a well-armored jacket was a major consideration in my selection.
I wear men’s Sidi boots, wish they were a little more feminine in style, but the get two thumbs up in functionality. They give great protection, are comfortable and waterproof.
So bottom line is want to be recognized as a woman when I ride, and selelction of colors and accentuation of the female form make that apparent.
The highest compliments I get when riding are thumbs ups from men and women as I ride solo, sincere comments that tell me the people are happy to see a lady rider, fascination on the faces of small children, and smiles of support when people realize I am a woman on this bike.
Of course, there are men who really don’t know how to take me, and they either act nervous, standoffish or make chauvinistic comments. Naysayers choose to have a limited view of what is right…Quack, quack, their comments roll right off my back! 🙂 I ride for me and others who can embrace anyone who enjoys riding.
Jere says
Hi all,
It’s great to see all of the women bikers out there. I hope someone in manufacturing is reading these posts as there are definitely a lot of common complaints.
I’m almost 5’6″ 118 pds. I just starting riding my own bike 2 months ago (almost 1500 miles). My first bike is a black 500cc Buell Blast, which I’ve been modifying (new pipe, carb mods, air intake, tach, etc.). This is a fantastic bike for learning how to ride. The bike definitely has enough power (after mods). My next bike will be the Nightster (1200cc Sportster). It fits perfectly.
clothing… oh my gawd… let me count the ways…
1) Please please make REAL riding gear for women. Why should I have to choose between really nice looking gear that is made for passengers (not safe) and a few ill-fitting pieces of real riding gear made for women.
The problems with coats: not tough enough, not enough armor, sleeves too short, and length too short.
Chaps/pants: I currently wear my horse riding chaps when I want to wear chaps. This winter holiday I am going to purchase ICON riding chaps and Scorpion EXO leather riding pants (which are low cut… come one guys… but I’m going to try them never-the-less).
I will say that one of my H-D coats is a real riding coat made for women and is beautiful (creme/purple with some flowery stuff). It fits wonderfully and is armored (thank you H-D). I also recently found an older H-D leather coat (on the clearance rack) that is made out of heavier leather, but is a little short in the sleeves (I’ll just wear longer glooves this fall/winter).
UTE says
I am 5’9.. I started riding this year on a 250 Yamaha cruiser and am looking to move up to my next bike. I listened to all those people about bike safety and starting small. What do I want in a bike? I want a Harley.. a black harley with skulls and lil’ ape hangers and not much chrome and a solo seat and grungy sounding muffler… but, unfortunately… I need to get something smaller so I don’t kill myself too quickly. I really wish HD made a smaller bike than the 883. Like 650 or something around there.. but they dont.. so I will have to either take a giant leap in cc’s or settle for a honda.
T. says
I don’t think that it’s the bike colors that women object to, we think they are just as sexy, sleek, cool, or what ever as men do. However, yes, you guessed it, I am a short(5’41/2″)130lb female that hasn’t ridden for a LONG time, just bought a Yamaha V Star 650 decked out w/saddle bags, chrome(extra), it’s a 2004, been well taken care of, as the guys say, she’s a beauty. However, the bike is a little heavy for me and I really don’t want smaller and the tank is so fat, it really looks like a Harley Fat Boy – side by side, well I got my first ride on it yesterday, did good for a while and then I dropped it! Didn’t hurt it at all, no scratch, hurt myself a little. My biggest gripe would be the heaviness and the tanks are so fat, our legs are not as big as mens. Clothes, well, let’s see if I manage to become a biker first, feminine t-shirts, lighter leathers, etc. would be nice. I want lighter bikes and skinnier tanks. hah..
Thanks, take care, be safe.
Dawn says
I’m 5’9 and 195lbs. I bought a Kawasaki 900LT. It’s wonderful. It weighs just over 500lbs. I find it quite balanced. I just started riding in September. When I asked about what kind of bike I should buy.. the first answer was a Vespa!! As*h**e! Then the same guy said that I should really challenge myself and suggested that I buy something larger than a 250cc bike. Like a 900. So I did. I love it. I do wish though that they made really sexy leather wear for us larger sized women though. I had to buy a man’s jacket for the arm length!!!
See you in Laconia!!
Dawn
Kezia says
Read most of the posts, and agree. I’m on my second bike a Honda Sabre (1100). Perfect. I loe the burnt orange with flames color. Have decent gloves. My gripe is clothing. First I want to be seen for safety reasons. The basic black just blends into the road. Second, I’m a 5’8″, old, very fat, grandma with a pear shape, try to find ANYTHING that fits. I ended up with a Texsport jacket and leave the sides unzipped. Thank god my arms are on the long side.
One other thing I’ve noticed and maybe it’s just the community overall. There seems to be more respect for me as a rider from the old cruiser guys. In this area it seems if you’re not young cute, petite and into blasting past everything in your way you’re looked down upon. I had hoped for more support amoung women riders in general. Regretable.
Kai says
lots of Women riders.. I’m a male rider. but my partner who must be about 5’2″ or there about and not sure in pounds but 50ish kilograms (don’t hit me) she is tiny. she cannot reach the ground on the 900rr fireblade.. but is ok on the smaller lower 250cc and 400cc bikes.. even the older 89 750 zxr ninja she can keep upright. the newer jap bikes just seem to be too high seat height.. but a bike is ok there are heaps of different ones out there. she can always have the 750 ninja if she needs too. bit old but its low.
problem is gear, she finds it impossible to find anything to fit her small figure, even though small still curvy.. so nothing fits at all..
New Zealand has a very limited selection as well… it would be awesome for suggestions on tight fitting pants, jacket or leathers for a female of small but curvy proportions..
tight fitting and sleek is the key and the look she is after. so far everything is too big.. has found nothing too small or near fitting well.. everything even XXS is just too big…
there must be something small out there. I mean she isnt a midget!
bloody new zealand shops eh
Michael McLintock says
Great web site…very informal….lots of info.I am passing your web address alone to friends,somwe of which are novice women riders.I myself have been riding for 45 yrs.My present ride is a 1990 Suzuki Katana GSX1100F and love it…thANKS for the great site
Lurch says
My wife complains about the brake and clutch levers being too far off for her short fingers on most every bike she tests.
omer says
ohh my this article is amazing its for like 3 years now started 05 and now its 09 how amazing am omer 19 years old i got a honda shadow and am really interested to c any bikerladies around i live in egypt and all women hear are afraid to ride bikes dunno why
i appreciate women and respect bikerladies we all speak same lang ladies
Julie says
I’m a 5’4″ female rider with a Honda Shadow Aero 750 – that is white with pink flowers (in a flame-like pattern.) Selecting a bike was a long process due mostly to my height and my insistence that I be comfortable with maneuvering it. It would be wonderful to have more bikes with lower seat heights and a shorter reach (I added risers) – and bikes that are WELL BALANCED so the bike is easy to maneuver. I sat on a Honda 1300, then a Yamaha 1500 and could not believe the difference in balance. A bike does not need to feel like trying to move a tank when it is sitting still! My next bike will likely be the Honda 1300 – a bike with a low seat height and a low center of gravity (giving it awesome handling despite it’s size).
I chose the paint I have because I wanted my bike to express who I am. I enjoy being a woman and being feminine. Because my bike looks so different it catches peoples attention – which means they are seeing me; if they see me, they’re less likely to hit me, run me off the road, turn left in front of me, etc. – an added bonus to having my bike express who I am! As at least one other post mentioned – others on the road treat you differently if they know you are a woman. In my opinion, if that makes my rides more safe – I’m all for it!
Finding good quality gear that offers maximum protection and FITS RIGHT is nearly impossible; many manufacturers think making a men’s jacket smaller and in pink is all they need to do – wrong. Others think women only care about style and so make women’s gear cute and fashionable but nowhere near protective. Women want the same quality and protection that men’s gear offers, but actually made to fit a female form. More color selection would be great too . . . but to me that is secondary to protection and fit.
Guzzi Girl says
Great to hear so many women are getting into riding. There is nothing that compares to the feeling of freedom that riding offers.
Biggest Beef- Sport Tour seat heights!!!
I am 5’4″ with a short inseam and avg build. I had a 750 Shadow Aero which was great as far as seat height was concerned, flat foot, bent knees. It was perfect in that respect but I found even after I did a stage 2 on the bike I was still lacking power and because it was a cruiser it is low so was constantly scraping pegs in the twisties…was ruining my fun!!! I had tried a friends CBR 954 and RC51 sports bikes, great power and clearance for cornering, but I found the ride position uncomfortable, my neck would kill me after riding for awhile and I am just a v twin girl, in line 4 doesn’t have that mid range torque that makes me grin lol! and the bikes were too high for me… they are light weight so no big deal when you are riding and at stop lights etc, but really not cool when you can’t move your bike around in a parking lot to get yourself parked!!
I will easily put on 3,000 km of riding on a 3 day weekend. So I needed something that was comfortable for long hauls, had bags for luggage, a larger gas tank and could handle some hard riding in the twisties= a sport tourer. Finding a Sport Tourer with a low seat height is a night mare, sport tourers tend to be heavier bikes just due to the nature of the beast. I currently ride a Moto Guzzi Norge 1200, I truly love the bike. Has a push rod transverse twin in it, great power, wonderful in the corners, 400 km’s between gas stops on the hwy….having said that, I am still struggling with the height and bar reach. I have the suspension set on lowest setting, ordered the optional lowered seat and had my riding boots built up 3/4″ and am still struggling with the height, have a difficult time moving the bike around parking lots when parking or in general backing the bike up when on it. SO I am now looking for a lowering link and having wedges custom milled to pull back the bars…hardly seems fair I have to go to all this effort because I am 5’4″…which I don’t consider overly short. I found all the sport tourers were tall, the Norge was better than most for seat height!!!
As far as riding gear- As long as it is well armoured, go for your personal taste!! I wear a Ladies First Gear Kilamanjaro Touring coat, great for Ladies curves..red to match my bike. My one feminine touch is my full face helmet. Shoei Flutter butterfly helmet..I love it.
Enjoy your rides and remember-It is the journey not the destination!!
Sara says
I am 5’8 125lbs and have been riding a 73 triumph bonneville for 14 years. Never been able to find another bike as comfortable to ride as it is for me now. Simple changes like different handlebars and moving the foot controls forward have made this bike fit me far better then anything else i have been able to find. the seat hight is low enough for me to sit flat foot at a stop and even have my knees bent very relaxed and comfortable. Its a 750cc so it has more then enough power and since its not a V twin it dosnt vibrate the way the harleys do so its easy to ride for hours on end and i do just that whenever i can.
I have always been a major tomboy so changing the bike to suit me has never been a problem but at 5’8 125lbs finding riding clothes can be. I am not flat chested so i seem to have the option of wearing a jacket thats too loose in most areas or too small in some. I have givin up on off the rack riding gear and get leather stuff tailor made now. After wearing fitted clothes i cant go back to off the rack jackets. It just isnt a option anymore. If you can afford it get yourself custom made leathers and make sure they know your going to be riding in them and the way you sit on the bike for when they measure you. Leaned forward holding handlebars all the time means the sleeves need to be longer to fit right.
In years of riding i have never sat on a sport bike that i could sit on comfortably so i really dont know what to say for all the shorter riders if they want a sport bike. But if the new triumph bonnevilles are the same size as the ones they made over 30 years ago… i suggest every female rider finds a triumph dealer and tries one out. Or if you dont mind a old bike get a classic triumph But they do take more work to take care of.
On that note… the look on a old biker guys face when he sees a young woman kick start a classic bike…. its priceless.
Just remember the bike is just a machine and it can be changed to fit you. You dont have to settle for bikes designed to fit men just redesign them the way you want.
As for pink… well pink is evil Green is the only way to go.
Jenni the Ducatisti says
Alot of the comments made here have all been accomidated by the Ducati Monster 696. This is the bike I ride and I love it! It’s my first season on a bike and I couldn’t be happier. I was a backseat rider for years and finaly got into the front seat this year. This years Ducati Monster 696 is what I have dubed as the Ladies Ducati. This is one of the best bikes out there for the new, female rider. I am 5’4″ and I fit it perfectly, however it can come with a lowered seat if you are shorter. As well for all you taller ladies out there, my 6’3″ husband fits on her too, without it feeling too small. This bike is coming in at the surprising price of $9,995.00, which is jaw droping for a Duc. Find me another hand built bike that preforms this well and has an unbeatable sound for under $10,000! You can’t! So for any women that has avoided Ducati’s because of price, it’s time to check them out again! Also, the servicing is every 12,000kms on ’09’s and newer, instead of every 6000kms.
kevin williams says
Hi to all have read with interest the debate on female riders i am a motorcycle instructor mainly cbt work.
What i have found to be the case as far as bikes are concerned is firstly the need to reach the ground this is a must but for the shorter in the leg often puts the rider in the cruiser class of bike which is of course not to everyones taste its well overdue for a total re-think by manufacturers also the weight of the machine is important i have often had ladies ask if there are lighter bikes out there sadly again not much choice.
As for colour well its down to personal taste all in all i think both female and the shorter rider get a pretty raw deal and usually have to make do with second best and at the end of the day still pay the same as the rest of us .
Perhaps it would be an idea to bring these problems to the manufactures directly as i am sure they would value the research and could see the potential in terms of sales.
As for female/ women / ladies / or girls riding bikes BLOODY GOOD ON YOU the more the better .
Best reguards
Kevin Williams riding instructor
Gillian Sanchez Spence says
Men motorcyclists
j/k bikes that we can roll backwards easily, and have our feet touch the ground
Joy Batchelor says
I am a short, petite rider, so of course size and weight are an issue. I really wanted to get a gp style bike but was disappointed in not finding anything to fit at all. I was pushed to the cruiser side and found a 04 honda shadow 750. I didn’t care too much on color knowing full well if I wanted it changed that was an easy fix. The problem is that I still have the super bike itch. I was cruising the dealership and wouldn’t you know there is a low super bike. It is too much bike for me though. 09 busa. Why can’t they make every cc with adjustable suspension height. I have looked into lowering kits and it still does not go low enough. If they can make 09 busa low enough give me a kit and I’ll do it myself. All they need to do is give the aftermarket options and they won’t have to spend the money for the floor models. Doesn’t seem that hard to me. Of course the next complaint is the clothing. However, over the last two years I have seen more options in the shops. Really hard to order online when you can’t try it on first.
Joe says
Why is it so many females seem to follow the marketing driven trend and desire only a Harley or a Ducati monster ? One of the most nimble,stylish,lightweight and easy to ride bikes is the Triumph Bonneville .
Val says
I’m 5’3″, 140lbs and I bought the new Monster 696 last year after spending some time learning on a GZ250. I still had to shave the seat and added medium rise bars to allow me the leverage to handle the bike more easily on the ground, but it was one of the few bikes I tried which was even a possibility. Most were so tall that I would not be able to stop, drop a cheek and still have the strength to safely hold the bike at such an extreme angle, especially if the road was not level.
It isn’t about marketing-driven trends for a lot of us, Joe–it’s about the fact that we need bikes which are short, light and well-balanced enough to safely handle, even when the conditions are not ideal. Not many bikes fit the bill for those of us who are short (don’t forget, when you are short, generally everything is shorter–arms, legs, little hands, etc. ). If you limit yourself to one class of bike (sportbikes or cruisers etc. only), you can quickly find yourself in the place where only one or two models meet your needs. For me, only one model met those needs last year when I was buying.
For the record, I did really like the Bonneville, but was not able to strongly consider it until the ’09 model came out, as it is an additional inch lower…and for some of us, that is the difference between “I’ll drive it out of here!” and “damn, that stinks….”
I think the industry is recognizing the female market exists, so I am hopeful that someday, I may have quite a few choices instead of just one when I want to buy a new bike. That said, I LOVE my Monster, so it might be the same choice all over again. 😉
jamie says
hey ladies….. at 5’9″ and 125lbs, im a tall slim female. i ride an 03 cbr that i just had lowered. it makes a huge difference. im not by any means short but females are obviously proportioned differently than the boys. handling is amazing now and my feet fully touch the ground! its a huge confidence boost! finding clothing is hard. with so few brands catering to women its slim pickins (not everyone is built to fit a fieldsheer) which it seems like fieldsheer is the only brand in every store here. find a bike shop who is willing to order you gear and they send it back if you dont opt to purchase it. those are the stores that should get your business. i own an icon merc 3 team jacket in a small and it fits amazing. definitely made for long arms! i recently bought a speed and strength mesh jacket the true romance one and it fits great too (a little loose around the chest) im going to have it tailored. its well worth the money. as for colors. i love pink but i dont wanna be that pink thing driving down the road. im doing the black and white thing with a little sparkle here and there. hey….. you want em to know you’re a girl! i would like to see some more clothing choices to fit tall and thin women. the curvy and short girls have a valid complaint too. guys love to see us out there so why dont they encourage us? some guy cut me off the other day wearing a “the B!T%H! fell off shirt” seriously? spend some time working with a bike shop who appreciates your business, takes you seriously as a rider, and has references and comraderie to other shops in the area to help you out!
Linda says
The wishlist for me:
I would LOVE it if I could find TALL women’s sizes in bike gear and more feminine gear. I’m almost 6 ft tall and I have yet to find a jacket with long enough arms. The riding pants that I try on end up looking like capris when I sit on the bike too! (If you hate that your pants are always too long keep in mind at least you can have them shortened…. adding a fabric panel at the bottom of your pants to make them longer really isn’t a look anyone should try to pull off)
Tall does not equal wide. I don’t want to buy an XL pair of riding pants to get that extra inch in length…. the pants will collect bugs as they’re flapping along behind me!
Feminine doesn’t have to be pink or purple!!….it still has to match my bike afterall!Maybe a nice fire engine red? or a sleek platinum? a chocolate brown to match my new purse? 🙂
The other thing I’d love to see is more femine boots. When I throw on a pair of jeans and go for a ride to meet up with friends I don’t want to look like I’m in combat boots. Okay, stilletos are a little impracticle for a bike, but platform chunky boots with squared off toes and metal studs?
🙂
tasha says
Hi there everybody.
I have only recently become interested in motorcycles (my dad had a bad accident a few years back that put me off for a while) but I have noticed that small bikes are a problem. I am an extremely short woman at 4’10” and every bike I have sat on has been too big. Now I don’t want some children’s bike but neither do I want to be lugging around something that is likely to keep toppling and take me with it when I stop. Any suggestions??? Don’t really care about clothing all that much, as long as I can prevent my face getting ripped off by asphalt, I’m pretty stoked…
Mary Lou aka Pinky says
Plastic, is OUT! – Leather is what it takes to ride a bike, but I want to be “Unique” – although my bike boasts Softtail Harley-Davidson, I love being a woman rider, and spend hours – days on the intrenet searching for items that are Stylish, Girley, and PINK! – I do not get paid to advertise HD, ICON, ETC… and do not want the shops name printed on the back of every shirt I purchase. So, as you can see by my items, i make special custom jackets and garments for the women that want to be seen and do not like wearing all that black, not that black is bad, but I’m not giving those cages any reason to say…”I didn’t see her”.. There is no excuse! So I choose to Dress not only my bike, but myself to the “T” when I hit the road. Thanks for the opportunity to share! Pinky
Sharon G. says
As far as bikes, they have come long way in terms of ‘fit.’ I currently ride a 650 V-Star after many (many) years of riding 250-350 street bikes, which ‘back in the day’ where about the only bikes small women could reach the ground on (except for the extreme choppers of the 70s – no thanks!)
Clothes are another issue. I don’t want black. It’s too hot and I feel like I’m trying to fit in with the uniform. I want to be seen – not in terms of “Oh, look! A Woman,” but in terms of “Oh look! There’s someone on a bike!” But I don’t want pink, or baby blue, bright red or white. Actually, I would like a new light tan leather. Finally found just the boots I was looking for online – HD’s discontinued them. Found chaps this color, but their covered in beads and fringe and likely not very thick – fashion instead of safety. Found one style jacket, again more fashion than practicality. Haven’t found a vest at all. You would think brown, fawn, whatever, leather would be a little more common… kuond itound
Kris says
I am a woman rider, I rode behind my husband for many years, and loved it. However, I love riding on my own, much more. I ride a Softail, which has been lowered and a lower seat put on. I am 5′ 2″ tall, so I am not tall in any way. I am not a girly girl, never have been, never will be. But I love the color pink ( I know, this is a total contradiction, but this is me). Not neon pink, just pink. One pair of my riding gear is pink, little brighter than I like, but still pink. I want to paint my bike pink. My hubby said fine, get a new tank (my bike is an anniversary edition) and paint it. Now, all our friends are having complete fits about a pink Harley. HMMMM, I am tired of black, it is boring. One guy told me to paint it purple…LOL. Why, Harley makes a purple bike. so I would just be copying them. My absolute favorite color is tye dye. if I could figure out how to tye dye a bike, I would do it. That would be really cool. but since I can’t figure it out, and I have limited money….Pink it is. I saw a posting that a guy saw a pink Harley and thought it was sad. Too bad that he can’t see the positive in it. I am proud to say that I want a pink bike, More proud to say that I will stand up to everyone, in order to get it.
Too Much says
I am a tall woman with a very curvy figure, small waist, wide hips, big thighs and a big behind. I can not find gear made for woman my size at the bike shops….so what I wear for riding pants are military pants. THey are perfect and designed to take a beating! I was hit by a car while riding and while my legs were brusied, there was notning wrong with the pants! They come in every size and length and are comfortable in every kind of weather! I wear swat boots, very comfortable! I have searched every bike shop in my area for gear but have no luck. I can not find a riding jacket that I absolutely love in mens or womens. The mens are long enough but not roomy enough in the bust area, the womans are either too short in the arms or way too tight in the bust area, have tried the plus sizes and they are too big in the waist!
I wish the maufactures would take a hint from other clothing manufactures and realize that woman come in all shapes and sizes!
Sue says
I’m on the taller side for a female rider – 5″8″ – so I guess I was little better off than most when looking for a bike. I definitely don’t fit in with the “longer legs” group of women though, my legs are so short that capris look like pants that just happen to have been cut 2 inches too short! I’m just not a cruiser kind of girl, so I had a lot of trouble back in ’07 finding a bike with a short enough seat height (I really like the confidence that comes from being able to flat-foot at stops). I also had trouble getting the salesguys in the local bike shops to stop taking one look at me and insisting that anything more powerful than a Ninja 250 was too much for me to handle. I ended up with my ’06 R6, in raven black, which I absolutely love. I dropped the back suspension as far as possible and can get the balls of my feet to the ground, which has proven to be enough, although I would still prefer to be able to flat-foot (especially with all of the potholes and uneven ground where I ride).
I would have loved it if there were a mid-class bike (600 or 750) with a lower seat height for me. I didn’t have troubles with the levers or handle bar reach on any of the sport bikes I tried (my ridiculously short legs mean I also have a ridiculously long torso). As for color, I would never ride a pink bike, not because there’s anything wrong with them, they’re just not for me. I’ve always been a tomboy and I’m just not a pink kind of person. I love my nasty-looking black bike with little red pinstripe details!
While I had a relatively easy time finding a bike, clothing has been a different story. When I first started riding (3 years ago) I indulged my inner tomboy and bought all black riding gear – an icon ladies Tuscadero leather jacket, black gloves, and an HJC black helmet with silver and red barbed wire graphics. I was living in Rochester, NY at the time so I bought the jacket a size larger than I needed so I could fit a sweatshirt under it. I looked like a linebacker with a tiny neck when I wearing it. I can’t even count the number of times I got “Hey dude, nice bike!” comments while riding. Now, I’m not a girly girl, but I don’t like being mistaken for a man!
After moving to Southern California, I really needed some warm weather riding gear. It seemed like EVERYONE thought I was guy with my gear on so I saw this as my chance to fix that. I searched websites for days looking for feminine hot-weather riding wear that still had some kind of actual protection to it. I finally decided on the Scorpion Nip/Tuck jacket in lavender. I walked into a brick and mortor store determined to get that purple jacket (that’ll show ’em, call me a boy now!), but I just couldn’t bring myself to buy it. It was still too girly, I want people to be able to tell I’m female but I don’t want to broadcast it to everyone within a 3 mile radius. I ended up getting the Nip/Tuck in white and black, and even without the girly colors, the tighter fit lets most people know I’m female. I love my helmet too much to trade it in yet (plus it matches the bike), but I did get some pink and black Scorpion gloves as compromise to myself for not getting the lavender jacket. The gloves fit great and I was so happy with them I wore them around the apt for a week after getting them!
The biggest problem I have with the new jacket is that the length is way too short, as were all of the female specific sportbike jackets I tried on. I tried moving up in sizes but even going from a M to an XL didn’t buy enough length and made everything else baggy. When I’m riding my lower back sticks out, I’ve got a band of sun-burn even! I would like women’s jackets that are form-fitting, with proper armor, that actually fit when the wearer is in a riding position, and that come in several color choices so both the tomboys and girly girls have something they like. Also, I need pants that are sized for actual women, or even juniors, rather than pre-teens. I don’t consider myself to be all that big (size 9 in juniors pants), but I needed an XL in pants to fit over my butt and thighs (and they weren’t even comfortable enough to sit down in for long)! really?! How can I take a medium jacket and XL in the matching pants? I would love some riding pants but just can’t find any that are made to fit anyone besides the catalog models.
Terri Brown says
Well, I got out of motorcycle safety class last sat. and have done nothing—I mean nothing but look for a bike since.. I did type in pink bike just to see what i got and here I am.. I am 5’4 and 140 and turned 40 this year and so were most of the women in my class.. I liked the yamaha vstar but in the smaller engine it is air cooled so my hubby said no!! so i went to honda 750, 1100(only the saber the spirit is too tall), or 1300 which is weird cause it is shorter than 1100) and I am on an extreme budget but now I am researching Harley’s which is what I really really want- just because I like Harley- the look-the sound- and the whole idea… but funny thing is they are air cooled too but apparently if its a Harley hubby doesn’t mind working on it. lol… he rides a Harley but wants a big dog.. which looks just like a harley to me.. who knew? Anyway to say the least I still can’t decide and if I don’t soon my children are gonna starve and the bugs are gonna move in my house and the dog is never gonna get to go outside again… so please someone tell me which bike is the best ride for the best price.. and I don’t want a sport bike.. I’m too old school..
By the way I have black harley jacket with turquoise ribbing which fits great altho I’m sure when I’m riding my own instead of 2 up its gonna creep some so may have to rethink that…
Cheryl says
I would like the clothing to be more rider friendly, like….snap, or button down collars! I’m not out there to make a fashion statement, just ride my bike. Oh, and not ALL hoodies have to have STRINGS in them to make them a hoodie, which I love, but always have to remove the strings so I’m not tortured going down the road. I like to look like a girl of course, but can’t someone come up with a “feminine” workshirt? I love to wear my tank tops and such in the summer, but won’t risk wearing only that on the road. Just a light workshirt to wear over on those hot days would be nice, and then you could just take off the outer shirt when you get where you’re going. They make sooo many for MEN! lol
That’s my beef. All you women out there ride safe!!!
🙂
Kristine says
Well Ladies – I commend all of you for taking the step and learning to ride your own. I am a lady apparently just finding herself in the last few years. With three brothers, I was a tomboy growing up and I am a girly girl.
I survived breast cancer at age 35 and have not looked back! I became a teacher at 38 and just earned my doctorate degree at age 43! The same year I learned to ride a motorcycle through a safety class and got my license.
Last month (August 2009), I purchased 2 motorcycles (one for me, and the other for my husband) and neither one of us have ever owned motorcycles. I looked at the Harley Softails, but couldn’t justify paying that much money for my first bike. I tried to pick it up and I struggled. I am now driving a 2006 Yamaha V-Star 650 (his is an 07 V-Star 1100) and I have put about 1200 miles on since. I teach 6th grade and my students think it’s cool seeing their teacher drive HER bike into school.
As for my bike, it is two tone of charcoal and silver. I have added PINK LED lights to the tires and engine. I also found black and pink fringe for my grips and levers. I added silver beads and pink crystals on the fringe – looks AWESOME! and you can tell that I am a woman driver.
My riding gear is a pink helmet and a pink leather shirt jacket (Jamin Leather). I have a white fringed leather jacket for riding at night. I haven’t purchased chaps yet, but I have found black fringed with bone details that I will be buying. I decided on black because they will go with whatever jacket or shirt I am wearing. I don’t have to worry about the pink matching each other (yes they have to match!). I am of average height and weight (5’6″ and 170 lbs) so the items fitting have not been any problems.
The one difficulty that I had was gloves because of my fingernails. I finally ended up with golf gloves because of the fit. They are LadyClassic golf gloves with the tips cut out for my long fingernails and the left glove has a cut out for my diamond wedding rings. They have shaped to my hands and warm enough for riding in the early morning. I purchased two sets, black pair and a pink pair.
I would like to have my bike painted but have yet to decide on a paint scheme….any suggestions?
Thanks so much for reading………keep riding!
Kristine