Over the past few months, a lot of you women have emailed asking the question. What motorcycle is right for my first bike? So to answer your question, the first thing to remember and is the most obvious, women are different then men and have different need when picking the right motorcycle.

Also realize there are just about as many different kinds and styles of motorcycles as there are women to ride them.

I would like to state for the record though, the final decision when you pick your new bike is ultimately yours and yours alone. Please do not be swayed into buying a motorcycle because it looks pretty or because someone else told you that it is the bike for you. Use common sense. Do a bit of investigating look around. Do not buy the first motorcycle you see in the first place that you look. If it turns out to be the best one for you, most likely it will still be there when you go back for a second look. If not, I am quite sure the dealer will be able to get you another one similar if not just like it. Read the rest of this entry »

Introduction

Protective clothing, such as a jacket, boots, and gloves reduce rider injury severity and, therefore play an important role of preventing or at least decreasing the degree of injury should a crash or fall occur. Another idea that comes to mind is weather protection and not mentioned above is protection from the elements. PPE provides protection from wind, rain and cold. The Department of Transportation recommends using the following protective gear for safety: DOT (Department of Transportation) approved motorcycle helmet with a high safety rating, good quality leather jacket, thick leather chaps or leather trousers to protect your legs, leather gloves to protect your hands, and leather boots to protect your feet and ankles. Protective clothing and equipment serve a three-fold purpose for motorcyclists: comfort, protection from the elements, and some measure of injury protection. Do not forget to supply the passenger with safety gear also.

Stay Visible: Extreme Visibility is Very Important

One of the main reasons motorcyclists are killed in crashes is because the motorcycle itself provides virtually no protection in a crash. Also it is no surprise that the majority of motorcycle/automobile accidents are due to poor visibly. Make yourself visible: Choose protective gear that will increase both the rider and passenger visibility in addition to providing protection in the event of a crash. LED lighting improves motorcycle visibility, and horns provide sound warnings to keep others on the road aware of your presence. Remember to utilize the use of bright colors, white, neon colors, or reflective material, a means for other motorists to see the motorcyclist and also the passenger.

Protect Your Body: Jackets and Trousers Read the rest of this entry »

For most of the two and a half weeks that I’ve been on crutches, my computer was down. I did some stupid thing on it that I shouldn’t have, and two friends and two techs (and probably two hundred dollars) later, it is finally back in working order.

The crutches: an old motorcycle accident has come back to haunt me. my right knee went out, way out.

The accident: Several years ago, I had my old screaming-orange Yamaha 360 (haha!). It was a beater of a bike, and at the time, I knew little about bikes except that I really liked ‘em. Anyways, this bike had a loose chain and it was running on one coil. Simply put, she wasn’t getting full power, the lights may or may not work; not good. Then I got this rich burgundy ‘83 550 Honda Nighthawk, which had no chain, but a shaft drive, with excellent throttle response, in great shape. Read the rest of this entry »

As the weather gets warmer, men and women throughout the tri-state region will start revving up their motorcycles. It is a ritual for the motorcycle enthusiast that is timed to the warming weather and end of winter. For some, it is also a time to refresh their safety skills, and for good reason. Riders with experience survive.

Motorcycles have a reputation for being a dangerous vehicle. But not for the reasons many may think. A study undertaken by the Traffic Safety Center at USC found that motorcycle training substantially reduced accident involvement and reduced injuries in the event of accidents. It also showed that motorcycle riders showed significant collision avoidance problems by over-braking and skidding the rear wheel, and under-braking the front wheel, greatly reducing the ability to avoid collisions. Further, the ability to counter-steer their motorcycles and swerve to avoid an accident was essentially absent. Read the rest of this entry »

This is an interesting question I received in an email form Kristine L. She asked; “What size of street bike would you recommend for a woman with only a small amount of dirt bike riding experience? I am trying to decide between a dual sport or a street bike. Let me know what you think”.

A decision to get a bike should never be taken lightly. There is a lot to consider when you get your first motorcycle. The size, can your feet touch the ground comfortably? Is it to heavy for you to hold up? Also the power, can you handle the bike safely? Is the motor to big or to fast for you to control the bike? Where will you do most of your riding? Will you be riding on the street mostly, off road or both? Read the rest of this entry »

my 20 year old daughter and I took a trip to Flagstaff last August on the bikes. We have riden many many miles together but NEVER through this kind of heat. We had to be back in Phoenix by 6pm and the temperatures were well into the 100’s and the heat from the pavement was making heat stroke a real possibility.

 We stopped at nearly every gas station between Flagstaff and Phoenix and used the old water on the head trick to stay cool but we found that the further we went, the more heat we endured the more of our bodies needed the water treatment! Read the rest of this entry »

 By Isla Campbell

The thrill of riding a motorbike is a wonderful experience and unlike any other form of transport. If, like so many others, you are thinking of buying your first bike, a few simple steps can prevent you from buying something you’ll just want to trade in after a few months.

Being the first owner of a new bike can be a privilege, but one that comes at a price. Bikes depreciate a lot quicker than cars, and this is especially true with new bikes, losing at least 15% of their value as soon as you’ve ridden it out of the showroom. If you’re an inexperienced driver the drop in value in the first weeks is pretty high, significantly affecting the vehicle’s resale price. If you do choose to buy new, make sure you intend to keep it for a while in order to minimise the effects of the initial loss. Read the rest of this entry »

By Selene Marin  

Gone are the days when women were merely fans who stood in sidelines, enthusiastically cheering on their favorite biker. Gone are the days when women were viewed by some biker men as simply an adornment to their image and a plus for their machismo. Gone are the days when motorcycle riding was a sport meant only for men.

Today, we see more and more women embark on this exciting world of motorbike riding and racing which used to be patriarchal and masculine in nature. We are astounded by a lot of female riders who are up for the challenge of races and who are fast becoming just as good as their male counterparts. Read the rest of this entry »

HARLEY-DAVIDSON DAYTONA WOMEN’S DAY RIDE INCREASES COUNT TO 500

MILWAUKEE (February 1, 2008) – On March 4, 2008, in Daytona, Fla., 500 Harley-Davidson women riders will join together in what the Motor Company believes will be the largest women’s ride in the Company’s 105-year history. Originally, the Harley-Davidson Women’s Day Ride, benefiting Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), was to be limited to 105 women; but after an incredible response from women riders asking to join the ride, Harley-Davidson decided to increase the size to accommodate 500 women. Read the rest of this entry »

Lace Wheels – Motorcycles and Women is a woman owned and operated web blog
that is all about women that ride motorcycles.  Our mission is
to spread the word that in fact you as a woman can get off of the back and get
your own ride. If you are a woman that rides we would like to get to know you. 
If you have any interesting motorcycle related story, like how you got
started riding a motorcycle. Or who was the biggest influence in getting you off
the back and into the riders seat.  Or any motorcycle riding
related story at all, please email it to Sherry or Cindy Quick Wilson at
get-off-the-back@motorcyclesandwomen.com