Motorcycle women or biker women, no matter what they choose to label us as, women riders are here, and here in a big way.
Knowing that as a woman you can buy a motorcycle and learn how to ride it is only half of the battle. Knowing what motorcycle is right for you is the other half.The American Motorcyclist Association now has 265,000 registered women motorcycle owners, isn’t it about time you joined them? Every day women just like you are coming to the realization that they to can join the ranks of women riders and learn to ride a motorcycle.
Truthfully, if you look around on any sunny day you will see a lot of women riding motorcycles, and not just little scooters or 250cc putt putt bikes. I am talken a big honking motorcycle like a Harley Davidson Dyna low-rider, Softail Fat boy or Softail Deluxe.
A lot of women riders opt for a lighter but just as powerful Sportster 883 low or 1200 low, this is a great bike as well.
I read an article that depicted the Harley Davidson Sportster as the scourge of women riders. However, This is most definitely not the case.
In the past, a Sportster motorcycle was built only with the man rider in mind. However, today Harley Davidson has re-thought the Sportsters design to include women riders.
In the past the Sportster had a high center of gravity and was very top heavy for most motorcycle women. It also came with center control shifting and brake controls. This made for a very uncomfortable off balanced ride for many women riders. Now though, Harley Davidson has seen the light and has lowered the Sportster to give it a lower seat height and center of balance, perfect for shorter motorcycle women.
Although Harley still insists on having mid controls, a women rider can easily and fairly inexpensively have forward controls put on.
Adding forward controls makes for a more comfortable ride and by lowering the Sportster, Harley has made the Sportster much less top heavy and more stable for most biker women.
One other suggestion for a motorcycle woman wanting a Sportster low, you may want to change the seat. The stock seat on the Sportster low is thin with very little padding. It will be fine for short jaunts around town, but believe me biker girl, after a couple hundred miles you will wish you had heeded this writer’s advice and opted for a new cushier seat.
There is nothing wrong with trying and buying a bigger motorcycle then the Sportster. Any woman rider is just as capable of riding a Harley Davidson Dyna or Softail. They are more comfortable to ride on longer rides this is for sure. Some biker women will even go as fare as to tell you that a bigger motorcycle like a Dyna or Softail is easier to ride then Sportster. Personally I can’t confirm or deny this belief. A Sportster rides the way it rides. The bigger bikes have their own distinct ride as well.
There is one drawback for most women riders though. The larger Harley Davidson’s are heavier. If you are a one hundred and ten pound woman, it can be a bit taxing to maneuver a larger motorcycle around. Most of the motorcycle women that I know that ride a Dyna or a Softail have to have their husband or boyfriend pull it out of the garage or move it for them. One other thing, the bigger and heavier the motorcycle, the harder it is to pick up should you accidentally drop it.
Yes there are motorcycles other then the Harley Davidson. Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha and Suzuki all have models comparable to the Sportster, Dyna and Softail
For the Sportster appeal the Honda Shadow Aero 750cc or the Honda Shadow Spirit 750cc motorcycle is a great motorcycle. It has a nice comfortable ride for any woman rider and comes already equipped with forward controls. The Honda VTX line up is comparable to the Dyna and Softail. The Honda VTX comes with a 1300cc motor or an 1800cc motor. As far as handling and maneuverability, the Honda VTX 1300 is my preference.
Kawasaki’s has a lot more to choose from if you want a real motorcycle. The Kawasaki Vulcan series has a motorcycle for any biker women size and riding style. The Kawasaki Vulcan starts at 500cc and climbs up the power grid all the way to 2000cc. The size I recommend for most women riders is the Vulcan 900cc or the Vulcan 1500cc. The Vulcan 900cc is lighter and is a bit more maneuverable. The 1500cc has the power… When it comes to comfort, both of these motorcycles stand up. After a 200 mile run I could not distinguish a difference.
Yamaha’s V Star 950cc, 1100cc and 1300cc motorcycles are great for all motorcycle women and are everything a motorcycle should be. The Yamaha V Star 950cc is the perfect motorcycle for a woman rider. Don’t let the 950cc size fool you this bike has enough power to keep up with the big boys, while being agile and maneuverable for any motorcycle woman. It is comfortable even after a few hundred miles. If you still think you need a bigger bike, the V Star 1300cc is a top contender.
Suzuki Boulevard is not to be left out. The Boulevard M50, C50 and S50 series is right in line with all of the lighter more maneuverable motorcycles in this list. The M50, C50 and S50 Boulevards are light and low enough for even the smallest biker woman yet has more power then any woman rider needs. The Boulevard C90 and M90 have much more to offer in the horsepower department but also are a lot harder to move around and much heavier to pick up if ever dropped.
All of these motorcycles are great motorcycles and everyone is a wonderful choice for women riders everywhere. If you are a woman that can handle the biggest, this is not a bad thing. I admire your strength and courage.
I have to admit that a bigger motorcycle has its advantages. More power, more comfort for the long haul and a greater riding distance in most cases. However for motorcycle women, they do have disadvantages as well. They are heavier and not so easy to move around. They are heavier and not as easy to pick up if dropped. And they have less mobility. For taller or bigger women this is not an issue and I would recommend a larger motorcycle.
For smaller women riders, I would recommend staying within the 750cc to 950cc category. All of the motorcycles listed in this category are plenty of motorcycle for all motorcycle women and will give you a comfortable ride. These motorcycles are lighter and more maneuverable; you will be able to push any of them out of your garage all by yourself.
The whole point to riding is to enjoy the ride. Having a motorcycle that you are intimidated by, can’t handle or that is uncomfortable to ride will ruin your riding experience and defeat you even before you get started.
The best rule of thumb for every women rider is, shop around. Sit on different motorcycles to see how they feel. Does your feet sit flat on the ground, does the motorcycle feel top heavy? Do you feel comfortable in the saddle? Is your back straight or do you need to reach forward to far? How do the controls feel? Are they mid controls or forward controls? If they are forward controls, Can you reach them? Move the motorcycle around, see how it feels. Can you push it easy enough? Will you need help to store it? If at all possible ask the salesperson if you can have a demonstration to see how easy it will be to pick up in case you ever drop it. Now start it up and see if you can take it for a test ride. If you find the motorcycle just doesn’t feel right to you try a different one. There are plenty to choose from. Don’t fall pray to a stereotype or play the brand name game.
It really doesn’t matter what make or model of motorcycle you ride. What matters most is, that you ride and you enjoy it. It is your thing. Please don’t buy a bike under pressure of a motorcycle salesman. You are the one that needs to feel right with the bike.
From one woman rider to another, if you have the correct motorcycle for you it is safer and you will enjoy riding so much more. Isn’t it about time you joined the ranks of women riders? 265,000 registered motorcycle women can’t be wrong.
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