Are Motorcycles Just for Men? — Part 2
In Part 1 of this article we established the fact that women make a big impact in the sport of motorcycling.
“With training and experience, women can and often do become as good or better than men with the same training and experience. — Joanna Murray”
Now, let’s look at how long women have been involved in the sport.
Is it a new phenomenon?
A review of history reveals that women have been in the sport of motorcycling from the very beginning. One of the pioneers of the early days, when roads were gravel and dirt trails, is Della Crewe of Waco, Texas.
During the summer of 1915, Della rode her Harley Davidson over 5,000 miles on a trip to see America. Friends and family tried to dissuade her but Della could not be stopped. She proved a point — motorcycling does not have to be a man’s sport. A motivated, adventurous woman is completely capable.
Need further convincing? Pick up the just published book “Women in the Wind: Fearless Women of the 20th and 21st Centuries” by Jasmine Bluecreek Clark of Colorado. A great read.
Are there studies which conclude that men are truly better suited to the sport of motorcycling?
For decades men have hit the open road with little training. Are they naturals? Do they have an intuitive advantage or perhaps just a ‘leg up’ because of exposure in childhood?
Meet Jennifer Hooper, an instructor with Florida’s Motorcycle Training Institute Inc. Jennifer reports that no one ever said to her, ‘Girls can’t ride motorcycles.’ In fact, her parents said the opposite. They gave her a bike at a young age and supported her interest in riding with the boys and the big kids in the neighborhood. Both her parents and grandparents rode.
Jennifer has never had any doubt about her ability to be a highly skilled motorcyclist. Today Jennifer not only trains new riders, but she also trains riding instructors. She is a motorcycle coach trainer.
It’s not a man’s sport in Jennifer’s world.
But do men learn the sport more easily?
Meet Joanna Murray, co-owner and instructor with Atlanta Motorcycle Schools, has observed — first hand — these differences in men and women riders.
“Close to 40% of our customers are women — compared to only 10% of the riding population. In general, women tend to have a slower learning curve than men. I believe this is due to the mechanical complexity and the associated risk of riding. However, since riding a motorcycle is much more about mental skills and technique than it is about size and strength, women tend to focus more on the technique. With training and experience, women can and often do become as good or better than men with the same training and experience.”
Do more men ride motorcycles than women? Yes.
Can women become just as skilled at riding motorcycles as men? Yes.
Can women experience the passion and enjoyment of motorcycling? Yes.
Do women have a significant economic impact on the sport? Yes.
Is motorcycling a man’s sport? NOT ON YOUR LIFE!
Donn
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Hello all!
I took a Motorcycle Safety course a couple of years ago when my husband decided to return to motorcycle riding after his hiatus of almost 30 years. I took the course with him because I wanted to be an educated passenger and show my husband I am interested in what he loves to do. I had never driven a motorcycle prior to this class (was a passenger a few times, had a bicycle when a kid), but managed to pass both the written and practical tests and was granted my ‘M’ endorsement. Scary but fun weekend!
For the next two years, I was a passenger while wondering if I could actually ride the road instead of the parking lot as we did in class… I was exploring this possibility by sitting on numerous different types of bikes to see what actually fit me. I also researched trikes and trike kits to see if this would be a way for me to enter the world of motorcycling as I had doubts as to whether a middle-aged teacher could learn the skills necessary to stay safe on the road.
This past summer, I finally sat on a Honda Shadow Aero 750 with an Insta-trike kit at a local dealer’s. The bike was the fit I was looking for: I could touch the ground flat-footed while standing and sitting; the handle bars were at a comfortable height, distance, and spread; the controls were at the ‘right’ location for my feet to naturally and easily reach. I drove this machine and had a lot of fun. Believe it or not, I passed on this bike because I thought I wasn’t quite ready and couldn’t figure out how to include it in our budgeting.
Since that time I found myself thinking I was sorry I passed on that bike- that I missed an opportunity. A couple months ago, I was home sick with the flu (yes, that one!) and had lots of time to spend on my computer surfing- I mean researching- the web. I kept looking at motorcycles thinking about what might have been. One day I stumbled across a Honda dealer site that listed the same model bike that I rode and liked so well at a huge discount. “New bike, end of model year, clear the floor, we can’t sell any bikes” kind of discount. I jumped at it with my husband’s complete support. I once again considered going trike, but I decided I wanted to be able to ‘choose’ to trike instead of ‘having to’ trike.
So, here I am; a new owner of a 750 Aero, a beginning rider who is learning about slow speeds, turning, braking, shifting, accelerating, and all the combinations thereof… I used the exercises I learned in class to begin the learning and building my skills. I am at the place where I am starting to feel a little more comfortable, but am still well aware that I have a lot to learn.
We live in a pretty rural area so my patient husband rides my bike to various parking lots in the next town or so over while I follow him in his truck. As I practice, he sits in his truck and watches me or reads.
As described in this article, I find myself focusing on technique and constantly asking “Why…?” My husband is my coach and a pretty good one, but he spent so many years riding in his youth and returned to riding so easily and quickly, he doesn’t really remember what it is like being a beginner with beginner’s questions. He tells me I am handling my bike well, but can be “tentative” at times.
I feel as if I am on the verge of leaving the parking lots for the roads, but need some help. Do you have any suggestions for a newbie like me?
My thanks,
Lindsay