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

Related posts:

1. Are motorcycles just for men? — part 1

Is motorcycling just for men? Not on your life!

The latest statistics indicate that one out of ten U.S. motorcycle owners is a woman. With 6,617,000 documented owners in 2003 that converts to about 662,000 female motorcycle owners.

Another study from the Motorcycle Industry Council reports that out of an estimated 23 million motorcycle operators, roughly 4 million are female.

Is this enough to support the claim that motorcycling is NOT a man’s sport?

Well, it can’t really be answered with only a count of numbers. Let’s ask it this way:

What kind of impact are women having on the sport?

During a recent national women’s motorcycle conference, hosted by the American Motorcycle Association (AMA), attendance was up nearly 50% over the prior conference. Representatives came from 45 states and 8 countries. The economic impact on the community where the event was held (Athens, GA) was over $675,000.

Women ARE making a difference in the world of motorcycling.

A bit of internet research also shows that women are involved and participating in the sport in a big way. With one quick google search, one can find dozens of sites focused on women and motorcycle riding.

These include:

• WomenRidersNow.com, a newly launched e-zine especially for women.
• MotorMaids.org, the first womens-only motorcycle organization in North America.
• She-Rides.com, a retailer specializing in women’s riding gear.
• TwistySisters.com, a nonprofit organization of women existing just for the fun of riding.

Today, it’s easy to find female riding groups from coast to coast, women racing motorcycles, and women owning motorcycle related businesses. In fact, the ‘national voice of motorcycling’ — the American Motorcycle Association (AMA) — is headed by a woman. Fancy that.

In Part 2 of this article, we will review a little motorcycle history and meet two women who are motorcycle riding instructors — Jennifer Hooper and Joanna Murray.

Donn

Related posts:

1. Are motorcycles just for men? — part 2

Learning to ride a motorcycle is a process. From deciding that you want to ride, selecting your first motorcycle, learning how to ride — and then ultimately — to improving your riding skills.

A key part of this learning process is studying — book knowledge of sorts.

Don’t get me wrong, book knowledge by itself does not make you a good rider. But, not having good book knowledge of riding fundamentals can severely limit your riding proficiency.

My motorcycle mentor recommended these 2 books by David L. Hough:

Proficient Motorcycling: The Ultimate Guide to Riding Well
More Proficient Motorcycling: Mastering the Ride

David writes skills based articles for Motorcycle Consumer News [a great magazine, by the way]. The articles vary in nature and topic. David addresses many aspects of riding, from the mental aspect to the physical.

UPDATE: David no longer writes for MCN. Ken Condon [author of Riding in the Zone] is now the sole author of the Proficient Motorcycling and Street Strategies columns for MCN]. I have been in touch with Ken via email. He has agreed to an interview soon.

Be forewarned: Don’t expect to read either of his books from cover-to-cover at blazing speeds. There’s too much information to speed read them. And, you won’t get the full benefit unless you process what he says, and then implement these principles on a consistent basis.

Only then, are we truly becoming ‘proficient’ riders.

PS. I just checked at Amazon, each book is about $18. [Note: the links to buy the books are affiliate links].

David

No related posts.

Question:

I just got back on a bike in August after 25 years and borrowed a helmet, German style. It looked cool.

So I go online to buy one for myself and order a cool looking leather DOT rated helmet. When it arrives the thing looks like a giant mushroom on my head, my friend says to send it back but I’m thinking I need a DOT type for safety. It looks big because the padding is about 1″ thick.

Can I get a cool looking helmet that is safe? Should I keep the DOT helmet even if I look like a mushroom?

Bob

_______________________________________

Bob, the short answer to your question is that a helmet DOES require a certain amount of thickness to meet the DOT ratings. Whether this makes it ‘uncool’ visually, is more of a personal opinion.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration NHTSA, 14 percent of riders use helmets that do not comply with the DOT rating — defined in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 218.

These non-conforming helmets are often ‘novelty’ type helmets made for fashion over function.

For me, there’s no way I would ride with a helmet that does not meet the DOT standards. But, many riders choose to ride without a helmet.

In 2006 the NHTSA performed there standard impact test on 9 novelty helmets and zero of them passed. Actually, none were even close. For the impact attenuation portion of the test , the average novelty helmet imparted 989g on the test subject. The minimum allowed to get DOT approval is 400g. In addition, many of the novelty helmet straps broke during the test… under relatively light loads [132 pounds vs. the required 300 pounds].

My point is this:

It’s your decision what type helmet you wear. Just realize that most novelty helmets do very little to protect your head in an accident. So, choose accordingly.

David

Related posts:

1. Question: Honda Magna good first motorcycle?

I received this question from a rider having problems in turns:

Hello,

I’ve been riding for 2 seasons now. Loving it! My biggest problem that persists is turning. In most cases I am fine. I anticipate the turn, the speed of turn, and the traffic. etc.

Sometimes I find that if I think about it too much I have issues negotiating the turn in question. Worry sets in and I get shaky.

Other times I just flow through… what’s up with that?

Does anyone else experience something like that?

Related posts:

1. Beginning Rider: Took MSF course – problems shifting smoothly
2. Question: Honda Magna good first motorcycle?

I received this question from a potential beginning rider:

A very close high school friend of mine was just killed by a drunk driver on her bike.

Instead of shying away from riding this has made me want to ride even more.

My question is this, she was built like me 5 foot tall 95 lbs. She was riding a 2009 Ducati Monster when she died. I do not know what size bike would work for someone of my stature.

I have been reading website after website with no luck. Can someone here please help…

Shilo

No related posts.

Beginning Rider Fear is real — at least to many.

I frequently receive questions about ” this fear when I’m riding.”

Each rider defines it differently. To some it’s an uncomfortable feeling. To others it’s closer to a panic attack.

Does every beginning motorcyclist experience this fear? Probably not. But from the emails I’ve received, many DO — some to the point of doubting everything… including their decision to ride in the first place.

I vividly remember having this FEAR when I started riding again. It’s hard for me to describe my feelings in words. At times I felt anxious, awkward, and overwhelmed. I questioned everything – including my abilities and my sanity.

• What if I dropped it at a busy intersection (how embarrassing).
• What would it feel like if one of those steel boxes hit me?
• Is this really a good decision?
• Am I being selfish? (My family/friends were against it).
• Did I purchase the wrong motorcycle?
• Do I even enjoy riding?

This uncomfortableness was so real, that I can picture the exact spot when I made this promise to myself:

“David, if this doesn’t get better [fear goes down, enjoyment goes up]… I’m going to quit riding a motorcycle.”

I gave myself 2 months. As it turns out, things changed… slowly, but steadily.

When will this fear go away?

Each rider is different. For me, this uncomfortable feeling decreased as my riding skills improved. It wasn’t immediate, but it was steady. After every new riding experience (rain, cold, traffic, interstate, left turns, right turns) I became more comfortable… and confident.

As a beginner, I was using most of my cognitive skills to operate the motorcycle. I had no processing left to prepare for ‘what if’ scenarios… or to enjoy the ride.

——————————

Is this real? Did you experience ‘fear’ when you started riding? Maybe you still do? What are the best ways to work through them? When should a beginning rider say “no more?”

Related posts:

1. Question: In over my head at 46?

Is it a good idea to sell your car and purchase a motorcycle to save money? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What questions need to be answered. Does it make sense?

Here is part of an email from a beginning rider:

I want to sell my car because it’s so much cheaper (vehicle costs, insurance, gas) to ride a motorcycle and I really think I could get into riding a motorcycle without a car.

My lifestyle is just simple and works with a motorcycle so I don’t need to ever carry anything around with me.

My problem is my friends think I am crazy. Am I?

No related posts.

You’ve heard all the benefits:

1. Better control of the bike (immediate).

2. Less fatigue during the ride (today).

3. Prevention of damage to your body (tomorrow).

Yet, still, when you do a posture check, you discover your elbows locked, your hands tight on the grips and your shoulders up around your ears.

Why can’t you remember to ‘stay loose on the bike’?

You know that for some reason the bike’s handling instantly improves with a slight bend in the elbows and an intentional decrease in tension.

Make a habit of consciously relaxing as you encounter any road conditions which seem to make you tense: poor road surface, a sharp turn, steep downhill. You can do it when you are aware you will become tense, and learn to predict when it is most severe (and most disadvantageous).

See a steep, downhill gravel section coming up?

You have three options:

…grit it out with a death grip on the bars, arms straight

…relax and ease through the section, keeping your eyes far ahead

…turn around.

Your choice partner.

Pete Tamblyn

Related posts:

1. How to ride a motorcycle on gravel in a turn
2. Women’s motorcycle gear — 4 tips to selecting the right gear

Question from a potential beginning motorcyclist:

The guy down the road from me is selling his ’87 Honda Magna motorcycle — 4 cylinder, water cooled, shaft-drive, low seat, etc. 31,000 miles for $1,000.

I am very sorely tempted to buy it! I’ve never owned, nor ridden a motorcycle, but I’ve always had a desire to do so…even if only for a year.

I live in Maine in an area w/o heavy traffic. I’m 57 years old, 160
pounds, fit, and retired. My kids are grown and flown the coup.

I’m wondering if this bike is as good as any for me to start with — or
is it too big or ….? I plan to do casual riding for fun… no one in
my circle of friends has a motorcycle so I don’t envision long
treks… at least the first few years. But then, who know?!

Thanks,
John

Hey John,

If you’ve read motorcyclementor.com lately, you’ve probably seen the question from a 46 year old beginning rider, “Am I too old to start riding?” Many people learn to ride when they get a bit older… and 56 years old [by itself] is certainly not too old to start.

You describe yourself as ‘fit and retired’… sounds like a great combination.

Regarding the Honda Magna motorcycle: To my surprise, there are several active forums that focus exclusively on the Magna. Some might say it has a cult-like following — small groups of people LOVE that motorcycle. Not a bad thing by any means.

Is the Magna too big [too small]? Without knowing exactly what your riding goals are, I can only give general advice. I certainly wouldn’t say the Magna is too small for you… considering your weight and size. Nor, would I say it is too large. It isn’t a Hyabusa or liter sportbike. Again, so far so good.

Is the Magna fairly priced at $1000? Instead of looking at bluebook or NADA prices, I prefer to look at what they have sold for on eBay. A quick eBay search for ‘completed items’ shows that several 86-88 Magnas have sold in the last 2 weeks. In the screenshot below, the final prices shown in green represent sold items, and the final prices that are red represent unsold items. Take a look:

As you can see, several motorcycles compare well to your 1986 Honda Magna with 30,000 miles. While 30,000 miles seems a bit high to some, I would rather purchase engines that have been operated. And, 30,000 is not excessive by any means. I currently ride a 1998 Honda VFR with 33,000 miles — and it’s proven to be extremely dependable.

So, is $1,000 a fair price? If the motorcycle is in good condition (things work with no past wrecks that caused structural damage) it sounds like $1,000 is a very fair price. Older motorcycles — like older cars — don’t depreciate much, if any. The thought of buying a good reliable used motorcycle for so little — with the potential to sell it in a couple of years for ‘even’ or possibly a ‘small gain’ — is pretty sweet. Even if you get a scratch or two on her, it won’t lower the value. Could this be the perfect combination? Maybe.

I’ll bet you’re calling your neighbor ‘Bill’ right now, “I’ll take it.”

Probably a good move, but what next? Since you’re wise, I’d bet you’re going to park it until you’ve completed some basic motorcycle rider training. Right? Good idea.

David

PS. I’ll post your question on the site in the next week or so, for others to comment.

PSS. You might want to prepare yourself for your close friends and family members telling you “YOU ARE CRAZY!”

Hi David and thanks very much for your sleuthing around about values and sharing that information as well as your thoughts and advice. It certainly is helpful having access to experts like you!

Taking a course seems like a very sane thing to do, especially since, as you so accurately predict, people really do think I’m crazy buying a motorcycle! But then, people think that no matter what one’s age is, and not without reason…. it’s dangerous enough on the road in an automobile.

I took your suggestion and checked out ’87 Honda Magna and you’re right!… lots of hits. One interesting thing is that for some reason the Magnas from 1987 and 1988 (the one I’m looking at is 87) are sometimes referred to as “Super Magnas”

I really hadn’t researched values…a thousand bucks just seemed reasonable to me… even for a 20+ year old bike.

Thanks,
John

Related posts:

1. Question: In over my head at 46?