#women

Some girls spend their time talking about love and life. Others work together to advance their careers. But these two friends are joining forces to follow a passion. To set some impossible goals and push each other to reach them. Anastasia (Ana for short) plans to go the distance at the Dakar Rally. And Kyra intends to punish herself to no end at Romaniacs. Both have a lot of hurdles standing in their way. And together, they hope to overcome them one-by-one. Ana’s ethos is “no excuses''. While Kyra’s rationale is that “the time is now”.

’Tis the season to do some frantic last-minute holiday shopping for the loved ones in your life! If you’re lucky, those loved ones include women who ride. I’m usually horrible at finding the perfect gift, and I’m sure you can relate, considering the fact that you’re consulting a cheesy article for gifting tips. All teasing aside, you’ve come to the right place. As a woman who loves motorcycles, I can think of a few gifts that I would be overjoyed to receive. So, I offer this gift guide to help you shop for the female riders in your life.

Boots are a highly specific genre of motorcycle riding gear. Depending on the style of riding you do, or the technical features you need, different boots serve entirely different purposes. As a well-established gear brand, Dainese offers a comprehensive range of motorcycle boots and shoes with a focus on sport and touring style riding.

The all-male staff at MO has been taken to task for our poor attempts at writing about women’s riding gear, and frankly, we’re glad that someone who can speak knowledgeably on the topic has offered us her gear review services. Hailey Arnold is apparel manager at a motorcycle shop in Seattle. Not surprisingly, one of her interests is women’s riding gear. We hope this article will be the first of an ongoing series to address the gear needs of the fastest-growing market segment in motorcycling. —Evans

It’s been a stellar year for new motorcycles; our frequent flier miles are piling up like crazy as we span the globe to bring you the thrill of victory (Indian now) and the agony of defeat, from the 2019 bumper crop of everything from Nikens to Svartpilens. There’s more to it than new bikes, though. So, let’s take a look at what’s got us excited as we approach the mid-point of 2019.

One look around the proverbial Motorcycle.com office and it’s hard not to notice one thing: everyone on staff is a guy. Of course, this isn’t surprising considering the male domination of this sport, but women represent one of the fastest growing segments in motorcycling, and it’s only right we get a woman’s voice – and opinion – on our digital pages. Our friend Christina Orris is just the person to help. An excellent rider, both on- and off-road, she’s in-tune with the wants and needs of the female motorcyclist, and best of all, she’s not afraid to speak her mind. When we were thinking of the perfect candidate to review the Kawasaki Vulcan S and its unique Ergo-Fit system, we knew she was the right person for the job. Follow along as she gives her thoughts. —TS

The birth of Black Brand for women was announced with evocative names such as the Brazilian Waxed and the Sheared Beaver, both of which are part of Black Brand’s “Platinum Series” of women’s jackets. For ladies desiring a less suggestively named motorcycle jacket from Black Brand, the Mantra is a stylish high-end leather option.

As more and more women join the sport of motorcycling, more and more events catered specifically around women are starting to sprout up on both sides of the country. A chance for like-minded women to meet up, build friendships, and enjoy the sport of motorcycling with no pressure from men and a giant support group behind them, it’s easy to see why these events have become so popular. Below are just a few of them.

One hundred years ago two sisters were traveling coast to coast on Indian Powerplus motorcycles advocating women’s right to serve as WWI motorcycle messengers. It was 1916 when Augusta and Adeline Van Buren embarked on a journey they had no idea would have such historical significance a century later. Traveling from New York City to San Francisco, the journey took just over two months to complete, making them the first women to ride motorcycles across the continental United States.

Never did Jessica Haggett imagine in her wildest dreams that in a matter of a few years, her quest and yearning to ride with other women motorcyclists would turn into a fast-growing community of women riders worldwide: the Litas.

Motorcycling, rather unfairly, has long been considered a man’s sport. Maybe it’s because of the egos involved, or simply the result of society clinging to an outdated view of gender roles. Thankfully those views are changing. Women represent one of the fastest growing segments of motorcycling, and there are female motorcycling ambassadors like Melissa Paris, Avalon Biddle, Elena Myers, Michelle DiSalvo, and many others paving the way for the next generation.

Italy is famous for many things, among them are pizza and tagliatelle al ragù (which is the actual Italian name for the dish known as spaghetti Bolognese), but most importantly it is famous for its incredible motorcycle culture. In Italy, where Valentino Rossi is a national hero, MotoGP is the third most-watched sport, preceded only by soccer and Formula 1.

Female motorcycle riders are becoming more common, as this segment is quickly growing. This is clearly a positive sign for the industry and gender equality, but imagine being a woman living in a society where simply going outside alone is frowned upon.

There’s no reason not to be outside, behind the handlebars if you’re a female motorcycle enthusiast. It’s estimated that more than 12 percent of motorcycle riders are female – and this number is going up. For some, riding a bike is a high-adrenaline alternative that saves on gas, but for others, it’s a way of life and a passion that brings them inner peace, freedom and empowerment.

There’s all kinds of reasons why we ride motorcycles, and everyone who does ride claims ownership of a few of these reasons. But there’s an increasing amount of female motorcyclists with uniquely feminine reasons for riding motorcycles. In celebration of July being Women’s Motorcycling Month, we comprised a list of reasons why women should become motorcyclists. Just remember, ladies, this list was written by a man (who really tried not to mess it up too badly), so an open mind and a sense of humor is encouraged.