For many women, the decision to ride a motorcycle is a deeply personal and empowering one. However, choosing the right bike can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. It's important to find a motorcycle that fits your body type and riding style, as well as your personality and sense of style. Whether you're looking for a sleek cruiser or a nimble sportbike, there's a perfect ride out there waiting for you. With the right bike, you'll experience the freedom and exhilaration that only comes from riding on two wheels. So, if you're a woman who's considering taking up motorcycling, don't hesitate to start your search for the perfect ride - it could be the beginning of an incredible journey.
In honor of Mother’s Day, let's talk about women riders and how badass they are!
According to a USA Today article published in 2014, women riders have almost doubled between 2008 and 2004 as more women are less content with just being passengers. Here is a look at how to choose the right motorcycle for Mom!
There is no alternate universe where women all look the same and have the same riding experience. Women come in all shapes and sizes. Yes, the majority of women are smaller than their male counterparts, which factors in the decision-making process for which motorcycle women tend to buy.
Usually, it’s the same motorcycles as in past years. The list consists of entry-level motorcycles such as the Honda Rebel and 300cc sport bikes. Of course, you have Harley Davidson’s Sportster which has been a long-time favorite. Though the Harley Street series is probably a better option because of its lightweight construction.
But this isn’t to say that women can’t ride bigger bikes. For example, one of the best-selling motorcycles in the male segment is the Harley Davidson Street Glide which just happens to be a big seller amongst women also.
The Indian Scout which has a 1100cc motor is popular with women, because of one of the lowest seat heights you can find.
The point is that fit, and experience are more important than motor size when it comes to choosing a bike. This goes for women and men.
A proper motorcycle fit means that you can pick the motorcycle up from off the kickstand, though there are tricks to help with heavier bikes. Then there is the motor output to consider. And often overlooked do your feet touch the ground? The last two are subjective.
The motor output is related to the motor size. Usually, more cc equals more output. If you are new to riding, then you are not going to want the biggest motor, because when you twist the throttle, the torque and rear-wheel output might be too much for you to handle at this stage of your riding career. It is better to pick something you can handle safely now and upgrade later.
As far as feet touching the ground, this is a good rule of thumb, but it does have one exception; adventure motorcycles. If your dreams of hitting the open road include exploring some of mother nature’s best-kept secrets, then you need to get an adventure bike.
This segment has seen a rise in popularity over the past few years because these motorcycles are the jeeps of motorcycles. They are meant to go anywhere and do anything.
However, they come with one significant drawback. For it to travel off-road, the ride height must be taller than traditional motorcycles, which means you’re probably not going to be able to put both feet on the ground.
But don’t fret! Most adventure riders have learned how to overcome this by putting one foot down on a lean to one side.
Of course, you still need to pick a motorcycle that you can safely handle the weight of. If you pick an adventure bike that is too heavy, when you lean to one side, you will not be able to support the weight. Thus, the story you tell your friends of how you hit a gnarly trail that got a little hectic when in reality you dropped your $18,000 baby in the garage just trying to get it off its kickstand.
This isn’t to say that there aren’t some guidelines that could be followed by women looking to buy a motorcycle, because there are.
In Part Two of this article, we will cover some of this.
This is simple to state that there is no one size fits all rule that can be applied. Women just like men, need to go to their local RideNow dealer and speak to a knowledgeable rep(s) that can help them fit the motorcycle to their wants and needs. Doing so will ensure a great riding experience, which continues our goal of putting more people on two wheels.