Motorcycles for Women Riders

When I first started riding motorcycles at age 9 there wasn't a big concern which bike was ideal for me to ride. I rode a Yamaha 90 Enduro bike and do not remember ever thinking about seat height or weight. As long as I could put one foot on the ground it was not a big deal what I was riding. Being a kid I would do anything to ride even using an old plastic milk crate turned upside down to use as a step up to get my leg over the bike. With my Yamaha 90 that was not a problem for me. But this is a concern for riding on the street and dual-sport riding where you are dealing with stopping and sitting in traffic. This is the one safety tip that is a must, both feet flat on the ground. It is not like being out in the California desert where all you really worry about is not crashing on some whooped out trail. I found if harder to find a dirt bike when going up in cc's to find one that was not tall and heavy. This is a concern in this setting because you will be picking up your own bike and getting on it. With an inseam of 30 inches, and trying to somehow get 3 more inches in leg length just doesn't happen. There are many street bikes with a seat height in the 25 to 30 inch range. If you are a dual sport rider this may be a little harder but very doable to find a bike right for you.

Is there a perfect motorcycle for women? Is there a perfect motorcycle for a man? No. Is there a perfect motorcycle for you? Yes. What works for men works for women? There are short men that face the same dilemma as women that are not very tall. If you are a tall woman this does open up a few more possibilities. But there are plenty to choose from no matter your sex, weight or height. For that matter there are many to choose from based on your experience as a rider. I would stress that if you have very little experience riding to go through a rider's course which is offered through many community colleges. There is even an advance rider's course that is good even for the most seasoned rider.

Later I will be listing some motorcycles with their height and weight to give an idea of what is out there. There are a number of things to consider when going out shopping for your bike. One should take into consideration size of the motor, seat height and weight. When first starting out weight of the bike may seem intimidating but as time goes by it will be less of a concern. Many motorcycles especially cruisers have a low center of gravity; because the weight sits lower it seems not as heavy. Street bikes can weight in excess of 500 pounds. Even men that dump their bikes need help picking them up. So don't worry ladies if you dump the bike and need help. One thing about motorcycle riders they are always willing to lend a hand and help a fellow rider.

So is it cruiser, sport bike, dual sport, or dirt? This is really your own preference or the type of riding that you do. If you are strictly street rider then there are many types/styles to choose from. If you ride on the street, trail or dirt roads then one bike you will want to look at are dual sport bikes. Or maybe you do variety and may be so inclined to own more than one bike. If your budget allows it then maybe having a street bike and dirt bike in your garage is the way to go. For me that would be heaven.

Currently I ride a 1999 Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster. I will be very honest the first time I got on this bike I was a first put off by the weight. This surprised me because I have been riding for 40 years. I was a little upset with myself for feeling this way about the bike. I had to regroup my feelings and calm down. I don't really know if it was the weight but every time I went around a corner or curve I thought the bike was going to roll over on me. I decided to go for short rides and just after two rides I didn't notice it anymore. Why I mention this if you are new to riding this may make you bulk at riding. I would not advise a new rider whether male or female to go out and buy a big bike. That is just my feelings on this. Why I suggested the rider's course for new riders is that it gives you a chance to ride on a bike that is not yours; in case you crash it's not yours. They use smaller bikes which doesn't over burden you. If during your course you feel intimidated by the small bike then you can imagine what it would be like on a bigger bike. Do not bite of more than you can chew. If you do, then you need to have respect for the bike. I do not know how many times I hear of someone going out and buying a sport bike, and getting into a wreck. I find that men do this more than women but women make the same mistake. They may make the mistake of buying a bike that is way too big and powerful.

There are other things to consider when buying a bike. Think about where your feet are positioned on the foot pegs. My bike has the pegs forward and at first seemed odd. Some like the foot pegs below the knee. Cruisers may be lower to the ground but the seat width is wider. Sport bikes are taller but the seat width is usually smaller. Handlebar style can be a factor. Test out a motorcycle like you would a car. Sit on the bike and take it for a test ride. Do some research and get familiar with what is out there.

Harley Davidson:

• Sportster 883L - 25.3 inches,
• Sportster 1200XL - 28.9

Ducati:

One day I would like to own a Ducati Monster.

• Monster 695 - 30.2 inches
• Sport Touring ST3 - 32.3 inches
• S4R - 31.5 inches

Honda:

• Shadow Aero - 25.9
• Goldwing - 29.1
• Nighthawk - 29.3
• CBR600F - 31.9

BMW:

• F650 GS - 30.7 to 34.5 inches
• K1200 GT - 32.2 inches
• R1200 ST - 31.9 inches

Yamaha:

• V Star Classic - 28 inches
• YZF-R1 - 33 inches
• Virago - 27 inches

Suzuki:

• Katana 600 - 30.9 inches
• GSX 750 - 31.9 inches
• V Storm - 32.2 inches

Triumph:

• America 865 - 26.3
• Bonneville - 29.1

Other Motorcycles To Look At.

No seat height listed.

• Victory Kingpin
• Harley Davidson Softail
• Harley Davidson Dyna Glide Lowrider
• Buell XB9S
• KTM EXC 450 (dual sport)
• Suzuki DR-Z 400 (dual sport)
• Kawasaki Vulcan 500 LTD

My personal belief is that you should have the right to choose if you want to wear a helmet. My friends and family know how I feel about this. If you have the option in your state, take the option and wear a helmet. My saying is "ride long enough, often enough, you will go down". If you have family that relies on you, I feel it is very selfish to go out for a ride and not protect yourself. Even wearing a helmet doesn't always save you but it does give you the upper hand. There is nothing worse than losing a loved one or friend to a senseless crash because they were no protected. I am going to leave you with this question. What happens to your spouse, children, and the rest of your family if you die because you did not wear a helmet?

Happy riding. Keep the rubber side down, shiny side up.