In five days, I canvassed Daytona Bike Week looking for things that caught my eye and testing new products and motorcycles for future stories on WRN. Armed with a still camera as well as a video camera, here are a few highlights of what I saw, including a teaser of stories to come on WRN.
A new shop called Roar Motorcycles opened in Daytona. Everything including riding apparel, bike sales, and specialty products is geared towards how a woman shops for a motorcycle. A larger feature story on Roar will be posted on WRN soon.I test rode the Kymco Venox, a 250cc entry level motorcycle with tons of power. My video test ride will appear soon on WRN.I also test rode Star Motorcycles V Star 1300. That video review will also appear soon on WRN.Baby blue and pink have made their way into Harley gear. These jackets were hanging up at the Motor Company’s new product display at the Ocean Center. Look for them in dealerships this spring.Patrick Smith, Harley’s V.P. and General Manger of General Merchandise, shows me the new line of Harley’s women’s jeans. The line appears to be taking cues from Levis with a lot more styles and sizes instead of those boxy Biker Blues line of jeans from years previous.Piper Fairbanks (we love her name! sounds like a celebrity), director of marketing for Thunder Mountain Customs shows off the just-introduced Spitfire, a low to the ground, shorter framed pro-street style motorcycle, ideal for women and shorter riders.I spotted lots of pink this year. This woman is color coordinated with her Ridley.
More pink.And more pink. Just a few years ago, you’d be hard pressed to find pink on customs and clothing.And one more pink custom. This is the Lo-Blow, a female-inspired creation from Bourget’s Bike Works.This is a Vulcan 900 customized with a women’s bike kit by Britt Motorsports. Britt offers turn-key custom packages that modify a bike to accomodate women riders. We’ll be featuring a larger story on Britt’s kits on WRN soonCaught on Main Street.Donna and Maryanne from the Ride Like A Pro DVDs (ad is on WRN) perform their slow speed tight maneuvers during the Ride Like A Pro demonstration. We’re producing a video story on them soon to appear on WRN.Linda Lehman of Lehman Trikes shows off her Screamin’ Eagle Ultra Classic Trike – the cream of the crop of trikes.WRN contributor Pamela Collins tested the new Skyline helmet from Harley. It’s the first helmet designed specifically for women. Her review is forthcoming.Pamela also tested the new Victory Vegas low. At 5-foot-3, she fits on the bike just perfectly. We’ll post her review on WRN in the coming weeks.Clothing designer Trisha DeHall of DeHall Designs (left) and daughter Amy Walton show off some hot leathers that are part of her motorcycle collection. Visit dehalldesigns.com for more information.I’m modeling the calf chaps designed by Trisha DeHall. These are perfect for protecting your legs from rocks, bugs and road grime that kicks up when you ride.
