The Monster. An unusual name for a motorcycle model, yet that hasn’t stopped thousands of women from owning one since the lightweight naked motorcycle was introduced in 1993.
Motorcycle Review: 2014 Ducati Monster 696, 796, 821, 1200, 1200S
To say that my history with motorcycles was minimal would be an understatement. I had never ridden “anything,” and 26 years ago had ridden on a bike as a passenger for about an hour. My husband, Mike, rides bikes and has raced dirt bikes his entire life. When he retired, and a girl friend of mine got her motorcycling license, I decided to take the leap and work towards getting mine.
Reader Story and Review: From Bike to Trike
It all began 4 years ago. With the children grown and out of the house, my husband, Neil, said, “Its time to start riding again.” I said, “Have fun”! I had never ridden on a motorcycle, except for once when I was 18, and that ride was enough for me. I also once rode on the back of Neil’s motorcycle and didn’t think it was that much fun. But, for my 50th birthday, Neil somehow managed to have me take motorcycle lessons.
Reader Story: Learning to Ride, One Motorcycle at a Time
Don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing bad about riding pillion on the back of a motorcycle. For many years, I used to sit behind my husband, Jonny, on his Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce, spacing out and staring at the scenery. But now that I’ve taken the leap to the rider’s seat, I’m encouraging more women to move from the back seat to actively riding their own bikes.
Reader Story: How One Woman Inspired Another to Ride
The Himalayas have been calling me since I was a young woman. Having visited there half a dozen times, I cannot begin to explain why in a page of words. The Himalayan Mountains surround you with 360 degrees of visual splendor that can never be captured fully by the lens of a camera.
Backroads With Betsy: Motorcycling Trip of a Lifetime Riding in the Himalayas
I am embarking on my 50th year of adventure on the face of this planet. As part of that adventure, I took up riding in 2004 following a lifelong love of bikes. My passion for motorcycles was a gift from my older brothers. When I was younger, they’d put me on the tanks of their bikes and ride around the block in my hometown of Winnipeg.
Reader Story: A Spectacular Day Ride on Vancouver Island
We love Scorpion Sports because the company makes fun, edgy motorcycling jackets and helmets for women—all with armor and protective features. Now Scorpion is snazzing up its helmet line with throwback graphics and colors that remind us of Richard Petty and all things motorsports.
Scorpion Helmets Under $200 with New Graphics and Colors
A good friend of mine recently stopped by the WRN office in Montana on his way to Alaska for a month-long solo ride. David Deep is not a gadget kind of guy, so seeing him with an abundance of gadgets strapped to his BMW R 1200 GS made me laugh out loud. What was he doing with all this stuff?
Touring Adventure: Motorcycle Gadget Man
This is truly one of those trips of a lifetime—riding a motorcycle through Alaska! And with this special tour sponsored by MotoQuest in conjunction with Schuberth Helmets, women riders can do it in the company of other women. MotoQuest Tours is now taking reservations for its 2014 Alaska All Ladies Motorcycle Ride, running June 29 through July 6, 2014.
All-Women Alaska Motorcycle Tour Now Taking Reservations
Project RUSHMORE—its an interesting name meant to conjure feelings of Americana (or taken more literally, to make us “rush more” on the 2014 Harley-Davidsons, unveiled yesterday). Rather than introducing all-new models, the Motor Company is using the banner “Project RUSHMORE” to unveil retooled versions of existing touring models developed from its latest customer-driven product-development efforts.
Harley-Davidson’s Project RUSHMORE and 2014 Enhancements