About 1,000 people attended the AMA International Women Motorcycling Conference held in Keystone, Colorado, in August. During my time manning my Women Riders Now booth and covering the event, I met literally hundreds of people, every one with an interesting story. Here are some of the interesting faces in the crowd and their stories.
“World class” and “stunning” were a few words that were used to describe Michael Lichters 9th Annual Motorcycles as Art Exhibition held during this years Sturgis Motorcycle Rally at the Legendary Buffalo Chip. The exhibit entitled “Rebel Rousers, Motorcycle Icons that Inspire Us to Ride” showcased the most important collection of motorcycles and art to ever grace Sturgis and was viewed by thousands of guests.
Those who know me know Im a big fan of one rally the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. I love the Black Hills area of South Dakota so much that Ive been heading to the big event the first week in August for the last 14 years. I skipped just one rally in 2002. Ive seen lots of changes over the years, including a noticeable increase in women riders this year. Id say nearly one in five bikes was ridden by a woman.
Despite frosty temperatures by Florida standards, several hundred women riders turned out to hit the road in Daytona Beach for the 2nd Annual MDA Womens Ride taking place during Daytona Bike Week 2009. To participate, each rider was required to solicit donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and its summer camps program. Harley-Davidson sponsored the ride.
On October 3-5, Femmoto, an all-women demo day on the track, took place at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This is the first year all the major manufacturers were represented, as well as some of the smaller ones, like Kymco and Triumph. This is one of the biggest outreach events for women riders in the motorcycle industry.
Las Vegas is the place to be this weekend if youre a woman rider. Femmoto is taking place from October 3 to 5 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The women-only demo event rolls into town bringing along more motorcycle brands than ever. Fleets of demo bikes will be available from Kawasaki, Buell, Ducati, KYMCO, Honda, Harley-Davidson, Suzuki, Triumph, and for the first time at Femmoto, Victory, BMW, Yamaha, and Star Motorcycles.
On June 13, 2008, WRN organized a womens symposium at Ohio Bike Week, in Sandusky, Ohio, called Women Riders: No Limits! presented by Motolight. For a first-year event, there was an impressive turnout of about 100 people over the course of the four 90-minute seminars held throughout the day. There were also women-focused vendors selling things from T-shirts to jackets.
Femmoto 2007 is now in the history books and will be remembered as a groundbreaking year for the all-women demo ride event. More attendees, more manufacturers and an expanded schedule of events made this, the sixth year of Femmoto, the biggest one yet.
Though it started in 2006 as a test to see how many people would show up, the Womens Sportbike Rally, held at the Fontana Village Resort in Robbinsville, N.C., began its second year with a boom.
Aprilia, BMW, Buell, Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Honda, Kawasaki, Kymco, Moto Guzzi, Suzuki, Triumph, Victory, Yamaha all want you to buy their motorcycles. Thats the main reason these and other manufacturers spend thousands of dollars to make their bikes available for licensed riders at no charge to test ride at events like Daytona Bike Week, Americade, and the Honda Hoot and the Laughlin River Run (to name a few).