The 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 is a completely new bike that Women Riders Now Editor Genevieve Schmitt believes women of smaller stature (among other types of riders) may be interested in because of its size, manageability and Italian heritage.
Moto Guzzi Unveils All-New 2013 V7
There’s a reason why so many women choose the Suzuki GSX-R600 when shopping for a sportbike. The chassis and seat are narrow and relatively low, allowing for an easy reach to the ground for even the shortest of riders (that includes me, at 5-foot-2). Throttle response is smooth but powerful enough to feed the jollies fluttering around in your stomach in anticipation of a ride on this bike.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2012 Suzuki GSX-R600
Sensible riders cut their motorcycle teeth on an easy-to-ride, small-displacement bike, but as skill and confidence grow, so does the hunger for a bigger motorcycle. Many of these little trainer motorcycles that are so accommodating at parking lot speeds lose their composure on the highway, if they can reach highway speeds at all.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: Star Motorcycles V Star 250
Fully dressed tourers offer comfort features no other kind of motorcycle can match. But they’re also big and heavy and can be intimidating for many women riders. And while a tour trunk adds a convenient place to store lots of stuff that’s easy to get to, it also creates a load in the worst place possible—up high and to the rear. However, there are several large touring models available today that eliminate that awkward tour trunk, including Kawasaki’s Vulcan 1700 Vaquero.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2011/2012 Kawasaki Vulcan 1700 Vaquero
Pure fun—that’s how I describe my time test riding CSC Motorcycles’ 150cc bike. At first glance, you’d think the 240-pound two-wheeler is a scooter, but look again. It has a motorcycle-style frame (versus the step-through frame of a scooter) and a 5-speed manual transmission with a clutch that the rider must actuate to shift gears (versus the automatic transmission of a scooter).
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW WITH VIDEO: A 150cc Motorcycle That Can Go the Distance
When Steve Seidner founded CSC Motorcycle Company under the name California Scooter Company in 2008, he wanted to prove his 150cc motorcycles could travel long distances and stand the test of many miles. So in November 2010, a group of five riders rode CSC motorcycles from San Diego, Calif., to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and back, a nine-day, 2,000-mile ride covering the length of the Baja peninsula.
To Mexico and Back on a 150cc Motorcycle
The Honda Gold Wing is well known for the smooth ride and outstanding comfort it offers to riders, making this bike arguably one of the best for touring. But what happens when you add an extra wheel?
TRIKE REVIEW: Trike Conversion of Hondas 2012 Gold Wing
Once in a while, a motorcycle is introduced that I believe has “woman rider” written all over it. The 2012 Harley-Davidson Dyna Switchback is one of those motorcycles. Why do I think this? Because it is a purpose-built touring motorcycle designed for riders who can’t or don’t want to handle the large touring motorcycles—and that description fits the majority of women riders.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2012 Harley-Davidson FLD Dyna Switchback, with Video
It makes a great trivia question: What Harley-Davidson has the lowest seat height? Well, up until 2010, it was the Fat Boy Lo, at 24.3 inches. But in 2011, Harley unveiled a mid-year release model—meaning it came out a few months after the other 2011 models were announced—and this motorcycle now lays claim to having the lowest seat height of any Harley-Davidson.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2011/2012 Harley-Davidson Blackline
When you think of Triumph, your mind may automatically go to the cute and nimble Bonneville or the sporty Daytona or Speed Triple. But during the last few years, this British company has been building up its stable of cruisers, knowing many Americans love laid-back cruising motorcycles.
MOTORCYCLE REVIEW: 2011/2012 Triumph America Thunderbird Storm, UPDATED WITH VIDEO