We thought it would be fun to compile a list of major-manufacturer motorcycles with the lowest seat heights. Seat height is of supreme importance to most women riders, as the ability to place ones feet flat on the ground is perhaps the most important factor in giving women the confidence they need to handle a bike.
The Lowest of the Low Motorcycles
I’ve always said the best jacket is the one you don’t realize you have on. Women’s riding jackets have many pitfalls when it comes to fit and function, such as bulky collars, restrictive fit, awkward cut in the chest or arms, lack of protection, and lack of adjustability. Normally I can find at least one of these problems in each of the many jackets I’ve worn, but not so with Speed and Strength’s To The Nines Textile Jacket.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Speed and Strength “To The Nines” Textile Jacket
When it comes to motorcycling, its not uncommon for riders to set personal milestones. For some, passing the MSF beginner course or making that first ride down a busy highway feels like a huge accomplishment—as it should—but there are a select few riders whove aimed their proverbial headlights in the direction of something bigger.
Big Dreams, Big Rides: Monumental Motorcycle Journeys by Women Riders
Ottawa, Ontario, might not be the first place you think of when planning a motorcycle trip in Canada. But I kept an open mind as I traveled with seven of my female motorcycle journalist colleagues to the Ottawa Valley as a guest of the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association. We were there to get a taste of what this part of Canada has to offer tourists who like to enjoy the view from the seat of a motorcycle.
Small-Town Tour: Riding Canada’s Ottawa Valley
One of the most frustrating things I’ve found about the market for women’s motorcycle gear is the difficulty of finding a pair of shorty gloves that work. In my 11 years of riding, I can’t tell you how many shorty-style gloves I’ve tried, and most of them either do not fit properly or don’t last.
PRODUCT REVIEW: Speed and Strength “Little Miss Dangerous” Gloves
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
The largest segment of motorcyclists are baby boomers and many are finding out that as they age, they’re losing confidence in holding up a motorcycle as they come to a stop.
Retractable Wheels Add Confidence When Stopping
Elena Myers became the first female competitor to win a professional motorsports race at the famed Daytona International Speedway when she won the season-opening round of the 2012 AMA Pro SuperSport Series last Saturday. Elena, who rides as part of Team SuzukiScoopFans SportbikeTrackGear.com, can now claim not one but two AMA Pro victories in her fascinating racing career.
History Made! First Woman Wins at Daytona!
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