If riding on the street doesnt satisfy your need for speed, then youve probably thought about racing on a track. The main benefit to riding on a track is the controlled environment—everyone is riding in the same direction, the condition of the pavement is predictable and there are no unexpected obstacles. Heres how to get started.
Beginners Guide: Getting Started with Road Racing
Looking to accessorize your bike (or yourself) for the summer? The gadgets and motorcycle-themed apparel from these tried-and-trusted companies may be just what you need out on the road this riding season. Read on for the latest accessories and apparel on the market for women riders.
New Products for Summer: Headsets, Phone Mounts and More
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
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
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
Just like the three bears beds for Goldilocks, our stock motorcycles are just not right sometimes. Often its a matter of adjusting the handlebars, the footpegs or the shocks. Fortunately, Harley-Davidson is aware that not all riders are built the same, so over the last few years, engineers in the PA department have been designing various parts to accommodate shorter and taller-than-average riders. We also included something every rider should have—a set of auxiliary riding lights from Motolight.
Handlebars, Shocks Footpegs for Short and Tall Riders
Most women riders know a good seat can make or break a motorcycle, but finding the right one can be harder than it seems. If you’re the owner of a Harley-Davidson Sportster or Kawasaki Vaquero, these new seats from Mustang could be just what you need to get riding in comfort and style.
Retro Style and Modern Comfort with New Mustang Seats
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