Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet She’z a.k.a. @Shelina93

I’ve got another great gal for y’all to meet! She goes by She’z, is from the small town of Petaluma, CA, a friend of Jen’s (we met her back in July), and another motorcycle racer! You can catch She’z on twitter @Shelina93 and check out her web site She’z Racing!

Catch her on Twitter: @Shelina93
Photo courtesy of Seppes.com

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I’ve been riding motorcycles my whole life. My dad put me on bikes before I could walk. I have a photo of me on his old flat track bike when I was a chubby toddler.

How did you learn to ride?  My dad (and mom) taught me to ride the ranch quads as soon as I could walk so that I could learn how to bring in the cows from the fields (dairy kid). Growing up on a ranch meant we had chores to do, and so we learned to ride more as a responsibility than for fun… though dad probably saw us out there spinning donuts and popping wheelies on his 4-wheelers in between working  😉

What was your first motorcycle? My first motorcycle was a Kawasaki 80 that my brother and I saved our “wages” for. Dad matched what we had saved so that we could buy it together. It’s quite the memory actually. I still remember us going to pick up that bike and getting used to the snappy throttle! And the love for Two Wheels Began!!

My first streetbike was an old Kawasaki Ninja 600 that I snuck home with… Mom and Dad wanted to KILL me!!

How many motorcycles have you owned? Well… I still have that 80, though it doesn’t run anymore. I had upgraded to a KDX 200, then a 125. Now I have a Honda CRF 450 and a little 100 that I ride flat track on. I also have two Streetbikes, a Kawasaki zx636 and a Brammo Enertia (electric motorcycle). Plus my racebikes… a Harley XR1200 and a Yamaha R6. Jeez, you make me feel like I need to clear some bikes out of here…. [Pam says, No way!! Keep the bikes!]

She’z sitting with her Kawi
Photo courtesy of 4theRiders.com

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? Because my dad rode a motorcycle, and raced a motorcycle (and still does). Because I saw two guys pop a wheelie through an intersection when I was a kid and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. Because even at 4 years old on a ranch quad, I felt like the world was at my fingertips when I was on a motorcycle. And at 12 years old I felt like I was unstoppable when I was on that dirtbike. And because for us, it was a family thing, something we got to do with my parents, and it has had a major impact on how close we are as a family.

Tell us about your riding. Commuter, pleasure, vacation, racing, or ? All of the above. The reason I started racing was because I had “too much fun” on the street, and I wanted to see what I could do with my skills that was productive. I still ride on the street, for fun or to get to a meeting with the Parker Hannifin guys. I love to race, I love to train to race, I enjoy instructing at the She’z Racing and FIM girls camps now, and I consider the trails with my dad and our friends one of my favorite vacation destinations.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Go for it. Don’t do it because you think you’ll look cool, or for any other reason, ride if you want to ride. Learn How. Wear proper gear. Listen to the motorcycle, it will teach you a lot. Don’t get discouraged when you are working on improving, we all do, just keep learning. And come to one of my Girls-Only camps! I’ll teach you, and you Will have fun learning! You can actually find out info on our schools at www.ShezRacing.com and Check out our Video

What is the longest trip that you have taken on your cycle? I don’t do a lot of adventure riding, so not terribly long distance, usually 100 miles in a day is a good ride for me. However… At Indy this year I think I rode quite a lot of “Distance”… I raced the Harley and the Brammo, back to back all weekend. Literally hopping off of one and onto another. That was a ton of riding.

Shelina Moreda with the Brammo / ICON Spec 32 – Eboz Edition
Photo courtesy of Brammo

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I actually just joined forces with the newly formed Women’s Coalition of Motorcyclists. It’s the strongest and largest organization of women riders in North America and they are working hard to promote motorcycling and grow the number of riders. I’m stoked to be a part of a group with the potential to help grow the sport of motorcycling so much. Getting more people involved in motorcycling (girls and guys) is something that is very important to me.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Seems like every time I go riding I have a new favorite riding story. A more recent favorite for me was when I was at an electric bike race earlier this year. I won my class and was standing on the podium with Eric Bostrom (my Brammo teammate, who I’ve looked up to for a long time) who had also won his class, we were 1st and 2nd overall! That was one heck of a day for me.

What do you do when you’re not riding? Think about riding… 🙂  When I’m not riding I’m planning and working on chasing my next goal (mostly riding related). Working on sponsorship a lot of the time. It’s hard work to find sponsorship and grow a racing career.

When we are talking about non-motorcycle related activities, I have a lot of other hobbies too. I love the outdoors, I like going to the lake, kneeboarding, wakeboarding, I love to travel, try new foods, I enjoy time with my dog (Rampage), and I like hanging out with my friends. I also like remodeling old houses, my granddad is a contractor and has taught me a lot about fixing up houses. And one of my favorite things is making Halloween costumes.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Michelle a.k.a. @SturgisChick

I have a new friend on Twitter! Her name is Michelle, her family calls her Shelly, and goes by @SturgisChick on Twitter. She was born, raised, and lives in Sturgis, South Dakota. How cool is that?! Well, it gets even cooler … Michelle has a blog too, StrugisChick where she tells stories of her travels, adventures, and experiences. Another must follow.

Michelle near Sturgis, South Dakota on her Harley Fat Boy

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Since I was 15 technically but I didn’t get my license until I was 30 and didn’t ride for about 10 years during that gap.

How did you learn to ride? My boyfriend had a Honda XR500 dirt bike that he used on his family’s ranch. He taught me to ride but had to ride on the back with me because I couldn’t touch the ground when we stopped. After about 10 years without riding, I decided to sign up for the Motorcycle Safety Foundation course and start from scratch.

What was your first motorcycle?  The first one I rode regularly was a Kawasaki Sherpa 125,  which I borrowed from a friend. I later borrowed a Sportster from the same friend for a couple of years (I know! How generous is that!). The first bike I owned was a Harley-Davdison Fat Boy with a 1550 which I bought for my 40th birthday.

How many have you owned?  2 – the Fat Boy and my Kawasaki KLR650 which is a dual sport bike.

Bike trip, July 2013

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I was born and raised in Sturgis, South Dakota, home of the world-famous motorcycle rally.  How I could I not get bit by the bug? Although I was a ranch kid I always loved riding 4-wheelers and snowmobiles and eventually learned to ride a motorcycle.

Tell us about your riding. Having the Black Hills to ride just outside your door provides the best curvy roads and beautiful scenery. I love to ride for pleasure after work or on weekends and took my first motorcycle vacation in 2011.

On her way up Independence Pass near Aspen, Colorado last summer

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? ATGATT – All The Gear All The Time.  No exceptions. South Dakota doesn’t have a helmet law which means many of my friends ride with t-shirts and no helmet.  But I’m willing to be a little warm on hot days to be safe and NEVER ride without my gear. [Amen, sister!]

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle?  I’m on it now. 8000 miles and counting so far. Left South Dakota to go up through Canada and do the Trans Labrador Highway and then down the east coast of the US.  Planning to head to Mexico and Central America and on to South America.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Several online – ADVRider.com, Horizons Unlimited and Two Wheel Females and I’m a member of H.O.G. I plan to be active with local clubs (a dual sport riding club and my local H.O.G. chapter) and national groups when I get back home.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Strange as it may sound, it was when I had a wreck on my bike this summer. While riding the Trans Labrador Highway in early July in a remote part of eastern Canada, I came off my bike. It was an awkward fall and I broke my leg and had to be flown several hundred miles from there to have surgery. My boyfriend posted a message on a local forum and received several offers for help including places to stay.  People helped with all sorts of things – storing my bike, hauling my bike, taking me sightseeing while I was on crutches, and providing us with incredible support.  I met some of the most generous people who will be lifelong friends because of that event.  It forced me to let go of my schedule and be open to the entire experience (good and bad), which was one of my goals for this extended trip.  My accident was a life changing experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Taken in New Mexico, 2012

What do you do when you’re not riding? I was a hotel manager for 21 years and it was a full-time-and-then-some job.  In my spare time I went riding, hiking, gardening, camping and have always loved to travel.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Melissa a.k.a. @Meligirl13

We have “met” so many fabulous women through these profiles. We are a growing group and there is no mold to define us! I’d love to keep this going giving lady motorcyclists a voice to share their stories. Whether you are more of a newbie like me, a road warrior, or moto racer I want to hear from you – email me at pamela(dot)court@gmail(dot)com. and we can get your .

My next guest is Melissa a.k.a. @Meligirl13 from Oceanside, CA. Check out her web site MelissaParis.com for more information, pictures, and videos.

Melissa a.k.a. @Meligirl13

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I’ve been riding motorbikes for just about 10 years…

How did you learn to ride? My boyfriend in college rode … which was a big part of why I wanted to date him I think =D He taught me to ride.

What was your first motorcycle? My first bike was Kawasaki EX-250 … I was bored of it after about two months though and got a Yamaha FZR-600.

How many have you owned? a lot… haha

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I’m not sure what it was that attracted me to riding. Something in the back of my mind just kept telling me I needed to do it.

Tell us about your riding.  Racing…

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? If you want to ride … ride. Being a girl shouldn’t affect that decision!

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? Does the Daytona 200 count as a long trip?

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? No groups per se … But I am a member of CVMA which is my local club for racing!

Do you have a favorite riding story? Any riding story that ends with me having a trophy in my hands usually is a favorite =D

What do you do when you’re not riding? Mainly think about riding…

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Kathy a.k.a. Guz

My next guest was sent over to me from @OrgChaosChicago, her name is Kathy “Guz” Guzman motorcyclist extraordinaire and blogger!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I have been riding for 38 years

How did you learn to ride? My dad bought my brother and I Honda 70 trail bikes.  I sat on it and just took off.  The wide knobby tires and bulky frame made it a perfect way to learn to ride.

What was your first motorcycle?  The Honda 70 Trail Bike.

Honda 70 Trail Bike

How many have you owned?  I have owned 3 bikes in my life time.  The little Honda – a Kawasaki 550LTD that I rode all through college and my Harley Sportster.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle?  Freedom.  Time alone inside my own head while trail riding as a kid.  The open road and untold adventures the ride gives me as an adult.  Freedom.

Tell us about your riding.  I ride because I ride.  I take my bike everywhere.  Tooling around the city, long road trips like Black Hills and charity runs through neighboring communities.  I ride year round – and living in Chicago – that is saying something!!

Freedom!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle?  Get out there and do it.  Follow your passion – the ride will never disappoint.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle?  The longest road trip I have made was from Chicago to Sturgis and back again last summer.  15 women, bikes and the open, unpredictable roads – I can’t put into words how amazing it was.  Actually – I can – and I did – check it out here. 

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups?  Yes – *Organized Chaos Chicago – a woman’s motorcycle club.

Do you have a favorite riding story?  So many really – each time I get on the back of my bike there is a new story being woven into the fabric of my life.  Riding with like minded women is a gift to me – the camaraderie and laughter shared – there is nothing like it in the world.

What do you do when you’re not riding?  Think about riding.

*Organized Chaos Chicago is a women’s motorcycle group, committed to creating a local community of women motorcyclists and friends of women motorcyclists.  Our mission is to support philanthropic endeavors in all communities, while reaching out to empower a community of diverse women through rides, charity events, Pride events and education. (Source)

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Christen a.k.a. @CVoros161

I am so excited that Christen responded to a tweet of mine looking for lady motorcyclists to profile. I’m embarrassed to confess I didn’t see her direct message from May 7 until a couple of days ago. Thankfully, Christen graciously accepted to add her story here!

Christin or “Oki” [seems like there might be a story behind that nick name] is known on Twitter as @CVoros161 is from San Diego, CA. Check out her blog Christin.GirlClutchRacing.com!

Christin racing!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 5 years. I received my motorcycle endorsement in 2006, but didn’t start riding until 2008.

How did you learn to ride? I took the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s motorcycle riding course.

What was your first motorcycle? The first 6 months I was learning how to ride, I had a 2004 Kawasaki ZX636. I purchased my 2008 Honda CBR600RR in October 2008.

How many have you owned? Just the one.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I remember sitting at iHop eating breakfast with my boyfriend-at-the-time and seeing a girl ride by on her own bike and thinking, “Wow that is so cool! I want to be that girl!”

Tell us about your riding.  I started riding for leisure and commuting on Fridays and in the summer. Now, it’s a strictly race/track bike. I‘ve been racing with the Chuckwalla Valley Motorcycle Association (CVMA) since September 2011.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Just go do it! Take the MSF course and get your endorsement and experience the freedom that comes with it. There’s no reason not to! I still find it incredibly empowering seeing girls riding around on the street or gridding up on the race track… And don’t let your guy friends try talking you into starting on a 250cc if you feel comfortable on a 600! Your money, your bike, your choice!

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I think I logged 400 miles on a ride in one day riding around San Diego and/or Riverside counties.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? GirlClutch.com, and CVMRacing.com

Do you have a favorite riding story? There are so many. Spending the entire day with girlfriends on their own motorcycles, rolling 30-deep up the Orange County coast on PCH is one I will always remember.

What do you do when you’re not riding? Cross-train. I log a couple hundred miles on my road bike every month, as well as training at Pariah Crossfit in Oceanside 3-4 times a week. I also work full-time and am a full-time student pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

P.S. Ladies! Let me know if you’d like to share your story too! Email me at: pamela(dot)court(at)gmail(dot)com < Trying to keep the spammers at bay!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Sash a.k.a. @2MuchTina

I have another new cyber-friend I want to introduce to you! Her nickname is Sash and her Twitter handle is @2MuchTina. Sash is from San Diego, CA, but currently on what she calls “our Road Pickle Motorcycle Bohemia, so I’m mobile!” Sasha and her hubby are on serious road trip. You can catch her adventures on her blog SashMouth. 

Sash riding in the California desert

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Technically, I’ve been riding for 2 years. Actually, I’ve been consistently riding about 5 months. I got my license, but didn’t have my own bike to ride. I rode my hubs extra bike, a Yamaha Roadstar, but it was too heavy for me. So I took almost an entire year off of solo riding. I just started riding this last January.

How did you learn to ride? I took a course to learn and loved every minute of it. But I’ve spent many, many years riding pillion. First with my Daddy, then my high school boyfriend and now with my hubs.

What was your first motorcycle? My current motorcycle, Kawasaki Ninja 500, Katie Scarlet

How many have you owned? Just one! But I sold my Mercedes to buy her. I don’t even own a car now.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? My Daddy rode when I was a girl. He had many friends that rode and I wanted to ride with him all of the time. That feeling of flying, being free, never left me. I think it’s natural for most passengers to wonder from time to time what it is like to be the rider. But I always knew that one day I would ride. My time just finally came! Riding is the closest to being at one with my soul as I can get while still being alive. It is the most “alive” thing I do. Every sense is heightened and I take in all the world in a single breath while riding. I can’t imagine life without it now.

Tell us about your riding.  We are riding a 6-month motorcycle road trip around the U.S. currently. We ride about 250-300 miles a day, riding only a couple of days a week. We try to stay in one city for a week at a time and then go exploring while we are there. I love riding, but I deal with chronic pain from fibromyalgia, so I have to pace myself.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Ride your own ride. Don’t try to keep up with anyone, be like anyone, ride like anyone. Be You. Boldly Embrace Your Own Uniqueness and while doing so Ride Your Own Ride. Listen to advice, but weigh it with your own good sense.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I’m currently 3500 miles into our Road Pickle Motorcycle Bohemia Trip, so that’s the longest.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I belong to a few online through Google+, but none offline yet.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Riding from Bisbee, AZ to the NM border on Route 80, I saw the most beautiful scenery. My hubs Highway was in front of me, and I followed him on this two lane road for over 100 miles, taking in all of the wilderness. I saw a snake slither across the road in front of me, I saw two deer, and then a fawn, simply munching in the meadows. But at one point we came over a ridge and all I could see for miles was golden grasses flowing in the wind. I’m from California, so we don’t see things like that. I started to weep, really weep, with gratitude that I was in that place, in that moment, being so grateful that beauty like this existed somewhere, always.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I’m an internet publisher, author, marketer, sales director, motivator and pain in my hubs’ ass. I spend most of my time writing or selling advertising. I give motivational speeches to groups, mostly women and with my hubs we coach clients to build their own blogs and earn an income from them. I’m the very proud mother of a 23-year-old beauty Olivia, who recently married the man who was made for her, David. My book, “Finding Christ Inside” was published in 2009 and it is my poetic narrative explaining that I’ve found spirituality within me, not within the confines of religion.

The many faces of Sash!

P.S. Ladies! Let me know if you’d like to share your story too! Email me at: pamela(dot)court(at)gmail(dot)com < Trying to keep the spammers at bay!

Remix: Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Madeleine

We first met Madeleine back on April 22, 2012. I’m doing a bit of a remix of her profile since some things have changed and she’s updated some of her answers. I also wanted to share that Madeleine is going to embark on another adventure this summer and is looking for a rider to join her.  She will be riding to Alaska starting on Friday June 28, 2013. Details will be posted on her site. Madeleine is looking for only one riding companion, not a group of riders. This rider needs to be able to pull their own weight because it will be a budget ride staying in hostels/motels and some camping when necessary. Madeleine rides between 300 to 500 miles a day depending on weather and road conditions. Now back to the profile!

Madeleine from Worcester, MA is our next lady rider! She has taken some long adventurous trips. You can find Madeleine on Twitter @mvelazquez57 or on her blog Miss Rider which is filled with stories and pictures.

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? Around 25 years

How did you learn to ride? Chasing my son around the trails riding dirt bikes. Love motocross!!!

What was your first motorcycle? Street bike, Kawasaki Vulcan 500 (hated it). Dirt bike, Yamaha 125 something, don’t remember any more.

How many have you owned? 9 including dirt bikes

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? The thrill, fresh air, freedom, excitement (too many fun words to describe why)!

 Tell us about your riding. Commute to work, mostly on a 50cc scooter now.  Pleasure riding.  But mostly, long distance touring, like coast to coast alone.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Get on two wheels and ride, ride, and ride some more so you can get so tired and sleep at night.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? My longest ride was the summer of 2012. 24,140 kilometers (~15,000 miles) with a ride from the Boston area to the Panama Canal round trip that included Sturgis, South Dakota and Canada, 9 countries, 23 American states. (Check out the details on her blog.)

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? No, I am a solo rider now.  I do have a membership to the American Motorcycle Association and love reading the monthly articles posted by other riders.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Yes, read about it here in my blog. (Check out the pictures too!)  I have so many wonderful riding stories, but this one is my favorite because it involves the animals.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I ski in the winter and teach high school students.

Madeleine standing on a motorcycle!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Dachary a.k.a. @DaiquiriC

I’m not sure how my next guest and I connected, but I’m guessing Twitter, @DaiquiriC her real name is Dachary – I really like that name, so unusual! Dachary is from Boston, MA and is also a blogger, Ain’t No Pillion. Follow her on both!

Dachary a.k.a. @DaiquiriC

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? A little over 2 years – started in April, 2010

How did you learn to ride? My roommate at the time (now my fiancé – funny how life works!) rode and he was ATGATT and very safety oriented, so I took the MSF class. Crashed my bike the first time I took it out on the street, and that taught me cornering skills and to ride my own ride *real* fast. But I’d say I’m still learning to ride – constantly looking to improve my skills, beef up my offroad riding ability, and now I’m working on mastering a Ural with a sidecar, which throws a whole new wrench into the riding dynamic!

Bandido is loving the Badlands too

What was your first motorcycle? My first motorcycle was a used Kawasaki Ninja 250 that I bought off my roommate when he got a new bike. Can’t recommend them highly enough – the Ninja 250 is a very forgiving starter bike, and you can get ‘em pretty cheap used which means it’s not a big deal when you crash them! 😉

How many have you owned? I currently own bikes two and three: I upgraded my Ninja 250 to a BMW F650GS, and we bought a new Ural Patrol over the summer to bring our dogs along. Not a bad stable for someone who’s only been riding for two years! Each bike serves a different purpose and they’re very different to ride, but I love them both!

Dachary riding her Ural

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I’ve always had a fascination with motorcycles. When I was a kid, my cousin and uncle raced dirtbikes (motocross) and they had actually won quite a few trophies, but they had also taken a ton of spills and broken a lot of bones between the two of them. Whenever we went to their house, I drooled over their dirtbikes but my family was vehemently against me taking up the hobby. Far too dangerous, and not something that girls did.

Dachary’s curves

Fast forward to 2009, and I caught a ride with a friend on the back of his bike (he was the guy who I eventually moved in with and later we got romantically entangled, but at the time I was dating another guy). We were riding in the city so we never got up to any real speed, but there was one corner we took just fast enough to get a bit of a lean… and I was hooked. I wanted to start riding right then and there, but the guy I was dating told the same old story: too dangerous!

Needless to say, we broke up a few months later, I moved into an avid motorcyclist’s spare bedroom and I was surrounded by bike-related stuff. For a few months that winter, we even had a Stella scooter in the kitchen. It didn’t take long before I gave in to my obsession with two wheels, bought the Ninja off the roommate when he upgraded to a bigger bike (also an F650GS) and took my MSF class.

I wouldn’t say I “wanted to ride” as much as “it became an obsession” – it was like a scratch I couldn’t itch. And the only way to itch it was to start riding!

Dachary riding

Tell us about your riding. I ride because I have to ride. If I go for more than a week or two without a ride, I miss it. I ride for pleasure; I ride to run errands; I ride to get places (we’re a motorcycle-only household – Boston has great public transit, but if we wanna leave the city, it’s on a bike or rent a car). We both love bikes so our vacations are moto-oriented. We bought the Ural so we could bring the dogs with us on extended trips. If I had a commute longer than walking across the hall to my office, I’d ride. Basically, any excuse to ride – and plenty of times when I have no excuse but just want to ride anyway.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? My advice would be: just do it. Don’t let fear stop you from doing it. Don’t let men or family members who are well-meaning tell you that it’s dangerous and talk you out of doing it like I did for so many years. Start at whatever pace you’re comfortable; take a class if there’s one available; buy a cheap used bike to start so you don’t have to worry about dropping it; and gear up.

My first time out on the bike after taking the class, I low-sided at ~25-30MPH just a couple of miles from home. I was running a short errand to a nearby hardware store. But my roommate was ATGATT, so I made sure I had good, full gear before I started riding – and I wore it. It saved me from a trip to the ER and knee surgery. I was able to get up and ride the bike home, although I had to replace the pants because they were badly damaged in the crash. Good gear can save your skin and your life, and you can never predict what’s going to happen on the road, so gear up.

It was tired.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? The longest trip I’ve taken was Boston to Ushuaia via Mexico, Central America and South America. It was around 18,000 miles, and we were gone for around 4 months. At that point, I had only been riding for like 6 months. It was absolutely epic – we definitely want to go back. We also want to do RTW and we’ve been loosely planning for that in the next year or two, but we really enjoyed the Americas and we keep talking about going back – South America in particular. So I don’t know what the next one will be. In the meantime, we satisfy ourselves with jaunts around the US – we did Boston to Colorado over the summer for a little over two weeks, and took the dogs in the Ural. (That was their longest moto trip, and they loved it! If you ever want to start a “Profile of a Canine Motorcyclist” – sign my guys up! 😉

Dachary at Perito Moreno Glacier

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? Yes! I love bikes, so when I’m not riding, I enjoy the opportunity to poke motorcycle forums. I’m a member of the Yankee Beemers, which is a local BMW club based in New England – they do a lot of fun rides, often involving breakfast or lunch at someplace delicious. I’m also a member of F650.com for my F650 (we went to Colorado for their High Country Summit meetup), Soviet Steeds for my Ural, ADVRider for motorcycle adventure riding stuff, and Horizons Unlimited for world travel stuff. Also the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) because I support their fight for motorcyclists’ rights, and they do some cool stuff.

Road trip

Do you have a favorite riding story? Oh, tons. Let’s see… there was the time I cracked some ribs riding an enduro loop with some guys from ADVRider… and there was the time we lost the bf’s license plate in Colombia… in fact, there was this absolutely crazy road in Colombia… and there was this epic day in Mexico… or the flat tire in the Peruvian desert… or the time we lost part of the bf’s hydration pack in the Atacama Desert in Chile…

Alright, there may be too many to relate here. Maybe I should start on a book? [Yes!]

Waiting in the Pass

What do you do when you’re not riding? In my day job, I’m a writer. For fun, I write. I also love to read or watch movies about world travel, in pretty much any form – preferably motorcycle, but also bicycle travel. (Those guys are REALLY hardcore! Nothing but respect for them. But I prefer my bikes motorized. 😉  I also love cooking… and gaming. But not video games. Board games. Mostly European ones. Yes, I know that’s a bit old fashioned, but I find it more pleasurable to gather around a table and have a good time with friends than stare at a screen, which is what I do all day for work.

If I’m not out riding, reading about riding, or writing about riding, I’m probably cooking with my friends or playing games with my friends… or both!

She’s smokin’ baby!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Courtney a.k.a. Mz Pink

I don’t know how I found and started following @diamondgirlzmc but I saw her tweet, “Launched DiamondGirlzMC.com one year ago Nov 2011 and we’re over 93,000 visits! http://instagr.am/p/SrNJLhESmH/ “ and I retweeted with my congratulations. Then the lightbulb went off … here’s another lady rider to profile, I just need to ask!

I am pleased as punch to introduce to you Courtney a.k.a. Mz Pink co-founder and President of Diamond Girlz MC – an all female motorcycle club out of Boston, MA.

Courtney and PINK!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 9 years

How did you learn to ride? I always LOVED motorcycles but only knew one rider … my Brother who lived two states away.  One day I just bought a bike, called my brother and asked him to come down one weekend and teach me.  He did and after 4 hours or so in a parking lot I was ready to hit the streets and never looked back!!  It was not long until I started meeting many biker friends in the streets.  After that it is history!!!

What was your first motorcycle? Kawasaki Ninja 250- Yellow

How many have you owned? I am currently on my 4th. I spent one summer on the 250 and then thought of it as a scooter — LOL – and upgraded to a GSXR 600 which I customized all white and pink. Don’t get me wrong, the 250 was a GREAT bike to learn on but I was soon ready for more power! After the GSXR I got a R6 which I customized Pink and now I have had my 2003 Kawasaki 636 for the past 4 summers; this is my baby and she is ALL custom- Pink of course with Diamonds on her. She has won many, many shows and I love her!!

Winning with PINK!

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? It looked fun and had a sense of freedom!!

Tell us about your riding. I love riding. I ride practically every single day in the summer. Unfortunately I live in Boston so we really only have 7 – 8 months of good riding weather. I seek great pleasure in riding and love being in an all female motorcycle club because we have a sisterhood and a very tight bond that no one can break. We travel and make a lot of weekend trip plans over the summer. We go on many trips together and have a blast.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? That you only live once and why live it “wanting” to do something … live it “doing it”.  I tell every female that who wants to ride:  You can do ANYTHING you want and put your mind to!!

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle?  The longest I have ever rode was to NJ (3 times over the years) and to NY several times which NJ trip was about 260 miles one way … put it this way … I ride 🙂 I bought my bike 4 years ago with 4,200 miles on it and today I have 36,071 miles on my baby!!

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I am the Co-Founder and President of Diamond Girlz MC an all female motorcycle club out of Boston MA that was established in Feb 2008. We started with 8 females and today we have 11 fully patched members and 1 prospect (of course members have come and gone) the 3 “original members” from day 1 who are still by my side are my 2 loyal sisters Teez my VP and Jewels my SGT at Arms – Thank you ladies!!!

Diamond Girlz MC, Boston

We have come a long way in 5 years and I am very proud of what we have accomplished! We do a lot of community service and have a very strong bond with one another. We also just put out our first ever 2013 Diamond Girl calendar which you can see on our website. Also all the details for our 5th year anniversary event the weekend of Feb 8th and 9th 2013 is all on our website, Please check us out DiamondGirlzMC.com Before Diamond Girlz then I was a member of a co-ed club Bikerz Finest in Boston. I saw a “vision” for an all female club in Boston and saw through it!!!

Diamond Girlz MC

Do you have a favorite riding story? Every 3rd Sunday of the month is Diamond Girl day- we meet up around 11AM plan a day trip and ride and hang out for the whole day. Diamond Girl days are ALWAYS my favorite!!!!

Dressed to ride

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Jayne

It is amazing all the wonderful lady riders that have joined in sharing their stories. From newbies to iron butts every story is filled with personal experience, wisdom, and the love of two wheels! I am so please to be able to share another story. Friends, I’d like to introduce to you Jayne, female motorcyclist from Portland, OR. She has a must follow blog A Broad Abroad Resources & Inspiration For Women Who Travel (or Want to!) and follow her on Twitter too @jayne_a_broad.

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I’ve been riding my own motorcycle since the summer of 2009, after being on the back of my husband’s motorcycle all over Europe for eight years.

How did you learn to ride? I took a four hour “sniffer” course in Germany in 2008, to see if I really wanted to learn to ride my own; the instructor was wonderful, and by the end of class, I knew I wanted to ride my own bike. Right after moving back to the USA, I took the basic rider course from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation in the summer of 2009, and got my license immediately afterwards. Then I set riding goals for every month, such as a certain number of miles to complete, a certain scenario to undertake (riding in the rain, stopping on hills, etc.) or a trip to take. I also read The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Motorcycles, a really excellent book that filled in a lot of blanks for me.

What was your first motorcycle? A 1982 Honda Nighthawk 650. I rode it more than 11,000 miles in those two years I had it, including from Oregon to Jasper, Banff and Kootenay National Parks in Canada, Glacier National Park in Montana, Yellowstone, and the Lost Coast in California. It was funny: every time I road it, men of a certain age – in their 50s or 60s – would walk over and start waxing nostalgic about the Nighthawk they had once upon a time. It was a perfect first bike for me – and I lost 25 pounds while I owned it, which meant that, by the time I sold it, I could sit on it and be flat-footed (I’m 5′ 4″). I sold it to a woman rider, which made me very happy – and I wept as it was hauled away.

How many have you owned? Just two. I’m now on my second, which I expect to have for many years. I switched to a KLR 650 in the Fall of 2011. It’s been a big learning curve: the bike is a lot taller than the Nighthawk, and much lighter. My husband, a Honda Africa Twin rider and experienced motorcycle traveler, lowered it an inch and a half, then bought a very expensive seat for it that would lower it another inch and a half. I also bought boots —  Irish Setter work boots, size 8 for men (extra wide) — that add at least another 3/4 of an inch to my height. I couldn’t find any motorcycle boots that provided the height I needed, fit my feet properly, and that I felt were safe enough for riding – so glad to have found these work boots!

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I had started thinking about it back in the 1990s, when I was in my 30s. I researched Motorcycle Safety Foundation courses – and then never followed up. I had thought of it as a fun, economical way to commute – I was living in Austin, Texas at the time. But I kept talking myself out of it. I so regret not getting a license then. I moved to Germany, met a really cute German guy traveling through Ireland by motorcycle (we’re married now), and he took me all over Europe on the back of his bike. I loved being a passenger (still do), but I also really wanted to learn to ride myself. I knew if I could learn to ride, we could take a lot more stuff with us on trips. I also thought I’d enjoy being a motorcycle rider – and I was right! My husband was super supportive. Unfortunately, to get a motorcycle license in Germany is *terribly* expensive and much more difficult than in the USA: you have to take a written test that is way, way harder than what we have to take in the USA. Also, my German is dreadful – although I could take the written test in German, the actual riding test is in German, and all of the classes I would have to sit through for several weeks would be in German as well. At one point, I was thinking of going back to Kentucky, where all of my family is and which has a treaty with Germany regarding driver’s licenses, staying for five weeks, taking the MSF, getting my license, and then going back to Europe and getting a German license – which, including plane ticket, would cost about as much as getting a license the proper way in Germany. But we ended up moving back to the USA in 2009 – I was in a MSF course just three months after arriving!

Tell us about your riding. Since learning to ride, I’ve put more than 6000 miles on my motorcycle each year. We do one big, two-week trip every year, and as many weekend, overnight and day trips as we can squeeze into our schedule. We like scenic drives, and love to stop at beautiful vistas, historic sites and quirky sites along the way. Camping is a special joy – other campers always come over to say something, to check out our bikes and our gear and to ask us about our travels. I get a lot of men saying they wish I could talk to their wives, because they haven’t been able to convince them to start riding on their own.

I also am ATGATT –  after seeing all the photos of road burn online by people that wear shorts and t-shirts while riding, I would never ride any other way.

My husband is faster than me. I told him long ago I’ll go my own pace, and he has the choice of following me at that speed, or going ahead at his own pace and waiting for me to catch up. He usually chooses the former. I am little Ms. Speed Limit. It’s not that I try to go the speed limit – it’s just so happens that the speed limit is usually as fast that I want to go. That’s so much slower than the majority of bikers want to go, therefore, I rarely ride with other motorcycle riders, except for my husband.

Most of the time, I’m riding with my husband. But I sometimes go on my own – to run an errand, to get my haircut, and a few times, on a ride of my own when he’s out of town. I’ve commuted to downtown Portland a few times, and found it absolutely wretched – traffic is horrific, and some of the stops, either because of traffic lights or traffic jams, are quite precarious – sharp hills, steep curves, etc. I also hate trying to park in a city. When I have to go downtown, I prefer taking twice as long via the bus.

We try to regularly practice on gravel roads – I want to be good enough to travel to some remote ghost town somewhere on back roads with confidence. I will never be a real off-roader – I accept that. I ride my own ride, and I don’t care if that’s slower or more careful than others. I’ve gotten a little flack from younger male riders who can’t believe I “don’t do more” with my KLR – I guess they think I’m supposed to be shooting up and dirt and gravel roads most of the time. I’m going to keep practicing on gravel roads, but I’m not aspiring to ride the Dakar Rally!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Everyone says this, and I totally agree: take a MSF class, or similar course, to learn to ride. A friend or relative is NO substitute for a qualified, experienced, trained teacher – the reality is that a lot of veteran riders have very bad habits they will teach you.  In addition, take a refresher course every couple of years – it will really sharpen your skills and identify bad riding habits. I have a lot more to say about getting started as a female rider, including how to choose a first bike, on my own web page on the subject.  

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? We take a trip of more than 2000 miles at least once a year. I think the longest trip was up into Canada, as I mentioned before. We’ve also gone all the way down to the LostCoast in California, and this year, we took two weeks and went all the way to near Yosemite, and then back up through Nevada to home.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I don’t. I’ve been to a couple of P.O.W.R. (Portland Oregon Women Riders) meetups, but since I ride most of the time with my husband or our friends, I haven’t really had time to do their rides as well. That said, I really encourage any woman who wants to ride to seek out such groups – it makes a really big difference to have lots of invitations to ride when you are a beginner.

Do you have a favorite riding story? Not really – they’re all my favorite!

What do you do when you’re not riding? I’m a consultant, helping nonprofit organizations here and abroad with communications, community/volunteer engagement, and management issues. In the last 10 years, my work has taken me to Germany, Afghanistan, Serbia, Australia, Egypt and Hungary. I also am a very slow bicycle rider.