Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Sue a.k.a. @Suzknight4

Don’t you love meeting new people? I do. That’s why I hope we never run out of lady riders wanting to sharing their stories! Whether they are a newbie like me or a road warrior with years of experience, I am always encouraged and gain new wisdom from each woman!

I met my next guest Sue, from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in cyber space – Twitter to be exact: @Suzknight4. Also, check out her web site Vision Eye Art. It is a business where a unique optical company and art gallery come together in one location! Hum, who’s thinking road trip to Milwaukee? We have met a few friends from there. I can think of at least three fabulous female motorcyclist: Rania, Mary, and Beth! And now we can add Sue to that list! [Chime in if I missed you!]

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I had my first riding experience a long time ago. (As the baby sister with 3 big brothers, I had a chance to ride their dirt bikes as a kid). I later moved on to other things-windsurfing, canoeing, traveling and bicycling, and forgot about riding motorcycles. Then, 3 years ago, I became really obsessed with getting a motorcycle. I went with my gut.

How did you learn to ride? I took a class.

What was your first motorcycle? 1983 Honda Nighthawk CB650. The neighbor just happened to park it in front of my house, with a for sale sign on it, at the height of my urge to get a bike. Much like pets, he found me…

How many have you owned? Just the Nighthawk, so far. But I have my eye on a Suzuki Boulevard C50T.

Sue and her Honda 650 Nighthawk!

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I’ve always had a huge sense of adventure and a love of the outdoors. Wisconsin has beautiful rolling hills and scenic areas to explore. It’s an extension of my love of getting around by bicycle. Now, I can go farther.

Many years ago, my good friend and I talked about getting bikes. She did it. But I put it off, as I was about to start a family. Initially, I thought it would be irresponsible to ride a bike when my kids were so little. Now I feel that it is a powerful way to set an example for my two young daughters. I want them to grow up with confidence and the knowledge that women can do anything they put their minds to and live life to the fullest!

Look at these two sweethearts!

Tell us about your riding. As a small business owner and mother of two young girls, I have to squeeze rides in whenever I can. I do take the bike to work when possible. I get girls night out occasionally to go to “bike night” at the Harley-Davidson Museum and Iron Horse Hotel, two of the great offerings in Milwaukee. And I take short weekend rides with my friends.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? Take a class, start out easy, and find a good group of people to ride with. Get out there and do it. It is a great feeling to ride.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I’m still waiting for that epic trip. So far, it’s just been day trips around the Kettle Moraine Forest and Lake country. The most I’ve done in a day is around 150 miles.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I ride with a local women’s riding club – RockerfoxMC (find them here on Facebook and Twitter). We go on rides and out to Sunday brunch to talk bikes, etc.

Do you have a favorite riding story? There was one Sunday when I cleared my schedule and convince some friends to ride, even though the weather forecast was not good. I think they agreed to join me just because I don’t get too many opportunities to ride, and I really wanted to go. It was a good ride until it came time to turn east to head home. There was a most intense bank of black clouds right where we were headed. I love a good storm, so it was pretty cool to see it looming before us. As we hit it, it was an absolute deluge of massive rain drops. I was really enjoying the feel of the rain, until we stopped for a friend who wasn’t seeing well, and then I realized how soaked and cold I actually was. I’m thankful that my friends put up with it. For me, it was a wonderful experience. I got home just as the sun broke through, and a beautiful double rainbow smiled down on me!

Double rainbow!

I look forward to many more years on the bike and a new adventure at every turn.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I enjoy traveling, spending time with my family, bicycling, going to the beach, camping, and water sports – kayaking, canoeing, wave running, swimming, boating, etc. I’ve been a windsurfer for years, and would like to try kite boarding next. I’m always looking for my next adventure. Maybe I’ll get a sidecar and take the kids on a cross country voyage.

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Beth a.k.a. @bikerbethb

Check out this post on the updated Helmet or Heels blog!

I think my blog has become a place of true confessions for me! I asked Beth a.k.a. @bikerbethb publicly on Twitter to join in with her profile of a female motorcyclist. How could she refuse? I did it for all of you … okay, another confession: I did it for me. I LOVE reading about lady riders! They are so inspiring. The more I can post the more better! (Hope my former English teachers don’t read this!) Enough about me. I am so pleased to introduce Beth from Mukwonago, Wisconsin (just outside of Milwaukee). Check out her LinkedIn profile too!

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? I rode dirt bikes in my teens but didn’t get my license until 2003. I bought my first bike that year.

How did you learn to ride? I took a motorcycle safety course. I also recently took an advanced riding course that helped improve my skills. My bike is quite large and it can be easy to get into a situation where it is hard to control. This class helped me push my limits and learn how to better handle the bike.

What was your first motorcycle? 2000 Harley Davidson Wide Glide.

Beth on her first bike a 2000 Harley Davidson Wide Glide.

How many have you owned? Two. I am now riding a 2008 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Standard.

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I love being outside. This will sound very stereotypical, but I love the wind in my face. A secondary reason is that at one time, someone said to me, “women shouldn’t drive motorcycles.” I was up to the challenge!

Tell us about your riding.  I occasionally commute, but now most of my riding is for pleasure around the area. We live close to the Kettle Moraine and Holy Hill which provide some of the most wonderful riding in the Milwaukee-metro area. We own a vacation home in New Glarus, WI and that area also has some awesome riding roads. We also take a vacation every year on the bikes. We have been all over the south. We have seen the Smokey’s, the Ozarks and the Appalachians. I have ridden to Sturgis and Myrtle Beach Bike Week.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? First, don’t ever let someone tell you that you can’t or shouldn’t ride. Second, take a MSF class and then practice, practice, practice. Just like anything else in life, the more you do of something the better you get. Compared to my husband and his friends, I am a “newbie,” even though I have been riding for almost 10 years. I am still learning. Watch how experienced riders handle situations. Ask questions, but don’t let anyone intimidate you! You can do it!

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? I think our ride to Myrtle Beach (from Wisconsin) was the longest. It is a little more than 1,000 miles one way. We rode for two days and then spent most of a week in the area exploring. We rode to Charleston (beautiful place). We then spent a few days meandering home. We rode up through North Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia. There are some really beautiful roads in those states. We left West Virginia and rode straight through to Wisconsin which was my longest ride every, close to 700 miles. Unfortunately, this trip was in early May which can be an unpredictable month in the Midwest. In one day, we went from 85 degrees to 32 degrees. It was a good thing we had packed all of our cold weather gear.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I don’t belong to any groups, but do read Women Rider’s Now website weekly. The site is written by women riders for women riders. Genevieve Schmitt is a long-time women’s riding advocate.

Do you have a favorite riding story? I actually met my husband because of riding. Every year, Harley holds the Fall Color Run in Tomahawk, WI. Tomahawk is in Wisconsin’s north woods and is a beautiful place to be in mid-September (as long as it isn’t snowing). The first year I went, we stayed with friends outside of Tomahawk on Lake Natomis. We stopped at the bar/restaurants down the road from where we were staying and that is where I met my husband. We were engaged in Tomahawk on the fifth anniversary of our meeting. We go back every year to celebrate.

Check out Beth and her ride, hubby, and Blue Ridge Parkway!

What do you do when you’re not riding? I love being outside, so I garden, hike or just enjoy sitting  in the sun reading. Winters are long here in Wisconsin so a couple of year ago, I took up snowmobiling. I am not very fast on my snowmobile yet and still learning. Just like the bike. I have a very fun job as a trainer that I also enjoy very much.

Random Pictures and a Guy I Met in the Bathroom

Hubby and I had a very fun weekend filled with adventure! Hubby works every other weekend so we try to pack a lot in when we have off together. Here are a few pictures of this past weekend’s adventure!

A couple of posts ago I mentioned the sidewalk parkers outside of businesses. Here’s a typical site in my neck of the woods.

Motorcycle parking on the sidewalk outside the grocery store.

I agree with so many that commented on that post. Sidewalk parking is not for me.

On Saturday hubby and I took the long way to Taylor Falls, MN. It is a small quaint city on the border of Wisconsin. Love the details of older buildings. This type of craftsmanship is rare in new buildings. I don’t know why but I’ve always wanted a house with a turret like this …

Local business Coffee Talk.

I think this was the Library.

We had lunch in the same place the last time we rode out here, Romayne’s. They have an awesome burger and this time we tried their onion rings. [Note to self: Next time don’t share with hubby.]

After walking around for a bit we stopped for ice cream. I had to use the bathroom and found this sign.

How would they enforce that?

We hopped over the border to St. Croix, Wisconsin. Lots of friends have recommended taking the time to visit over there. That’s where I met this guy … in the bathroom!

I’ve lovingly named him. Sir Stinky

 

 

Hubby and I put a few miles on the bikes, had some great food, and saw some fun things along the way! Cheers!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist: Meet Mary a.k.a. @Murphdak

Sometimes I wish I knew more about technology than I do because right now I would be playing a soundtrack for you that sounded like a pig squealing with delight! Unfortunately, my tech skills lack, hence the ugly blog, and so you’ll have to use your imagination for the soundtrack.

Regardless, I am so happy >squealing< to introduce to you another female motorcyclist, Mary from Milwaukee, WI. She is also known as @Murphdak on Twitter. That’s where I connected with Mary (hint, hint: follow her on Twitter)! I offer to you another fascinating lady rider for y’all to meet!

Meet Mary a.k.a. @Murphdak

How long have you been riding a motorcycle? 13 seasons

How did you learn to ride? I bought my first bike, a Suzuki GZ250 in 2000, got my learner’s permit and practiced in the church parking lot next door.

What was your first motorcycle? Suzuki GZ250

How many have you owned? 1 Suzuki, 3 Hondas, 2 Kawasakis, and 1 Harley, so seven! I bought my Harley Sportster 1200 Low in 2008 and have been riding it ever since.

Mary with her Harley Sportster 1200 Low

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle? I have since I was a little kid when my male cousins had them. I was always fascinated by vehicles so I would drive whatever I could, whenever I could. That came in handy when my father started farming. I was always willing to ride the tractors, snowmobiles, Bobcats and other various machines.

Tell us about your riding. I have been a commuter rider for years with one or two rides of about 200 miles roundtrip a year to my family’s houses. I have since been riding more, yet still commute to work. What beats a ride in the morning and a ride going home from work five days a week?

Nice commute!

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle? If you really have an interest in riding, pursue it! I also suggest taking the training course offered by many establishments. It is invaluable and you will use it every time you get on the bike.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your cycle? This past Memorial Day I went on a four day, 750 mile trip to and from the Mississippi River and around WI from Milwaukee.

Mary on the road!

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups? I am one of the founding members of RockerFoxMC. You can find us on Twitter and Facebook. We are a riding club mainly to encourage female riders to have a comfortable environment to ride in with other female riders. I will ride with anyone, however!

Do you have a favorite riding story? I do. The first time I went on a long trip to my sister’s house (100 miles) I was riding with my husband’s co-worker and my husband was tailing us in the car. My husband is very protective so the two of them had walkie-talkies hooked up between each other to monitor my progress … Oh, brother! Anyway, one thing that I did not expect was a giant hedge-hog to come waddling right into my path as I was riding 55 mph. I saw it just as it made it safely to the side of the road. Whew! It was a good ride even though I was a little nervous, but my husband was told that I was a very good rider by my riding partner. He’s been supportive of my hobby ever since.

What do you do when you’re not riding? I am a graphics services manager for a printing company in Milwaukee. I love music, books, travel, animals and, of course motorcycling.

Harley Davidson