Something that was really awesome about going to Babes Ride Out last year was the sheer amount of women who went who are new riders or who are still in the process of getting their endorsement.
It was just so cool to see in real life some of the amazing women who are joining the moto community. I had a great conversation with a new rider and I figured I would share some of the stuff we talked about with all of you. Hopefully if this doesn’t apply to you you can share it with someone you know who’s just getting started. I wrote these out with women in mind, but a lot of them are universal things I would say to new riders in general.
Know your SH*T Take a class.
A few states require you to take a safety course or a basic rider course, and even if you aren’t required to take it depending on your insurance, you can get a break on your insurance if you successfully take the course.
Either way, It is 100% worth the money. You will learn so much from the teachers who are trained to teach you hands on, and you will come out of it more confident in your skills on the bike than before. If you have any fear about handling the bike, or riding in traffic this course will help you with those fears, I know it helped me. I was legitimately scared before I took the course, I still had a lot of practice to do afterwards but getting to ride in a controlled environment really eased my anxiety.
Try to learn more about how your motorcycle works. Buy the proper manual, and watch some videos about how engines work. Any knowledge you can gain about your bike and how it works is only going to help you be a better rider.
Find Gear that FITS
Gear that fits you and your needs is going to be hard to find. Be Patient. There are a lot more cottage companies now that are trying to make better gear for women, but just know that this is going to be a journey.
Don’t be afraid to try on men’s gear either. Don’t compromise on the features and the fit you want in a jacket or riding pants just because the women’s version doesn’t have them. Almost all of my gear is men’s gear, because either the women’s gear lacked the vents and pockets I wanted, or the ‘better’ women’s option was out of my price range.
Also: Remember to sit down in the gear and stick your arms out as you try it on. You’re not going to be standing in it, you’re going to be riding a bike.
Don’t listen to the Naysayers.
Especially those who try to say travelling alone is too dangerous. Travelling solo as a girl is awesome. I have met so many incredible people, strangers have opened up their homes to me, fed me, helped me fix my bike, followed me out of the woods to make sure I was safe when I broke my wrist, given me gas from their lawn mower when I ran out.
Bad stuff does happen, and you need to be aware of your surroundings and listen to your instincts, but don’t let other people’s fear mongering keep you from getting out there.
You’re going to get crap from people. People are going to ask if that’s really your bike, or try to tell you that bike is “too big for you,” don’t even give them the time of day.
You’re gonna hear it a lot, better to realize it’s not personal sooner than later. There are way more awesome people in the world that you’re going to meet on the road.
Stretch your Comfort Zone: one little bit at a time.
Break down your goals into bite size pieces, one little thing at a time:
get comfortable parking your bike
go over 45mph get onto a freeway.
Travel more than 100 miles
Ride to a different state
Make your own goals, and always practice. Don’t get complacent in your abilities.
The last one is more universal.
IF you’re going on a trip, Pack Minimally, and keep the weight as low as possible.
Even a cheap pair of saddle bags with some trash bag liners is better than stacking all of your stuff on the back of your bike until it’s taller than you are.
If there’s not enough room in your saddlebags and you need to put something on the passenger seat, put it all in one dry bag. Don’t leave anything loose that you don’t want to get soaked or loose it.
Bungee cords are awful. In my opinion the only acceptable bungee on a bike is a bungee net, and even then that should not be the only thing mounting your stuff to your bike. These kinds of buckle straps can be found at most Sports or Outdoor Stores, Rok Straps are also a fantastic strap, or even thin ratchet straps. Make sure you tie up any excess strap so it doesn’t get caught in your chain or your tire.