OK, so I realise that inside about an hour this will probably have disappeared in this board, but hey ho, I have a question to ask.
And my question goes out to all those female bikers out there. How old were you when you first straddled a motorbike, be it any size/shape, but a bike you yourself were in control of.
I ask this, for after surveying many many many of my teenage female friends (from about 14 to 19, on average) not one of them said they would be even remotely interested in riding a motorcycle in their lives at all. Whereas, when I asked my male friends, at least 25% of them said they would like to own a motorbike now or would want to later in life.
I guess the point I’m trying to make is why is there such an aversion, especially amongst young females to getting motorbikes, when in the same age group of guys loads of them want to? And I’m not just talking girls who wouldn’t want to break a nail or something, some of them are serious petrol heads (I mean christ, one drives a Mutsi Evo 10 and the other a Focus RS!) and yet no interest in two wheels at all.
Thanks in advance all!
(P.S, Obvious exceptions to that group will know who you are.)
Jamie, the first time that I got on the back of a bike I was under 17. I passed my driving test when I was 17 and 3 months. I took my bike licence many years later.
I am a petrol head, but not necessary just with bikes.
I will take some of your comments with a pinch of salt due to your very young age!
I’m not trying to be rude, just reporting what I’ve experienced with my friends. Your answer is exactly why I asked the question, to see if there are girls/women out there who have liked bikes from a young age
First got on a bike at the age of 9 it was pillion on a 500cc dirtbike tearing round our farm:D
was hooked from that day onwards got my own bike when i was 16 what my dad won in a game of poker;) my sister always wanted a bike but was considered to girly wheras i was proper roughie toughie …she used to love going pillion round the country lanes etc but she went onto cars instead:D
Daughter at 15 lusted after a classic Vespa. Offered her one leading up to her 16th birthday. Not interested anymore.
Mrs. O had never been on a bike before but happily joined me as a pillion at 26 and encouraged me to buy a BMW the next year.
Great for a few years but come the birth of our first born refuses to have anything to do with motorcycles. Now this is the lady that used to suggest taking the bike to go up to town as “better than public transport”.
I just don’t understand this, but then she is female and I don’t think I’m supposed to understand them.
I always liked bikes, but never had the opportunity to get on one.
I manage to ride mine fine with nails
I learnt to balance on a bicycle about 18 months ago.
bought a cbr125r, did 600 miles after doing my cbt, 2 weeks later
straight onto the 600RR 1 hour after my DAS
The need for the speed and a great joy of riding (cars, when I was young(er)) I felt from a young age, always wanted to have a bike though, I don’t know what took me so long to get one… Busyness of life maybe…
I’ve heard from quite a few girls they would love to ride bikes, but it’s kind of scary to them. It’s understandable, considering the greater danger of riding in a busy city with all of these people around who are texting/putting make up on/reading maps/drawing/checking whats in their sandwich etc. when driving…
I’m… I’m just going to slide this way slightly. No offence but I’m still a teenager myself.
On the ‘danger’ issue, surely the risk is the same for guys, or are women just naturally more risk-averse than men? I don’t know, I’m just throwing that theory out there.
One thing I’ve discovered after writing the opening thread, is that apparently a lot of my mates (male and female) consider female bikers to all be dykes or fat and ugly. Now I know this is incorrect, but it could lend an angle of social stigma as to why women wouldn’t want to bike, as they don’t want to be thought of as a lady who partakes in beverages from the furry cup.
I have a 13 going on 29yr old daughter who wants nothing more than the chance to ride either my Ducati or Triumph. She would like to do the Ron Haslam school of racing. And has picked out her first 125 something or other. Her ultimate choice of bike (for now) is a 1098R… She will have to save her pocket money thou’
I’ve always been interested in bikes, but was 23 before I really really got into them, and a year 25 before I took my test…
As to being adverse to risk taking…I’ve always been a huge risk taker…was into fast cars, did stunt riding with horses, liked danger. Bad cars, bad horses, bad men…ahhhhhhh the ignorance of youth
Mrs Jetstream has been a pillion since she was about 15 and fortunately lives to tell the tale at a little under 50. Just lately she’s been thinking of learning to ride … sometimes these things take a while …
my Girlfriend has had a bike licence longer than me…
My daughter loves bikes and wants to go on mine when ever she can, shes 7
My son likes cars more… hes 5
in general girls dont like bikes for many reasons, including it mucks up there hair…
a nice car will get you laided way more than a nice bike…
I first rode pillion at age 17 and loved it. I started saving for my bike and bike test. I then met my ex, lurve blinded me and I learned to drive a car (the wisdom of age and hindsight made me realise that he wasn’t really interested in my safety, he just needed his guitar and marshal stack carted around!)
Me not riding was totally my fault though I could have told him to go **** himself. I could still have taken my bike test but I couldn’t afford both forms of transport. I must admit I like driving and am a bit of a petrol head; I like a car with a ‘launch’ mode. Life then got busy as it does, domestic responsibilities etc. The latter is when females put themselves last for a long time - ask your mum.
When I met my husband I happily went pillion and told him my tale. There were a few years uming and aring, am I too old to learn this (I am in my late 40s), would it be a good idea etc. Then last year we went to the Isle of Man for the TT. Went round the course as his pillion. I loved it so much I returned saying I am going back there and am going to go round it on my own bike. Did the CBT then hired a 125 for two weeks in August when on leave to see if I really wanted to go for it, bought my own 125 passed module 2 on 1st December 2009. I am now happier on a bike than in a car. A dream I have had all my adult life fulfilled.
A BIG thank you here to my wonderful, supportive husband.
As for why young women don’t wish to ride, I don’t think that is 100% the case. Where I work there are teenage girls who ride scooters. A lot of parents now don’t want their children of either gender to go on two wheels. I know a few that have bribed their offspring by paying for a car and lessons. I like dangerous sports absailing, wreck diving etc so may be you do need to be a bit of an adrenalin junkie to enjoy a bike.
when i was a teen most of the girls and guys were riding in our group from landies to gixxers , only difference the girls kind of grew out of it and we didnt
mrs rixxy likes her bikes but for different reasons to me. I love how complicated it is, how much there is to learn in order to be a good rider.
Plus i love the power, buzz and most importantly the freedom.
Cat started as a pillion and now has her 125, she likes doing trips abroad and she loves going places on the bike and being able to explore things with such freedom.
I find alot of woman think bikes are hot, and wouyld likie to have the guts to ride them, alot are scared to go out on them and i think this is because of horror stories and guys showing off.
If your not used to being a passanger on a bike and someone nails it on a 600 or a 1000 then your gunna be very very scared.
SO if you take someone out be nice and let them get used to the bike before you start showing off.
My ex-girlfriend had been riding pillion in her teens, mostly with members of a rather well-known MC. She did the marriage & kids thing then decided to take her test in her mid-thirties (a week before her first granddaughter was born) now has a couple of 600s and still rides regularly aged 50.
A close friend of hers took much the same path but never took her bike test, has no interest in riding a bike and has ended up married to a one of the guys she used to ride with as a teenager…and is still happy to ride as his pillion. I also know several other women who don’t want to ride except as a passenger.
Hmm, the risk thing, well my ex- has always been around horses, as a result of this she is now on her second artificial hip (busted pelvis due to the horse she was riding falling over and landing on her) and a couple of years back had to have her nose rebuilt cos another horse accidentally knocked her over and put a hoof in her face. And they say bikes are dangerous…
AG and Rixxy you are quite right, too many are put off because some fckwit decides to show off. Having said that, another ex- had a badly smashed leg and post-traumatic stress disorder because of one of the fckwits’ antics…when she saw my Triumph T-bird she decided to give it another try, !0,000 miles in just under a year got her used to riding again and yes, I am pleased to report that a nice bike can DEFINITELY get you laided:w00t:
