by Liz Bokfi

Shimmer lotion, soft lighting and Photoshop® – modern-day tools of Biker-Babe-ism. Blemishes are stamped away, cellulite filtered forever and cavernous crevices darkened.

They are everywhere – babes on every make and model of motorcycle imaginable. But the question that burns a hole through my coil wire is, do these girls know where the oil drain plug is located? Okay, maybe some do. But I sure don’t think they’re going to wrench their ride in those stilettos.

According to The Motorcycle and Moped Industry Council of Canada, 30% of sales of motorcycles are to women and that number is increasing at every ring of the cash register. No longer left sitting at home while hubby rides off with the bros, women are also discovering life is a highway. Female riding groups such as Ladies of Harley (www.hog.com) and Women on Wheels (www.womenonwheels.org) have tailored their membership and activities exclusively to women. And they’re not just riding to the corner for an apple fritter either. Motorcycling women are getting the highway dirt under their nails too – and lovin’ it.

The growing trend of female riders is evident when counting enrollment numbers at Canada’s national motorcycle training program, Gearing Up. Jim Terry is Coordinating Chief Instructor at the Barrie, Ontario location, at Georgian College Campus grounds. (www.ridertraining.org)

“The course has seen more female participation compared to when I began instructing in ‘86. We have around 40% female participants on the average,” states Terry. “We have had as high as 70% this year. In recent years, there seems to be more enrollment based on the woman’s initiative as opposed to the spousal urging we saw 10 or 12 years ago.” Terry also notes that most of these female students tend to be in their early to mid 40s and are eager to learn and willing to listen – but at times are intimidated by the machine. This intimidation may have started when their well-intending spouse chose their motorcycle for them, or bought himself or herself a new one, and handed them the old one.

So, for the record, if only for a moment, we’ve thrown away the Biker Babes of the motorcycle world and thrown a few real profiles at you – real women and real bikes.

MARY (ONTARIO) AGE: 53
PROFESSION: legal assistant
NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 7
MAKE/MODEL: 1983 650 Yamaha Maxim
PARTICULARS: 42,000 km on odometer
LONGEST RIDE: B.A.D. Ride, approximately 5 hours
COMMENTS: “One day I would like to ride east, to Newfoundland.”

CAROL (QUEBEC) AGE: 42
PROFESSION: parts and service desk, motorcycle repair shop
NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 26
MAKE/MODEL: 2001 Harley-Davidson Road King
PARTICULARS: added fairing, tour pack, backrest and 50/50 exhaust; motor is stock
LONGEST RIDE: Quebec to Nova Scotia, Quebec to Sturgis
COMMENTS: “I’ve had many, many bikes. I began riding on a 1978 Yamaha 50, then went to a 1983 Yamaha Riva, 180 cc. Harleys? I’ve owned 1973 FX 1200, a 1982 FXR and a 1993 FXR. I’ve also owned 5 Softails.”

SHERRY aka CLOUD RIDER (CALIFORNIA) AGE: 49
PROFESSION: singer/songwriter; poet; artist; muse and mentor
NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 17
MAKE/MODEL: 2005 Suzuki Boulevard M50, 2002 Indian Scout
PARTICULARS: bags, windscreens, blue lights that look cool at night
LONGEST RIDE: “I’ve been down to Los Angeles in the rain for the Annual Love Ride and back (in the cold) in one 48 hour period. I’ve been to the desert (on a horse with no name) to help celebrate the rite of passage – patching – of a brand new BACA [Bikers Against Child Abuse] Chapter.” (www.bacausa.com)
COMMENTS: “I started riding in 1990 – before the CA helmet law. I was a passenger and realized that if I ever wanted to see more than the flying long hair of the man in front of me, I’d have to learn to ride for myself. He was all for it (as though I needed his consent) and I signed up for the Motorcycle Safety Program. I was one of two women amongst a gaggle of 16-year old boys. Therese and I have remained close friends and I’ve rarely been a passenger since that course. That gentleman gave way to the man who became my husband, the original owner of the Scout. He challenged me to ride more and enjoy more. After he passed away in 2005, I let the Indian just sit under a cover for 6 months. Then I made the decision that I would either ride it or have to sell it. After a few shaky rides, I was comfortable and now give each bike it’s time on the road. In the last couple of years, I have been riding with Bikers Against Child Abuse and I am currently the President of the Alameda County Chapter. This is an international volunteer organization dedicated to re-empowering young victims of abuse, enabling them to live their lives without the spectre of fear. I enjoy riding with other women who understand the freedom and respect that we give and allow each other.”

VALARIE (NEW MEXICO) AGE: 42
PROFESSION: self employed; towing business
NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 30
MAKE/MODEL: 2001 Harley- Davidson Fat Boy
PARTICULARS: lowering kit, custom handlebars, custom seat, front rim, chrome swing arm, drag pipes; most stock has been removed and replaced with chrome
LONGEST RIDE: New Mexico to Milwaukee, Wisconsin for Harley-Davidson’s 100th anniversary celebrations
COMMENTS: “My first bike was a Honda 50 at age 12; a year or two later my parents bought me a Yamaha 100.”

GENEVIEVE (MONTANA) AGE: 43
PROFESSION: Founder of WomenRidersNow.com, the leading source for motorcycling lifestyle news and information (www.WomenRidersNow.com)
NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 17
MAKE/MODEL: 1994 Harley-Davidson Dyna Low Rider (I’m overdue for a new bike!)
PARTICULARS: The bike has the usual mods — Screamin’ Eagle pipes (I like that people can hear me coming), S&S Carburetor (I wouldn’t change that out today. Harley engines have come a long way since then.), mini-apehangers (love riding with my hands high up like that), Badlander seat, and highway pegs.
LONGEST RIDE: 4,000 miles in two weeks, from Los Angeles to Glacier National Park in Montana and back
COMMENTS: I was turned on to motorcycling through a TV segment I was producing for Good Morning America in 1989. The story was on career women riding motorcycles. I was hooked after the shoot. MMM