Elizabeth Bokfi (aka Roadgypsy) did an article entitled Real Women Real Bikes in our September October 2007 issue. We have since had more submissions and enquiries about this section so are once again pleased to introduce you to some more “Real Women, Real Bikes” that you may someday meet on your travels. Further submissions are always welcome.

Thanks Liz for inspiring others to write in.

Maureen
British Columbia
Age: 69 1/2

NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 10 1/2

MAKE/MODEL: 2004 H.D. Heritage Softail

LONGEST RIDE: Best I can figure was 14,795 km, from Sidney, Vancouver Island to Sydney, NS and return, with a few detours in between. (Penticton to Grande Prairie to Calgary)

PARTICULARS: To make it mine, I paid for it. Added a few accessories but otherwise I liked it just fine the way it was.

HOW I GOT STARTED: I didn’t know how to say “no” any more to a very persuasive “young” man I was dating. My husband (to be) had asked me on numerous occasions if I would like to ride on his motorcycle. I declined, many times. Ultimately I gave in, short ride around the parking lot, next time around the block, then a ride over the North Cascades to Winthrup which had me hooked. After a few months of riding as a passenger my husband encouraged me to get my own motorcycle. His comment was, after seeing me drive I would do just fine. Not quite sure if that was a back handed compliment or not! But, in any case after due consideration, mostly regarding my age and the concept of learning how to ride, I decided, what the heck. The rest really was history because after I got my first motorcycle, then a few miles on my butt, I truly was hooked. It is impossible to describe the “ride” – you just have to get out there and do it…….which I plan on doing for another 10 years. I am heading south with the RV and my motorcycle in January. I plan on being gone for about three months, give or take a month or so. In May I am heading for Alaska, haven’t been there yet!

Ann-Marie
Nova Scotia

“I Just started riding for the first time in my life last year, 2006. I have always wanted to ride but never made the time to do it. After getting my license, I then had to decide on what type of bike to get. A friend of mine, who is an avid biker, offered some suggestions on models and sizes and I decided to purchase a beautiful (purple) 2003 Yamaha V-star 650 Classic. It was the perfect bike for starting out. But after a year of riding I’m now ready to move up to a larger bike. I rented a Harley-Davidson Softail 1450 recently and got spoiled by the pure power it had on the highway.

But, as you can see from the photo, I decided on a Kawasaki Vulcan 900 LT.

Eva
Ontario
Age: 51

PROFESSION: Production Coordinator, Customs Specialist

NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 4

MAKE/MODEL: 2005 Suzuki C50T

PARTICULARS: 22,000 km, lowered, custom handle bars, hard chrome pipes, lots of bling

LONGEST RIDE: Niagara Falls to Sturgis 2007 and back by way of the Dragon’s tail 7400 km

COMMENTS: My husband is my greatest supporter. When I first mentioned that I would like to ride he encouraged me to sign up for the riders’ course. After successfully completing, it we went shopping for my first bike, a Suzuki Savage 650 single. I rode it to Sturgis, 6100 km round trip in just my second year of riding. The following year he bought me my Suzuki C50T for Christmas. I rode it that summer to Georgia along with six other women to attend the International Women and Motorcycling Conference.