Why don't more women ride motorcycles?

Question

It has nothing to do with strength. I've seen some 5 foot nuthin's riding Road Kings. Plus some of the dudes aren't all that buff.

Answer 1

I think a lot of girls have ridden on the back of a motorcycle, and didn't like it, so they assume they won't like riding their own. I wish more would try it, because it's completely different to ride by yourself vs being a passenger.

I also think a lot of them are scared of the pressure that they think people will put on them, and afraid of being made fun of or something. I wish they'd just try it.

Answer 2

I think you will find that the answer lies in our historical culture and is changing. In the distant past (say 150 years ago) we had a very paternalistic society where the men did most of the dangerous work and the women did the housework. As society adapted to technology, most of the driving was done by men and women were the passengers.

As we movbe historically into the WWII era, we start to see some change. The women were forced to do more of the dangerous work while the men were gone to war fighting. After the war, many women did not revert back to their traditional role while many did. This then was the start of the feminism movement.

As we move forward in time from then, we see more and more women doing things that were traditionally male roles. We see this with some jobs, such as police and firefighter, and we see it in some recreational areas such as riding motorcycles.

And as society has progressed even further, we see the change happening more and more. We see more fields opened up to women, both work and recreational, and we see women going further in the fields that were opened up earlier.

Give it some time and you will eventually see the roles mixed much more evenly. There will probably never be a true 50-50 mix, but it is already approaching the point where women can do what they want, and will soon approach the point where women can think about doing more things.

Answer 3

I've been riding on the road since I got my licence when I was 16 years old and bought my first bike for $500. I saw a few other women back then, but not as many as I do now.

20 years later I'm still an active rider on my fourth bike and even had worked as an instructor for a couple of years. Many of my friends also have bikes and although there are a lot more women riding now. I also question why there aren't more, but am glad to see the expansion.

Answer 4

It's skill level. It's starting to get popular for women to ride motorcycles but let's face it... it wasn't so popular for little girls to be riding dirt bikes when they were younger. Women in their 30s or 40s are taking a course and getting acclimated with a smaller bike. I ride a Honda Rebel right now because I just finished learning! My husband has a Softail Standard and while I'd love love love nothing more than to have my own Harley, getting on his is waaaay too overwhelming for me right now. I'm definitely going to build up though!!

Answer 5

They are scared. When I told people I was getting one they said I am crazy, midlife crises all that good stuff.
In this case SIZE doesn't matter. LOL
A lot of times I hear that they are not technical , can't get the hand/foot controls right. I think that's a matter of learning. I knew how to drive a stickshift and I learned how to use clutch/gears/brake on the bike too.
Let me just say, they don't know what they are missing !! Its a blast.

Answer 6

PICKING UP A DROPPED bike is super easy if you know how. My 52 yr old wife, all of 5'3" can pick up her Harley Road King easily... tho' only for practice since she rides like a freakin' DEMON.
One of the reasons I love her...

As for the 'why don't" thing ? I've got a number of lady friends with their own full-sized bikes. Grannies, writers, bankers, all very feminine (and straight). I suspect that it's largely because the advertising is aimed only at men.

Answer 7

Speaking from personal experience, it simply may not occur to them that they CAN! I was born loving motorcycles, but it didn't occur to me soon enough that I could get my own.

Hopefully with more women out there acting as role models, other girls will get the idea.

It's also possible that upbringing plays a part - girls just aren't raised to worship the machine the way boys are. Messages in the media do not put girls on fast bikes (unless they're wearing bikinis).

Answer 8

When I started riding I was alone with the idea, my female friends felt jealous because I could no longer be labeled a pathetic single chick.So I up traded my female friends for a Harley and I can never be the same again.

Answer 9

I have been riding Harley's for over 23 years and can tell you that more and more woman are riding every day. My wife rode with me for years and decided to get her license and now has her own Fatboy and is a great rider.
Many of our friends (woman) also have their own scoots and ride with us and belong to L.O.H. (Ladies of Harley).
Keep in the wind (knee's in the breeze) !

Answer 10

It does have to do with strength. If your bike gets laid over, you need to have the strength to pick it up by yourself. I'm 6-01, 195 pounds and in fairly good shape.....I dropped my Gold WIng Interstate once.....that was a struggle.