A Question Of Limitations
16. Mar, 2009 
5 Comments
We had a reader make the following comment; “Designing motorcycles for women is a great idea. Many want to but can’t due to the limitations the equipment puts on them.”
What perplexes me is what he meant by, “limitations the equipment puts on them“? Is it just a plain sexist comment, a question of function before form of the machine or an indictment of the perceived anatomical limitations of the rider? Does he mean they should build smaller bikes just for women or that women shouldn’t try to ride bigger bikes because they aren’t designed for them?
Over the years I’ve seen women riders of all statures ride all different styles of bikes. Sure the first Harley that most women ride are Sportsters. Not just because they are the so called smallest Harley, but also they are the least expensive. If you’re just learning to ride it’s better not to start on a 30 thousand dollar Ultra. I have lady friends who have ridden their own stock baggers for many years and they are not Amazons by any stretch of the imagination. I also have a friend who is a state trooper who had his bagger’s shocks lowered because he was height deficient. Back in the day of long front ends a guy I know of used to fall down at every stop sign because he couldn’t reach the ground.
I believe that what a person rides is up to the person. He/she should ride what they are comfortable and competent on. But you have to be honest about it, know your limitations and don’t try to exceed them.
Now what do you think the writer was saying?
My guess is ergonomics.
Most vehicles are designed for the average rider/driver.
Motorcycles are a compromise in many ways, as to weight, how much and how ‘high’ i.e. ‘top heavy’. Reach from the seat, how far are the handlebars to reach and easy to control–long reach and your about out of maneuvering room.
Foot peg location as compared to height, and top of seat to the ground. Clutch pull–how strong a hand for the lever pull, and distance of the lever from the handlebar (small hands can be at a disadvantage). Throttle, some bikes with multiple carburetors have a very strong return spring and can be fatiguing to ‘twist’ for long periods of time. Many can be a real bear to twist the throttle and then hold it for some time.
A bike that sits too high for the rider creates a problem. When your already on tippy toes and the bike starts to go and the road shoulder drops off…
this would apply to anyone not just women but any rider.
The new Buells are too small for some to ride. Some riders cannot get their legs to bend that much, and are too short. Some have trouble wedging myself between the handlebars and the seat, which makes it hard to be comfortable and can effect the rider’s abilty to control the bike in tight corners.
In regards to experience, a person new to riding that buys a fat tire 120 cubic inch billet motor with raked front end, forward controls and a 4 inch belt drive — could have real problems if they have to react fast or turn around in a small radius. These bikes are fun but I would not recommend one for a beginner, regardless of gender.
I couldn’t presume to understand what this gentleman meant, as it was a comment made on “Twitter”. It’s hard to fathom too much in a forum that allows 140 letters and spaces for a comment.
I stated earlier, that I feel these bike manufacturers who are building bikes and then following the trend to address the ads towards women and their “disabilities” when it comes to riding a motorcycle. In short, I feel the company is falling in with the adage, that women need to have a company all their own to address problems they alone face. Rubbish!!!!!
I know men who are real ass draggers when it comes to stature. I mean, if they allowed their pants to roll past their butts like a gang-banger…your would wonder where his fricken legs were. They would also benefit from having a bike company that produced stock from the factory the motorcycles with shortened forward controls, with lower frames, with seats that conformed to their smaller torsos…it’s not just a female problem. I absolutely hate that women buy into the fable of “I can’t because….”
And I hate it when women help other women to buy into that mentality. I understand exactly what these builder gals have done and are continuing to do. I guess I might do it to if it meant I would see my product sell better, sell faster, and add to my notoriety. But I’m telling ya, it makes me feel as if what ever these women and others before them, including me…accomplished on our own is cheapened by a type of selling out of our accomplishments. It makes little sense to me to sell a motorcycle that is built for the small of stature and to make sure no male would be caught dead riding it. They are cutting off a valuable market.
Do not be too moral.
You may cheat yourself out of much life so.
Aim above morality.
Be not simply good; be good for something.”
– Henry David Thoreau
I feel you’re right on target Chassie. The limitations that do exist are not shared by woman alone, but all riders who’s physical stature or ability limits their handling of specifically styled/designed motorcycles. The idea that a motorcycle designed specifically for the female gender is needed to allow women to fully embrace riding as do men is, as you so eloquently put it, rubbish.
What limitations that do exist are obviously design specific and not gender specific. A man who is 5′ 4″, 135 lbs should not be expected to ride the same style bike as a man who is 6′ 7″ 320 lbs.
I’d like to add that in my opinion many women feel as though they cannot ride just any motorcycle. And while that may be true–too many of them believe this not based on physical size, but rather their gender. It’s a perception or mind-set that should be discourage and not encouraged.
All points well taken Chassie. Oh, and Sam was unaware of the Twitter thread or the source other than my email.
A female friend and I were riding past a sign in Daytona that advertised “Bikes built just for women.” She turned to me and said, “I think I’m insulted by that!”
Everyone faces the same challenges and vulnerabilities on a motorcycle and we all want to ride a bike that fits us for comfort and safely. Why point out differences when we have a common goal?
I can’t tell if the comment is about limitations of the actual motorcycle or limitations of women being able to use the equipment that is necessary to design and build a motorcycle. Either way, the impetus of the comment comes from pure ignorance.
I just wrote a post the other day (“Women’s only motorcycles: pandering or genius marketing?”) regarding the fact that I don’t think women need motorcycles designed specifically for them. Yes, some might need to alter their ride to accommodate them better. But again, like Chessie said, that’s not gender-specific. I’m 5’7′ and I don’t have any problems riding any motorcycle, but I did lower my bike 2″ because it looks cooler and feels better being lower to the ground.
Now, if the comment was stating that women lack the mechanical skills to design and build bikes, then I’ll throw some names out there: Athena Ransom from Vagabond Chopper Co., Christine Vaughn of Wicked Women Choppers, Tami Walker from Diva Customs, Sara Liberte of RT’s North Hills Cycle and Dana D’Oench, who build her own on The Metric Revolution (and the only female builder featured on the show) a few years ago.
This IS 2009, isn’t it? ;)