Women bikers?

Question

There are a group of us riders that get together when our schedules allow for short tours. In our group there can be 2-5 female riders. They ride bikes ranging from an old Triumph Tiger up to a pair of 2007 Kawasaki Cruisers. When we make our stops we are often approached by 'civilians' asking questions about our various machines and riding in general. However they hardly ever approach the women. What is it about women on bikes that unsettles most non riders?

Answer 1

They are just scared to talk to them, I  think  "normal people" think a lot of women who ride bikes may not be quite feminine enough for them. I think women and bikes are very s**y, especially when they are wearing leather, doh! sexist remark but I don't care. Ride free.

Answer 2

I think reddish hit it on the head.  people have  seen too many biker movies & think any women ridding in a pack are somebodys property & its not wise to approach them.

this was actually sometimes the case  back when moby d**k was a tadpole & alley oop rode dinosaurs.

some old stereotypes hang around long after the people who started them have turned to dust.

Answer 3

Here in Tucson, AZ there are a few riding groups and we belong to a wide range of ulterior adult behavior riders. One such group, LBGT of Tucson, is 90% women and they ride bikes from a Honda Rebel to full dress Harley's and Gold Wings. My lady is a member and she rides a 98 Heritage Softail and thus I can go out with them at times with me on my bike. We have seen this weird behavior with civilians and the best we can surmise is - They are in shock and awe of seeing women doing something generally accepted as a mans thing. They don't know how to handle women who are free and above male dominance. A bunch of male bikers invoke feelings of freedom and no boundaries to many not of the biker life style, but to see women doing the same thing scares the livin' bejesus out'a them... Society at large is not ready to see and experience female bikers even tho they have been around as long as bikes have been. The male image in their minds, and the things shown in movies, stories, etc.. are bad enuf, but to envision a bunch of women doing the same thing is just too much for their weak feeble lil minds. You scare them..!! They know they can't "control" you, as they do theirs, and this scares them even more. Oh, they be curious alright, both in the machines you ride and the mental image you produce (male fantasy) but the reality is, your already way too much for them by showing you have a personality way above the accepted norm and you and your friends fit no mold. Ride on Sisters and keep the shiny side up...

Answer 4

In MY experience, they are afraid to approach women on bikes and men with silver hair. I pulled into a Hardies burger place last week during a storm. The power was off and the door was locked. The Manager (woman) unlocked it and I walked in with my helmet on. The were chattering about the "Harley" outside and I was soaked. I pulled off my helmet and one in the back said "that man is gray headed". LOL I have been gray for years, it runs in the family. There were two men there and several women one white and the rest were either hispanic or black. The women were the only ones to make conversation, and they didn't stop talking when my wife showed up about ten minutes later. The Men never really even looked at me.

Answer 5

Why do you assume it unsettles people?  Generally, men are more interested in motorcycles and can relate better to people like themselves...so they go talk to the guys.  What's your point?

Answer 6

maybe they are thinking in another era personally I find women on a bike really cool at least they are living life instead of feeling miserable about themselves.

Answer 7

Because they don't want the men with you to think that they are hitting on their women, It can avoid a lot of trouble

Answer 8

Normally they assume that the women do not know anything about their bike other than it starts and runs and the throttle makes it go.  I got some strange looks at the dealership here because I came in looking for parts to repair our sv650 and maintenance items for our Ducati and GS500 until the guys got used to me.  Being a women I know alot about our bikes while I've noticed others just know the basic this is how it turns on and this is how it goes sort of thing.  This is basically a stereotype of women not knowing anything about the mechanical workings of their vehicle be it a car or bike.