A Moto-Rant

Motorcycles are made for men. There is no other method of transportation that is so biased towards a single gender. I get it… female riders only make up 10% of the total motorcycle market. It is a very much male dominated market and industry.

Still, the number of female motorcycle riders is increasing at a higher rate than male riders- 28 percent versus 7 percent. (source: Ohio DOT) This is in spite of the fact that bikes are overwhelmingly designed and marketed to men. Untapped market anyone?

               Ideally, you want both feet firmly on the ground. Studies have shown that the average female rider has an inner leg dimension of just over 29 inches. (This is about 2 ½ inches shorter than the average male inner leg dimension). Also, a rider should be able to comfortably reach the handle bars but at an average reach of 23 ½ inches, many women have to lean. (Compared to the average male reach of 26 inches). My biggest issue is the distance from the brake/clutch to the handlebar. I have smaller hands and on most bikes, I can only get a couple of fingers around the levers.

               Like I said, I understand that bikes need to be manufactured to fit the largest number of potential riders- or else the company will not be profitable. Still interchangeable clutch/brake levers, lowering kits and other after-market accommodations are hard to come by and sometimes expensive depending upon the make and model.

She probably fell off because she could not reach the handle bars.