He approached my friend, Amanda, who was sitting on her BMW S1000RR, waiting for the rest of the group to load up and roll out: "That's an awful lot of bike for a little girl like you."
That this occurred at the Daytona International Speedway, just hours after Elena Myers, all 5' 3" and 115lbs of her, with her Suzuki SuperSport raced her way into the record books - Elena became the first female in any motorsport to win at the Speedway - would have struck most people as ironic.
As if guys who feel compelled to say such things understand irony.
Oh, and by the way, Amanda doesn't just ride the BMW S1000RR, she can ride it. As can most of the women I know who ride a motorcycle. Not that this stops the comments, inquiries, and backhanded compliments.
But thanks to Ms. Myers, the double-X chromosomed riders now have the best response yet:
Think I can't ride a bike because I'm a chick? Two words: Elena Myers.
You go, Elena!
Because I couldn't resist, after Amanda's unfortunate encounter, I did a quick poll for the top worst lines to women on motorcycles (hint: to all the men out there, if you are trying to charm a girl, don't insult her riding skills or her ride).
And now, in honor of Elena Myer's victory - Top Six Things NOT to Ask a Female Rider:
Does your boyfriend/husband know you took his bike? Albeit, a white lie since her bike is the R6 and her boyfriend rides the R1, but Michelle's favorite reply to this one is: "Of course he does, because I allowed him to ride my R1 today." For the record, they share the GSX-R750 track bike.
Oh, so that's the girl's bike? When I worked at a Ducati shop, I rode a Ducati 848Evo. Certain guys would come in thinking they wanted an 848. Upon hearing that the vertically-challenged girl, who needed help reaching the top shelf for a helmet, rode one, they assumed that it couldn't possibly be a "real" motorcycle. The salesman could then assume they knew little about bikes and would sell them the rather more expensive 1198, the Man's Bike. Best of all would be when, six-months and 250-miles later, they would return the bike to put on consignment.
Who bought the motorcycle for you? Really? I quite liked my 2007 Suzuki GSX-R, the bike I was riding at the time, but if I'd scored an all elusive moto-sugar daddy? Hello, Bimota Tesi!
Can you handle that much power? As my friend Kelly would say: "Yes. Which is why you have no chance with me."
You ride like a guy! I know this one is supposed to be a compliment, but it still hints at the notion that girls can't ride. And if one can, its because she straps on a pair when she jumps on the bike. That I usually hear this after riding like a jackass on the expressway, going too fast, splitting lanes, failing to keep both tires on the ground at all times, and generally being stupid, should make men, and women, everywhere wonder if riding like a dude is actually a good thing.
Tell me, really, you used steel wool to wear the tire down at the edges like that, right? Rendered me speechless on that one. I ended up telling him that my imaginary boyfriend took my moto out in order to eliminate the 2"-chicken strips, so I would look cool. He nodded solemnly; world view still intact.
My response next time? Two words: Elena Myers.
Cheers!
That this occurred at the Daytona International Speedway, just hours after Elena Myers, all 5' 3" and 115lbs of her, with her Suzuki SuperSport raced her way into the record books - Elena became the first female in any motorsport to win at the Speedway - would have struck most people as ironic.
 |
| Elena Myers celebrates her Daytona Speedway victory |
As if guys who feel compelled to say such things understand irony.
Oh, and by the way, Amanda doesn't just ride the BMW S1000RR, she can ride it. As can most of the women I know who ride a motorcycle. Not that this stops the comments, inquiries, and backhanded compliments.
But thanks to Ms. Myers, the double-X chromosomed riders now have the best response yet:
Think I can't ride a bike because I'm a chick? Two words: Elena Myers.
You go, Elena!
 |
| Sign of the Apocalypse? She can RIDE |
Because I couldn't resist, after Amanda's unfortunate encounter, I did a quick poll for the top worst lines to women on motorcycles (hint: to all the men out there, if you are trying to charm a girl, don't insult her riding skills or her ride).
And now, in honor of Elena Myer's victory - Top Six Things NOT to Ask a Female Rider:
Does your boyfriend/husband know you took his bike? Albeit, a white lie since her bike is the R6 and her boyfriend rides the R1, but Michelle's favorite reply to this one is: "Of course he does, because I allowed him to ride my R1 today." For the record, they share the GSX-R750 track bike.
Oh, so that's the girl's bike? When I worked at a Ducati shop, I rode a Ducati 848Evo. Certain guys would come in thinking they wanted an 848. Upon hearing that the vertically-challenged girl, who needed help reaching the top shelf for a helmet, rode one, they assumed that it couldn't possibly be a "real" motorcycle. The salesman could then assume they knew little about bikes and would sell them the rather more expensive 1198, the Man's Bike. Best of all would be when, six-months and 250-miles later, they would return the bike to put on consignment.
Who bought the motorcycle for you? Really? I quite liked my 2007 Suzuki GSX-R, the bike I was riding at the time, but if I'd scored an all elusive moto-sugar daddy? Hello, Bimota Tesi!
Can you handle that much power? As my friend Kelly would say: "Yes. Which is why you have no chance with me."
You ride like a guy! I know this one is supposed to be a compliment, but it still hints at the notion that girls can't ride. And if one can, its because she straps on a pair when she jumps on the bike. That I usually hear this after riding like a jackass on the expressway, going too fast, splitting lanes, failing to keep both tires on the ground at all times, and generally being stupid, should make men, and women, everywhere wonder if riding like a dude is actually a good thing.
Tell me, really, you used steel wool to wear the tire down at the edges like that, right? Rendered me speechless on that one. I ended up telling him that my imaginary boyfriend took my moto out in order to eliminate the 2"-chicken strips, so I would look cool. He nodded solemnly; world view still intact.
My response next time? Two words: Elena Myers.
Cheers!