The Rise of Women in Motorcycling

I’d wanted to ride for years, but being a single mum meant it always felt out of reach. When I finally got my licence, I started out on a gifted old Hyosung. It got me on the road, but the real turning point came with my first Harley, an Iron 883, a break-up present I bought myself. First big purchase I’d ever made, and I was shitting myself. The loan, the weight, the power... it all felt way out of my league.

But that leap turned out to be the best therapy money could buy. In the first month I clocked more k’s on that Harley than I had in a whole year with owning the Hyosung. It gave me freedom, confidence, and a sense of purpose I didn’t know I was missing. That bike cracked my world wide open.

These days, I ride a 2010 Wide Glide, a big twin some people still reckon is “too heavy for women.” Joke’s on them. I love how it handles city traffic, eats up highways and makes me feel in control. Every ride is a reminder that we can ride whatever the hell we want.

In Australia, women now make up around 20% of motorcycle licence holders and the numbers keep climbing. Globally, women are the fastest-growing group of riders. In the US, one in five motorcycle owners is female — a massive shift compared to just a decade ago.

And you can see it everywhere. At events like Sheilas Shakedown, International Female Ride Day, in online groups, or just when a pack of bikes roll past and half of them aren’t blokes. The unicorn days are well and truly over.

When I first started riding, options for women were a joke. You either drowned in men’s jackets or got stuck with “shrink it and pink it” crap that barely did its job.

Now we’ve got choices. Brands like Black Arrow Moto design CE-certified jackets, pants and gloves that actually fit, protect, and fit in with your everyday wardrobe. And the best part? You get to wear them your way. Some people ride ATGATT (all the gear, all the time), some mix it up. The point is, now we’ve actually got options made for us.

For me, riding’s never just been about the road. I love being in the garage — breaking things, fixing things, making custom tweaks and slowly teaching myself more advanced mechanics as I go. I’m not an expert but I get a kick out of figuring things out and getting my hands dirty. The garage is my happy place; tinkering with the Mr, tools scattered everywhere, music blasting, bikes pulled apart... now that's livin'!

I’ll be sharing more blogs soon about garage life, gear tips and DIY know-how. If there’s something you want me to cover, drop it in the comments.

The rise of women+ in motorcycling isn’t a trend, and it sure as hell isn’t temporary. Every rider who throws a leg over a bike makes it easier for the next one. We’re not just joining the culture — we’re reshaping it.

Here’s to freedom, gutsy leaps out of your comfort zone, and proving stereotypes wrong every single ride. The road was always ours too — now we’re just taking up more space on it.

~ Riz 🖤