Motorcycles for Women Only

By Jude Brady Smallwood

People of all different backgrounds, interests, and of all ages have something in common: they read and really enjoyed Motorcycles for Women Only! Some were motorcyclists and others wouldn’t touch one with a ten-foot pole. You don’t have to be a rider to enjoy this book, just a reader. For those who want to be a rider, this book offers many benefits to explore. Are you prepared to ride your motorcycle safely and enjoyably? Can you repair your motorcycle? Keep it pretty? This book contains everything—from advice on buying a motorcycle to instruction on its maintenance, from handling techniques to choosing clothes, from avoiding accidents to choosing friends. Motorcycles for Women Only advises you every step of the way. Other chapters add even more valuable information and entertainment to your motorcycle experience: Other Women, Dirty Pictures and Recipes, Recommended Reading, and a Glossary for your reading convenience. RIDE ON, SISTER!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645751199

Jude Brady Smallwood

Jude Brady Smallwood rode her first motorcycle, a 250cc Zundapp, into a field. She had no clue where the brakes were and jumped off. Later she rode a 650 BSA Hornet, 750cc Honda, 900cc Harley Sportster, etc. Often wits and undying fortitude were her only currency to get help with repairs from reluctant dealers and macho mechanics. She learned to navigate through complex specs and manuals and decided to share her experiences with other women bikers. What started out as a how-to book exploded into a story of challenge, remarkable women champions, and amusing tales. So, hang on for the ride. It’s a doozy!

Book preview

Motorcycles for Women Only

Jude Brady Smallwood

Austin Macauley Publishers

Motorcycles for Women Only

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgment

Why Retro? What Gives? Who Cares?

Introduction

Preface

Chapter Outlines

Chapter 1: In the Beginning

Chapter 2: Purchasing a Motorcycle

Chapter 3: Handling Techniques

Chapter 4: Attitudes

Chapter 5: Motorcycle Maintenance and Upkeep: Part I – Helping Yourself

Part II - Help!

Chapter 6: Accident Prevention

Chapter 7: How to Pick Your Friends

Chapter 8: Clothing

Chapter 9: Other Women

Chapter 10: Recipes and Dirty Pictures

Chapter 11: Recommended Reading

Chapter 12: Glossary

About the Author

Jude Brady Smallwood rode her first motorcycle, a 250cc Zundapp, into a field. She had no clue where the brakes were and jumped off. Later she rode a 650 BSA Hornet, 750cc Honda, 900cc Harley Sportster, etc. Often wits and undying fortitude were her only currency to get help with repairs from reluctant dealers and macho mechanics. She learned to navigate through complex specs and manuals and decided to share her experiences with other women bikers. What started out as a how-to book exploded into a story of challenge, remarkable women champions, and amusing tales. So, hang on for the ride. It’s a doozy!

Dedication

This is dedicated to all the women who believed in themselves, saw beyond so many obstacles, and plowed forward against all odds to succeed.

Copyright Information ©

Jude Brady Smallwood (2021)

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher.

Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Ordering Information

Quantity sales: Special discounts are available on quantity purchases by corporations, associations, and others. For details, contact the publisher at the address below.

Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication data

Smallwood, Jude Brady

Motorcycles for Women Only

ISBN 9781645751182 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781645751175 (Hardback)

ISBN 9781645751199 (ePub e-book)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020901843

www.austinmacauley.com/us

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers LLC

40 Wall Street, 33rd Floor, Suite 3302

New York, NY 10005

USA

[e-mail]

[phone]

Acknowledgment

I admire and truly thank the women motorcyclists who preceded me, many of whom had set records and were key to the continuous growth of the industry. However, as the motorcycle industry gradually and deliberately mutated to a man’s world, women were left in the historic dust, where their achievements and contributions slowly vanished. Writing this book is not for them but because of them.

I am so grateful to my friend, Michael Post, because without him this book might never have been completed. When I was at my lowest point, halfway through handwriting this book, I was buried under the weight of typist and interviewing expenses while juggling three jobs. He took it upon himself to walk in one day with a typewriter and a signed thesaurus with his message of genuine support and encouragement written on the frontpage. He singlehandedly pulled me out of the gloomy cave I was inhabiting and energized my confidence and ambition enough to finish the book.

Kim Evans Fonda was my best biking buddy, a woman of many talents with a great sense of humor. Because of her I was drawn to remount the Iron Horse after years of grieving over the loss of my beloved Harley-Davidson Sportster. I wanted to pass on my experiences to help her and other lady bikers become independent, grow, and fashion their own motorcycle adventures.

Cliff Smallwood, my husband and best friend, who supported me no matter what and refused to let me give up. He never lost patience with my endless queries and was always available to help.

Ann Graves who proofread the book with an open mind and gave me precious insight and enthusiastic support for someone who knew absolutely nothing about motorcycles.

Woman to Woman

Through and through

Some of my lessons

I write just for you.

Then there’s another

I’d like to cover

She’s my mother

And I do love her.

Why Retro? What Gives?

Who Cares?

When I was young, I wrote a book, Motorcycles for Women Only! As a woman, a writer, and motorcyclist, I documented my journey getting to know my beloved iron horse and share adventures, wisdom, mechanics, helpful lessons, and stories about other women cyclists and women record-breakers I met along the way. MFWO was intended to help the novice lady motorcycle rider as well as offer enjoyable reading to all motorcyclists. Something for everyone!

During those novice years, I worked fulltime and was always doing extra side jobs to earn additional money for college and writing expenses. I ran all kinds of little side-businesses under the banner, Woman in Motion. I rode my motorcycle everywhere, conducting a small messenger service (me), a cleaning service (me), bartending, delivery, collections, and waiting tables. What an unexpected sight I was when I showed up at a job on a motorcycle, all 110 pounds of me, wearing work clothes, a uniform, or a dress, depending…

During those lean years, I struggled and lived on Twinkies and Kool-Aid for a long time before finally procuring a good NYC literary agent, Mr. Charles Byrne. By then, however, many of my ideas and investigations about women cyclists was already stolen or used by the male-dominated motorcycle publishing community. I was slapped down and the book was shelved.

A lifetime later, I reread it for kicks and fell in love with it all over again. Even though I wrote it especially for women, anyone who likes to smile will enjoy Motorcycles for Women Only! So, I made my own eBook to share with everyone, biker or not, and renamed it: Motorcycles for Women Only! The Retro Version.

In this Retro Version, you will receive actual data regarding motorcycle models, magazines, clubs, costs/prices, photographs, events, and other time-sensitive issues that cannot possibly apply today. I kept the original format and material (some outdated) of the book as I wrote back in the early 1970s. MFWO went from a very informative and useful how-to book to a jolly-olly retro look as a sort of diary of my good ole cycling dayz!

So, be warned! If you walk up to a motorcycle parts counter and request ct90 trail 90 H881-7 ignition coil for a 1966 Honda, do NOT be surprised if the guy behind the counter falls over laughing as you crawl back into the twentieth-century time warp you came out of. Above all, YOU GO GIRL!

Introduction

Usually, motorcycle books are written by men who experienced motorcycles and wished to transcribe some their technical information about the subject. I’m neither a professional mechanic nor a test rider for a motorcycle manufacturer. I am a woman!

I first had the compulsion to write this book when I wanted to log some useful tips accumulated over the years for my girlfriends who were just learning how to ride. I spent more riding time with my friend, Kimberly (aka Kim, Krim, Burley) than any other single rider. We shared my experiences to help her improve her riding attitudes and style and this motivated me to write a book. The limited advice I related to her probably made her riding career less of a hassle because it was woman to woman. This relationship with another female biker was new to me because I assumed that wherever there was a female rider, there was a man to teach her as well, but that was before. Hopefully, I am passing on to you, ladies, the hints, philosophies, and personal experiences I had as a woman on the iron horse. The ideas I discuss will give you a nice feeling of those coffee-clutching stories accompanied by technical and informative data about motorcycling to help open up some avenues for you.

What originally started out as a hot magazine article blossomed into a book loaded with technical, exploratory, explanatory, and intimate news about the machine you already have or hope to have in the near future. I intended to help any new owner make a smooth, happy landing into the motorcycle world, to encourage anyone interested in motorcycles, and to give lots of useful hints. Although, I discuss how to purchase and operate one, I also discuss the mechanical distinctions of trial and competition bikes. However, I paid more attention to street and touring machines where I am more experienced and qualified. As an added bonus, this book is laced with the experience and knowledge of other valid women motorcyclists which will hopefully broaden your scope as a woman cyclist.

I have experienced years of motorcycling. I’ve owned, operated, and repaired my motorcycles, ranging from a 250cc Zundapp La Sabre to a 900cc Harley-Davidson Sportster. Due to certain circumstances like poverty, I was compelled to do a lot of my own maintenance on my machines. For many years, I’ve encountered numerous bikes and had to learn how to use tools and make serious repairs for myself and others. I spent many hours and miles on the iron horse, so it was necessary for me to learn how to troubleshoot her on the road. Anyway, the motorcycle was my sole transportation for years, and I had to use the scooter for many daily chores. So, I had no choice but to learn her ways.

For instance, I had to do laundry (six loads), grocery shop, go to college, carry books, guitar, and sports equipment. I’ve used the machine for emergency trips to the vet with my cat, picked up my big dog at the dog pound, lugged furniture when I had to move, transported myself back and forth to work with my cocktail dress on, and the miles of stories goes on.

When I left New York City and moved to Florida, I replaced mountain cycling with long, boring flat roads, and daily tropical storms. My only way to get around was by motorcycle, but that didn’t give me any excuse to avoid responsibilities. So, rain or shine, my life continued on the motorcycle. I rode in 18-degree frozen weather when in New York, ridden all the way home to Long Island from Laconia, NH on a crippled motorcycle in a storm that followed us all the way home for over 15 hours. Six hours straight in a tropical storm in the flooded everglades was no picnic either.

And then there were the daily tropical downpours during rainy season, scorching hot and brutal damp muggy days. I’ve had to make long runs in the middle the night on dirt roads to keep an appointment. Cruising up and down the superhighways of the east coast was like a beer run to the 7-11. Most of the time I spent riding, I’ve been totally alone, but there were times I sure could have used some company. Nevertheless, I enjoyed those hours with the motorcycle as my sole companion even though I often needed help or needed to know how to help myself. The truth was that I was just plain ignorant! As the years passed, I learned more and the gloom lifted. I became self-reliant and got a better grasp on the life of a motorcyclist.

When I first began riding, a motorcycle was a rare sight where I lived, and a woman rider was hardly heard of. Due to the aggressive campaigns of manufacturers, rising gas prices, and the increasing public interest in motorcycle competitions, more men and women are getting involved with cycling. Motorcycles are associated less and less with the outdated hoodlum image. The consumer market has progressively expanded each year, and the streets are used more and more by the growing number of two-wheeled vehicles.

Another advantage of modern society is that people have slackened on some of their rigid role standards concerning both men and women. When I began riding, the general attitude was distasteful and humiliating. Then women were received with enthusiasm and intrigue. Often, I ran into women who were sincerely interested in motorcycles but were hesitant about pursuing their interest. Their insecurity stemmed from a lack of information and inexperience. This book was written to give women a boost, a vote of confidence, a reassurance from another woman who had these insecurities and desires at one time too.

During all my years of riding, I was primarily surrounded by males and had no objections. Those were the facts. Most of what I had learned had been through the kindness and generosity offered to me by my male biking buddies. Some guys, however, would discourage me, not always verbally either, but I still got the message! I would be informed that if I could not handle a big machine, I shouldn’t! Sometimes, I actually felt that I couldn’t. The noise and size of the bike frightened me, but years later in hindsight, I realized that this fear was an exaggeration and could be easily overcome. So, to alleviate some of your fears, I discuss a few concepts on how to cope with mechanical challenges, handling procedures, and technical explanations to encourage and support you.

I had different encounters that offer a unique insight to female motorcycling in contrast to male. I’m not claiming to be a professional biker; I am just a woman who wants to share some of her ideas about dealing with motorcycles. There are enough books and manuals to give you the technical know-how for motorcycle operation and mechanics. There are dealers who offer a variety of products, classes, and motorcycles that can assure you of happy safe riding days. The motorcycle industry is geared up to deal primarily with men, simply because they are their biggest market. That’s economics. Now, we women have a book on operating procedures and techniques that I hope you can relate to. I give views on the difficulties a novice biker can face and how to resolve them.

Besides the drudgery of "how-to", I tell some stories about some of my adventures to demonstrate the application of some of my theories. Life can be very interesting when you make your travels mounting heavy metal with heavy makeup. The reactions I received from all walks of life spiced up my lifestyle, and I looked forward to peoples’ responses. On the highways, people didn’t recognize me as a female rider, but attitudes, facial expressions, and language would alter for the better when my helmet would take a powder, releasing my long tresses and revealing my femininity. I went through the hippy era inquiries with a lot ofIs it a girl or boy? reactions; the era of the Great Social Revolution of the 60s. What a gas!

During that period of an historic social rebirth, I remember a funny incident that occurred when I was mistaken for Shirley Temple or something that ridiculous. I was sporting the Harley in New York City one day when I approached a stop at 57th Street. When I lowered one foot to balance the bike, it went directly into a deep hole and I was forced to gently lay her down on the street. I removed my helmet, ruffled my hair, pinched my cheeks for blush, and sauntered over to the big burly man loading a furniture truck. Softly, I sought his help:

‘Excuse me. I dropped my bike over there and it’s too heavy for me to lift out of the pothole. Would you please help me lift it out when you get a chance?’

Well, he stood there and flexed for a while and responded with a snide, wry grin, mumbling something like "hold on and I’ll be right there, little girl. Mr. Kool eventually cruised over to give this little girl" a hand. You should have seen the expression on his face when his eyes caught all that chrome and sparkle. He barely choked out: ’That’s your bike?’

So, I stood there batting my eyelashes while he picked up my motorcycle. I wasn’t going to gloat, and gratefully went on my way after thanking him for his generosity. It wasn’t until much later when I was making a solo late-night cruise on the expressway that I lost it and laughed my ass off just remembering that dude’s shocked face. I knew it would be rude to crack up then, but when I was alone, I let it rip. I bet that Mr. Kool secretly enjoyed the surprise as much as I enjoyed watching his ego alter that afternoon. You’ve heard of alter ego? So, we both had something unusual to talk about, and he probably got a chuckle too.

Every now and then, you will confront a Mr. Kool and his cousin Mr. Macho. They are not all that bad, just misinformed. Sometimes, the gentle way of a woman is a natural way to soften an unexpectedly hard situation. You will see the humor and pleasure of people in another perspective. There are many day-to-day realities that take on a whole different appearance when viewed from the saddle of the iron horse. I transcribed some of the realities of my life as a woman motorcyclist for your education and pleasure. The reality like this one I’m experiencing right now, namely sitting here writing this book, and feasting on my Sunday night meal of chocolate donuts and Perrier sparkling water. My purpose is simply to be of value. With that resolution in mind, I will pass on entertaining as well as useful information for the beginner, and also the intermediate woman motorcyclist.

With love,

Woman to Woman!

Preface

In The Day, according to industrial research, it was almost nigh impossible to obtain a fair calculation of the percentage of women riders. Previously, the motorcycle industry had not deemed it necessary to distinguish between male and female cyclists. Since then, however, the industry began making serious efforts towards the woman’s market, but had a difficult time obtaining an accurate account of just how many women bikers there actually were. A marketing researcher for a major manufacturer related some of his reasons for this inaccurate calculation. In retrospect, he explained that the 1979 figure they arrive at was far below the actual count, and in no way reflected a true account of just how many women motorcyclists there were back then. I’ve listed some of the reasons he gave me for such poor calculations below:

Many women do not have their motorcycle registered in their name, and so just checking registrations does not contribute any accuracy.

In the same respect, the sales slips won’t always reveal real statistics either, since a husband or boyfriend often purchased the bike for the woman to use and then registered it in his name.

In the past, registrations were recorded with the first initial and the last name and the owner was automatically classified as male. So, there was no way registrations revealed the owner’s gender and added more miscalculation.

Many motorbikes constructed for show had no registration at all. No counting there either.

Millions of male bikers packed a woman passenger and the industry considered them potential motorcycle owners. With enough exposure, these uncounted female motorcycle enthusiasts would one day be interested in operating their own machines or so the industry researchers concluded.

All major manufacturers such as Kawasaki, Suzuki, Honda, Harley-Davidson, and BMW incremented their line of accessories to attract female customers, especially with leathers, helmets, and stylized riding gear. Harley-Davidson, the country’s largest dealer, confirmed this serious market of female bikers. This was illustrated in the July, 1979 issue of Touring Magazine when HD announced the newest Sportster developed for women called The Hugger. It was designed with specifications to accommodate the woman’s physical differences from men like average height, center of gravity, lighter weight, and strength to name some.

According to 1979 marketing research statistics, there were 8 million riders, of which 6.2% (nearly a million) were supposedly women. It must be considered that this statistic was a bare minimal one, considering all the previous listed points that contributed to an inaccurate calculation. This research analysis did not include all the women who participated in cycle related activities, or women cyclists who took part as passengers. The industry itself admits that the 496,000 women riders counted is a skewed, inaccurate, and incorrect number.

In another private study of a major motorcycle manufacturer, conducted for industry eyes only, it was concluded that of 5,000,000 households with motorcycles, 9,000 women in these families rode the motorcycle. The study indicated that these women did not own the motorcycle but just rode them! This same study also stated that 76% of these women were between the ages of 20–39, and so we can safely assume that a good portion of them might still be on the road as well as many new additional riders over the years.

One can conclude that the figure is much higher. There has been a continuous increase in the entire motorcycle sales market, and hopefully there are now more sophisticated surveys to calculate this sleeping giant, the women who mount the Iron Horse!

Chapter Outlines

Chapter 1 – In the Beginning

This chapter discusses the genesis of my motorcycling experience and skill. In spite of my achievements, I lean more toward