 Motorcycle Mamas Take to the Track—By Charleen Earley Published: September, 2006  Mich Akamatsu with her 1988 Honda Hawk GT. The number of "Motorcycle mamas" taking their Harleys and Hondas out for a spin, on or off the tracks, is on the rise. And industry manufacturers are finally taking notice. So is Bonnie Strawser who's been riding for the last 20 years. She created an annual event, Femmoto, where women riders do more than just spin their wheels; they also test drive bikes designed specifically for them. "Manufacturers are marketing to women riders. I see advertisements and commercials all the time now with women in the front seat and not just on the back," says Strawser, 46, co-owner of Sport Bike Track Time with her husband. She owns two bikes, a Kawasaki 636 for the track and a BMW 650 Low, for the road. Like so many women, she was a backseat hugger "until I got it in my head that I would be a better rider than a passenger," says Strawser, who won a 2004 Vision Award from Elhart Publications for her dedication to women in motorcycling. Same with Mich Akamatsu, 40, of San Jose, who rides an '88 Honda Hawk GT, 650 cc v-twin sport bike. "I've been a 'backseat Betty' all my life, and I finally decided I wanted to ride on my own." She's been riding for six years and this year, she will attend the annual Femmoto that will take place at one of America's most famous racetracks, Las Vegas Motor Speedway, on October 7 and 8.. It's a track day event where bike manufacturers and dealerships gather to give women riders the opportunity to test drive their products without having to deal with red lights and cops. Big names will be there: Kawasaki Motorcycles, Bucati, Moto Guzzi, Aprilia USA, Buell American Motorcycles, Kymco, and West Coast Supermoto Racing School, and more. What Strawser, who lives in Delta, Ohio, started five years ago as a one-day event with 53 women, has swelled to a two-day event with 300 women. That's no surprise. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council's most recent survey, the growth in female motorcycle owners from 1998 to 2003 was 36 percent, which translates into slightly over a half million female bike owners in the U.S. The age of female riders has also risen: The median age in 2003 was 42, up from 38 in 1998. One Size Doesn't Fit All Not only is the Femmoto event designed for women; the equipment is, too. The bikes, which are provided to women who attend the event, are made especially for females with their smaller frames in mind. "The reason I started this event is because I'm 5' 2" and it's hard to find a motorcycle to feel comfortable in, other than a cruiser Harley," says Strawser, who loves her dogs and traveling. "I wanted to bring awareness to the manufacturers to get something on the market for women, something shorter and lighter to fit the smaller woman." | ||
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