Rider Resources

This is an ongoing list of resources for riders, no matter where you live, regardless of gender.

Rider Education

DocWong Riding Clinics
Doc Wong is well known in the Bay Area for his street riding clinics. He also holds classes on topics such as motorcycle ergonomics, accident scene management and first aid. Check out his group on Meetup.com for his calendar of events.

Motorcycle Safety Foundation
If you’re looking to get started in riding and don’t know where to begin, this should be your first stop! Go the MSF website and you can enter your zip code to find the nearest class where you live. They offer a variety of courses, beyond the Basic Rider Course such as Dirtbike Classes, the Experienced Rider Course and more. Most states adopt the MSF curriculum as a waiver for their DMV motorcycle road tests. Check your state’s DMV website to see your requirements for licensing. And no, you DON’T need previous experience to pass this class. It’s for the true novice!

Sportbike Track Girl
STG is the reincarnation of Femmoto. If you ever did any track days with Femmoto, this is an update to the format, featuring all women’s track days. If you join, you’ll get discounts on purchase track time. The tracks all appear to be in the midwest at tracks in Michigan, Illinois and South Carolina.

Streetmasters
Walt and Nancy run a fantastic advanced riding course called the Precision Cornering Workshop for improving your on road cornering techniques. Specifically, conquering those twisties and making them more fun! Their track isn’t for racing, instead, it’s set up to duplicate real world twisties. And, you get to ride your own bike! They’re located at the Willow Springs International Motorsports Park in Rosamond, CA. Check out their website for their current schedule.

Discussion Forums

GearChic Forum
Well of course I want you to check out my forums! The only motorcycle forums totally dedicated to talking about gear. Every motorcycle forum I’ve ever visited usually has a classified section for selling gear. Why not create a forum totally dedicated to the issues we all face as riders?

ADVRider
ADVRider is the largest adventure riding forum online. You’ll find some the most adventurous motorcycle folks hiding out in their regional forums.

Bay Area Riders Form aka BARF
BARF is a very active sportbike forum for riders living in the greater San Francisco Bay Area. There are many women hiding out on BARF, also known as BARFETTEs. The community is mostly made up of local sportbike riders, but there are users on the forum from all over the place, riding everything and everything.

Pashnit
Pashnit is all about California Motorcycle Roads. In addition to the discussion forum, they also have an online store, and paid access to rides that have been mapped all over California, by region.

SportBikeChix
If the name doesn’t give it away, I’m not sure what to tell you. Log in and find me there as GearChic.

Blogs / Sites

Asphalt and Rubber
A mix of motorcycle industry news, MotoGP reports during race season and more.

Carla King
Also known as Miss Adventuring, Carla wrote a book about her travels around the US in a Ural with a sidecar. She’s also a self publishing guru and can tell you how to do it yourself.

Meetup.com
Meetup is a great way to find other riders where you live. Just do a search for motorcycles in your city and it’ll show you what meetup groups are in your area. If there aren’t any, you can start one of your own!

MotoAdventureGal
Also known as Alisa Clickenger, she rode to South America solo for ~6 months. Alisa’s stories are inspiring, fun and interesting. She’ll tell you how “dangerous” solo trips are and how to make the best of the worst situations.

Motoress
Motoress is the force behind International Female Ride Day which happens annually in May. “Connecting women and motorcycling”.

Women Riders Now
WRN has a variety of resources for new riders, as well as a forum, product reviews, stories and more.

Magazines

BlackGirlsRide
BlackGirlsRide magazine is “a celebration of women of color who ride”. They’re motto is “Riding is not just a hobby, it’s a way of life.” I have to agree!

City Bike
CityBike is the first motorcycle newspaper of San Francisco. It’s been resurrected in the past couple of years by Gabe Ets-Hokins from the original owner/editor. Look for my contributions.

Friction Zone
“Friction Zone is the only motorcycle magazine—print or internet-based—that includes official motorcycle accident reports.” I find these fascinating. Typically a CHP officer will show a diagram of an accident scene and break down who was at fault and why. I’ve read too many stories of people losing control in corners because they obviously didn’t know how to manage their entry speed or corner skillfully. You can find Friction Zone in many motorcycle dealerships/stores in the Bay Area, as well as shops nationally. Check their website for a distribution list. Of course, you can subscribe and get copies delivered right to your door!

Helmet Hair
HH has great reader stories and interviews, and viewpoints from women writers who ride everything from dirtbikes to cruisers, sportbikes to dualsports and more.

Motorcycle Consumer News
MCN has no advertising, so it’s chalk full of motorcycle and product reviews, editorials and more.

Road Runner
Road Runner is owned by a woman who’s been putting out issues filled with ride recommendations across the country. Every issue is filled with destinations for your next moto trip, including ride routes/maps, lodging and meal recommendations, and more.

Urban Moto

Riding Clubs/Organizations

Motor Maids
The Motor Maids are the oldest national women’s motorcycling organization in North America. Founded by Dot Robinson in 1940, there are only ~1500 members (myself included ) Their core values revolve around preserving history, riding, having fun while doing it and respecting their traditions. You must have a motorcycle registered in your own name, they’re that serious about you riding!

Tours

Avid Moto Tours
Avid has started a Women’s Empowerment Tour for women only, showing you everything you need to know about touring solo on your motorcycle. Karen and Alisa (MotoAdventureGal) will take you through the Pacific Northwest’s most amazing roads while showing you how fun it is to ride across the country on your motorcycle.

Dubbelju
Dubbelju not only rents motorcycles, but they lead Northern California tours, including women-only tours.

Edelweiss Bike Travel
Their High Alpine Tour sounds simply amazing! Ever since a friend of mine showed me the European tour she did with Edelweiss over 20 years ago, I’m hoping that someday I can take one of their tours. If you’re thinking of riding through Europe, I would start with checking out the tours that Edelweiss has to offer all over the world.