Womens Motorcycle Conference Online

Mark Your Calendars!

Women's Motorcycle Tours Announces Women’s Motorcycle Conference Online

Inaugural Virtual Conference Scheduled for April 17 - 18, 2020

I’m so excited to be a part of this very special online event in two weeks. And guess what you can attend from anywhere! I’ll be doing a workshop or two with topics to be determined. See the links below on how to register and more details on how to join. “See You” in two weeks!

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NORTH CAROLINA, April 3, 2020 — Alisa Clickenger and Women’s Motorcycle Tours (WMT) announce the Women’s Motorcycle Conference Online. The team behind WMT has an everlasting desire to bring women riders together. As a result, WMT has created a virtual conference geared toward all those who currently ride or are interested in the motorcycle riding lifestyle. The inaugural event, Women’s Motorcycle Conference Online: Reinvention, is scheduled for April 17 - 18, 2020.
 
The global motorcyclist community finds itself in unprecedented times. COVID-19 threatens to disrupt plans for future motorcycle gatherings all over the world. Amidst the uncertainty surrounding the fate of all mass gatherings for the foreseeable future, WMT’s mission remains the same: to bring women riders together under the founding principles of unity, community and the freedom of the road. With the creation of the Women's Motorcycle Conference Online, WMT continues to build a strong and thriving community of women motorcyclists from every corner of the globe, representing all disciplines of riding.

WMT Founder, Alisa Clickenger

WMT’s goal in establishing the Women's Motorcycle Conference Online is to adapt to the current stay-at-home environment as well as test the efficacy of virtual conferences as a supplement to their already rich tour offerings.  This virtual conference will produce resources such as riding school directories, a list of mentorship opportunities, DIY projects, female-friendly motorcycle media, apparel guides and more.

Beyond simply distributing information, WMT’s Women's Motorcycle Conference Online will offer up inspiring stories, valuable insights and the opportunity for female riders to communicate in real time, which is essential for success and growth in any community. The Women's Motorcycle Conference Online will feature an all-female panel of motorcycle industry leaders delivering powerful messages and essential lessons directly to women riders in the comfort of their own home.
 
WMT’s Women's Motorcycle Conference Online is being produced by Alisa Clickenger. “I am humbled that so many female leaders in the powersports industry stepped up right away to join our unprecedented online event,” said Clickenger. “That these busy women are so generous with their time and willing to join with me to inspire and uplift other lady motorcycle riders is exactly why I love what I do and why I keep on doing it. This is what true community is all about.”
 
Confirmed presenters for WMT’s first event, Women’s Motorcycle Conference Online: Reinvention, include Wendy Crockett, 2019 Iron Butt Rally champion, Tricia Szulewski, editor of WomenRidersNow.com,  Dee Jones (Momma D), author of  50 States of Consciousness, Joanne Donn of GearChic.com, Jan Plessner of Action Recruiting, Brittany Morrow of RocktheGear.org, Porsche Taylor of Black Girls Ride and Shana Slettedahl, Product Specialist at Polaris.

Joanne Donn (left, GearChic.com) and Brittany Morrow (Rockthegear.org, Brittanymorrow.com)

On April 17-18, 2020, these industry powerhouses as well as others will be covering a range of topics focused on reinvention, stretching boundaries and creating a new normal as women, community members, and motorcyclists. WMT’s Women's Motorcycle Conference Online: Reinvention will include round table discussions, focused workshops, an author's corner, a meet & greet on Friday night, and online networking time for all registered lady riders to get to know each other.
 
Registrants of  the Women's Motorcycle Conference Online will be able to interact with their fellow riders as well as the presenters over a two day period in a way that is comfortable, convenient and community-minded. The schedule is structured, but workshop attendance is flexible, and registrants can choose to join one, several, or all of the workshops offered throughout the weekend for one low price. The concept of Women's Motorcycle Conference Online is to allow women to take control of their own learning based on their current interests, and interact in a way that is tailored to each individual’s desired level of participation.
 
Those interested in the latest information on Women's Motorcycle Conference Online can sign up for WMT’s mailing list at https://tinyurl.com/wmtnewsletter. Registration for Women's Motorcycle Conference Online: Reinvention will be available on Monday, April 6, 2020 athttps://womensmotorcycletours.com/conference/.
 
Women's Motorcycle Conference Online is open to sponsorships and activation opportunities. Interested organizations and companies can connect with the WMT team at Office@WomensMotorcycleTours.com.
 
“As part of the new normal in the powersports industry, I can definitely see this type of gathering becoming a regular event. Apropos, then, that our first conference's theme is reinvention,” said Clickenger.
 
About Women's Motorcycle Tours:
Women’s Motorcycle Tours (WMT) offers fabulous motorcycle experiences, support, coaching, weekend riding retreats and premium tours throughout the USA and abroad. WMT’s mission is to uplift other riders and show them the magic of the road. Presented by Alisa Clickenger, WMT is a female-owned motorcycle experience company exclusively focused on women. With years of event planning experience and hundreds of thousands of miles behind them, the team at Women’s Motorcycle Tours understands the power and excitement that an epic journey can offer. The camaraderie and friendships that form over the course of their tours have proven to change lives, establish life-long friendships, and bring families together in a way that only riding motorcycles can. #ByWomenForWomen

Some Tips for New Motorcycle Riders

Me in 2005? on our (me+husband) first long ride outside of San Francisco to Half Moon Bay when we still lived in San Francisco. Up until that point, I had only ridden inside the city limits.

Since Corona Virus has forced me to work online for RevZilla Chat Customer Service, I’ve been chatting and emailing with a lot of newer riders. And everytime I chat with someone, I am reminded of how exciting and scary learning to ride was.

When I was riding this 2003 Ninja 250 there were virtually no other small displacement motorcycles available compared to the choices that exist today.

The women’s gear market was really just starting to change and grow, and events like the Womens Sportbike Rally didn’t really exist.

So much has changed in the last 15 years for new riders, especially motorcycles!

With that, a lot has changed, especially options in everything from gear to motorcycles to accessories.

Here are a few things that I hope will help you or some other new motorcyclist that’s just being born in this decade. These are very broad, because you can deep dive into all of these areas, like gear :). But this is just to give you some high level things to think about and prioritize as it works for you.

These are in no particular order:

CURZTOOLS RTM3 METRIC TOOL KIT

TOOLS

If you're really into tools and want a great comprehensive kit, I recommend putting together a kit based on this company's motorcycle toolkit. Very simple tools to get started without feeling terribly overwhelmed.

• Cruztools RTM3 Metric Tool Kit; they also offer one for HD and BMW

But if you’re really into tools, this is the one that my husband and I use for our two bikes. But we got really lucky because we preordered them for half the price when they launched a year ago. It features an incredible selection of wrenches, screwdrivers, sockets and more. Every tool is cut out and fit to it’s specific spot. It comes with the entire toolbox with every tool inside.

• https://sonictoolsusa.com/troy-lee-designs-filled-moto-toolbox/

The elbows on my Revit leathers after crashing 5 years ago on a low side. This is one of the many reasons I love them so much!

GEAR

Make it a point to google every piece of gear you intend to purchase along with the word "crashing" because you want to know exactly what that piece of gear might do for you. This is especially important if you want to see the tangible benefits of choosing shoes v. boots or non motorcycle clothing v. real motorcycle clothing or half helmets v. full face helmets. 

I’m not going to go on and on about this topic because well, you’re on my website, right?!

YOUR FIRST MOTORCYCLE

I’m not going to tell you that you have to buy a used bike, or that you should. Just that your first motorcycle should have a few qualities:

• Encourage and inspire you to learn and grow as a rider at an exponential level. Anything that is making it 10x’s harder for you to figure out things, learn to ride proficiently and increase confidence is never good for your success and confidence. (example: Your S/O give you their 1,000cc motorcycle which was perfect for them but not for you other than that it was free)

• Be so affordable that you can easily spend what you need to on proper riding gear because gear is never optional

• Make you look forward to ride, not dread it. Whatever the reason, whether it’s mental or physical, if a motorcycle doesn’t make you happy then it’s time to move ON. Acknowledge the mistakes you may have made in choosing it or buying it, but learning to ride is one of those things that truly depends on a proper match of bike and owner to really progress, figure things out and ride well enough so you don’t panic going into a corner.

Generally, you can't go wrong with Japanese Brands because they offer lots of accessories and affordable pricing like insurance, parts and more. Think of them as the Hondas and Toyotas of the motorcycle world, very reliable and affordable. They're excellent options for learning and figuring things out.

Also, think about the fact that you're learning in the beginning, so it's normal to upgrade your bike later when you're ready to move on. You always want to think about what your current riding needs, in order to build the experience because it’s all about making that learning curve as fun as possible. 

Mine came with 3 booklets: an Owners Handbook, Service Records Book and Riding Tips

OWNERS MANUALS

Read your owners manual from cover to cover. If one isn't included when you buy the bike, you can typically download it from the manufacturer. The basic owners manual is typically shorter, not super detailed (like torque value for a particular bolt or nut).

So many little problems come up that can be easily resolved by just following your manual. It has little details like proper tire pressure, correct oil weight, warning light definitions, and what every basic part exists on your motorcycle.

I also recommend searching for a full Service Manual that has very, very detailed schematics and diagrams about every component on the motorcycle like Electrical diagrams, removing your engine, etc. Even though you may not reference it as much as your standard owners manual, it will still be an incredibly useful reference tool especially if you’re shopping for bike parts and to know how about certain pieces on your motorcycle!  

This simple list of frequent safety checks works for any motorcycle! I wouldn’t say that you need to do it everyday unless you ride everyday. But it’s also reasonable to do it every other day if you ride that much :)

Think of it like any friendship or person you trust being close to you. Isn’t it important to get to know them a little bit better so you can learn to trust them? It’s very much a relationship, and one that you will be working on and learning about every time you ride.

Getting to know your bike like it’s your best friend is So Important!

FORUMS

For pretty much every motorcycle in the world, there is an online forum that exists where thousands of riders like yourself are talking about everything there is to know about that motorcycle. As an example, here’s a forum dedicated to Triumphs: TriumphRat.net. There are subforums dedicated to all the various styles of Triumphs that exist. You can dive into topics like what tires are best, what oil you should use and more. They are the best interactive manual for your motorcycle and I guarantee you’ll find one for whatever you are riding. Google is your friend! When in doubt Google It.

BOOKS

You can’t read your way through motorcycling, but it certainly helps to have some resources available for some general, no nonsense feedback and advice. These two are a couple of my favorites right now that I really appreciate and enjoy:

• Woman's Guide to Confidence and Motorcycling By Alisa Clickenger. Building confidence is the #1 struggle most riders experience in the beginning of their riding careers. It doesn't matter that you're a male. The concepts all apply to you as well. It's just that the majority of men won't admit that this is a problem in their riding. You will absolutely benefit from the tips and advice that she shares. She's a very good friend and colleague of mine, so that's why I recommend it.

• Riding in the Zone by Ken Condon. This book is a top level view of everyone should approach motorcycling in order to become the most competent, proficient, safe and confident rider. He covers a little of everything but mindset in motorcycle is far more important than physical ability. Anyone can squeeze a lever or press a pedal. But not everyone can make the right decisions that will literally save your life.  Ken’s tone is like a motorcycle guardian angel, someone giving you solid advice that will stay with you and make you feel cared for without being talked down to.

That’s all for now. I’m sure more things will pop into my head but these are just a few things that stood out to me recently.

Feel free to add any tips or advice that you’d like to share in a comment below.

Wherever you are, Ride Safe and Be Well.

New Women's Gear from Rev'it Spring 2020

Revit is pulling out all the heavy hitters for Spring this season. I’ve always appreciated the completely different fit style and shape that Revit offers women and that’s why they maintain such a high favorites status in my book.

Aside from a few revisions and improvements on what I call staples in the collection (3rd versions of their popular outfits) as well as a few entirely new options, like a 1 PIECE TRACK SUIT!

Since these are brand new I haven’t seen any of these in person, so I’m giving my opinions and observations simply based on what I see in the photos. As well as what I do know about the men’s versions and/or the previous models. 

For those of you that do love pink, you’re going to love the options this season because almost every new piece is offered with a pink colorway for you! 

There’s a little something for everyone this time around, so keep scrolling if sportbike gear isn’t your thing.

Revit Xena 3 1 Piece Race Suit

One Piece Race Suit, WHAT?!  Up until now, the brands making women’s 1 Piece Track Suits were Alpinestars, Dainese, Spidi. Done. Now we have (4)!

Women who ride track days are few and far between, and the fact that Revit continues to make us incredible gear, no matter how many of us ride is truly wonderful.

If this suit follows the fit profile of the popular Xena 3 separates option, it’s going to be a great addition to its competitors.  

Let’s look at some of these features: 

• Dual knee sliders

• Shoulder sliders

• Elbow sliders

• Stretch panels along the underbust (YES!)

• Stretch panels along the inner thighs, up to the hips

Underbust stretch is so important! Women have busts. We need stretch. It’s awesome to see the brands understand this and incorporate it into their designs. Only 2 other suits have an accordion style stretch panel along the outside of the bust: 

• https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dainese-killalane-perforated-womens-race-suit

• https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/dainese-misano-2-d-air-perforated-womens-race-suit

Any features that a brand can build into its gear to accommodate multiple body types are gold. Because then you can sell that jacket or pant or suit to more than just 1 kind of woman. MSRP $999.99

Revit Xena 3 Jacket and Pants 

I loooooove white leather. Especially perforated white leather in the summer. I don’t wear mesh, even in 90F weather so relying on my white mesh leather has been my goto for the past 6 years or so.

Aside from the color change, the main feature update that I like is the localized perforation on the front and back of the jacket and front of the pants. For the pants, they took away the flashy white stripe and made them completely black. If you’re all about the black/black/black then you’ll love the two pieces together. I think I’m going to have to clean out my gear closet for Spring to justify buying another jacket. (sorry honey). 

With the Xena suit, they’ve always been a little bustier in the chest than the Italian options so I hope they kept that fit profile with the updated styling. MSRP $439.99-$479.99

Revit Xena 3 Gloves

These are a tremendous improvement from the 2s, with improved wrist protection (more track level), and a double closure around the wrist.

The 2s were definitely more street-oriented with lighter protection than comparable track gloves. I’m excited to see these improvements. 

With the extra stretch along each finger, you can also count on a slightly longer finger length as with all track level gloves. Because the fingers are precurved out as much as possible.

If you struggle with finding gloves that are long enough, always look for Euro brands like Rev’it, as well as many stretch points along the fingers. This will give you a little bit more room as you squeeze your hands around your handgrips. MSRP $159.99

REVIT FLY 3 GLOVES

Don’t worry, there’s a black version too.

But having non black versions for those of you who do want lighter colors and more casual colors is awesome, right?

The Flys have been a great summer glove for awhile now and adding a light brown/tan colorway is fantastic. Boatloads of perforation and wrist protection (which most casual style gloves seem to forget).

These are great no matter what you ride, although they certainly have touring / cruising / cafe bobber lifestyles in mind.

All the perforation you could want/need and of course a smart finger to navigate on your smartphone on the fly.  The only thing I’d like to see in the future (even for $5more) is a hard palm slider. #glovegoals #LoveIt. 

REVIT MERIDIAN JACKET

I’m conflicted about this colorway. (There’s a black/white version too). But given how funky it is, I thought it was worth sharing.

Being that it’s buffalo leather I think it would make a decent highway jacket, it also features a 6 inch connection zipper so it would work really with the Luna leather pants. MSRP $449.99

REVIT VICTORIA JEANS

Riding jeans are SO hard. For so many reasons. Because we’re all particular about how we like them to fit, because they never feel like our normal jeans. You must accept that going in.

But, as far as riding jeans go, Rev’it delivers a straight fit that usually has a little more room in the waist than other brands. So if you typically buy a 29 at Lucky Brands Jeans, you can probably size down to a 28. Unless you’re a powerlifting queen and need more room in the thighs. But as far as waist sizes go, Revit seems to run a size roomy. 

I am definitely adding some Revit jeans to my closet this Spring because I like the fit for my weird small body type (larger calves and thighs for someone 5’2”). These are constructed of Cordura Denim (https://www.cordura.com/Fabrics/denim-fabric) backed up by Revit’s own PWRShield fabric as an alternative to Kevlar or Aramid fabrics. MSRP $249.99

REVIT TORQUE JACKET

The Torque is a sporty mesh jacket with a removable waterproof jacket liner. What I think is pretty awesome is this camo colorway. I’m not a huge camo person but I’m drawn to the subtle camo design. I think some women riders who are also in the military will appreciate this design as well. (Women in the Military, please chime in below!)

If it follows the men’s version as far as fitment, I imagine this will be a slightly looser version of the sporty Arc Air which I bought last Summer. I had to size up in that one because it ran so tight. Generally, if something has a removable long sleeve liner it’ll have a slightly looser fit to fit the liner. 

The mesh differences between this and the Arc Air is none along the side of the torso from the armpit down to the waist. Given that this is probably supposed to work between Spring and Summer it makes sense.  Unfortunately, the only lighter colorway is white and light pink camo. 

Fortunately, the lighter colorway is white and light pink camo.

Just depends on how you look at it :-) 

If you’re a fan of pink, then you’ll love the camo. If not, then you’ll want to stick with black, the Arc Air or Airwave. I’d still categorize this jacket as more of a sport / sport touring fit since the mesh moves all the way to the neckline. When you ride an aggressive sportbike, mesh that reaches the neckline means you’ll feel more of it while hunched forward.  MSRP $239.99

Revit Airwave 3 Jacket and Pants

The popular Airwave summer suit is getting another facelift. For those of you who want the lightest colors you can get during the summer (knowing how dirty they will also get) then here you go. But don’t worry, there is almost always a black version hiding behind the corner! 

Silver jacket and pants, for toasty hot weather riding. Keep in mind the Airwave does have more of a touring / sport touring fitment. So bootcut pant legs, and tighter shoulders when leaning forward on your super sporty bike. Not impossible, just something to think about when you’re trying things on. That’s why it’s vital to follow my Shopping Rules! MSRP $199.99-$229.99

Revit Tornado 3 Jacket and Pants

The popular Tornado suit also gets some badly needed improvements as well. My main gripe about the 1st 2 versions of the jacket were the lack of adjustment around the forearms.

Don’t worry, there’s always black in the Tornado 3 suit.

It was so loose there without the liner that it wouldn’t fit right after taking the liner out. Now you can tighten that part down! I think almost every jacket should have adjustments in these two spots to increase the range of fitment for every size. 

The pants also got a nice little update with the calf adjustment to tighten things down again, after taking the liner out.

The one feature I miss from the first Tornados is the inner leg zipper! That made it an incredibly versatile pant as both pant and overpant. I wonder if it would’ve been a significant cost increase because these pants are already over $300.

The liner in both pieces are still the same, 2-in-1; waterproof and warm at the same time.

This means for those of us in the NorthEast/ East/ South, it won’t work to wear the liner in the summer time.

So if you like to ride in the summer when it’s raining you’ll need to buy a light rainjacket that you can throw on top in a pinch. 

But for those of you in the West/Northwest, it’s the perfect outfit. It’s never humid and wet, so you’ll need a warm liner when it’s raining anyhow. 

With a mesh outer though, keep in mind that it still won’t serve your 40-50F (before windchill) riding conditions in winter temps that low. 

MSRP $319.99-$349.99

That’s all the new stuff from Rev’it this season, happy shopping!

Post your comments/questions/feedback below and let me know what you think.

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring! New Womens Gear for 2020.

A few of these things launched last Fall but I haven’t had a chance to share them until now. Enjoy!

This season is full of sporty new styles, ultimate mesh, curvy / plus size jeans and some casual, perforated leather. Lots of new gear to explore this season. Post your thoughts, opinions, questions, at the end!

Alpinestars SMX Plus v2 Boots 

Riding boots with substantial protection (in the forms of impact and lateral support) are few and far between when it comes to women’s motorcycle gear. 

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Only black for now…

Track / sport style riding boots have always been less popular and minimally designed as far as protection goes. I think pants and riding boots are the last two things that most riders think about, especially women. And that’s unfortunate because your hands and feet are vital to having precise, solid control of your motorcycle.

In my experience, most women buy casual, relaxed riding footwear like sneakers and cruiser style boots. Unless you ride a sportbike, you’ll likely never look at boots like these, although everyone needs this type of protection regardless of what they ride.  

There has been a mens version of the SMX Plus for a while now. What makes these a step up from the popular SMX-6’s is the extra ankle protection that they offer. Also a much more secure calf adjustment with no velcro. If you have a track style pant or track suit, you’ll have a solid fit with no chance of the calf opening while riding. 

The huge stretchy/accordion style panel over the ankles should also allow for more range of motion as you increase your body positioning work from dropping your knee to dragging your knee. Woo hoo! 

Although Alpinestars has always offered Euro 36-37-38 in the men’s track boots, the women’s specific model should be a tighter fit around the heels/ankles and instep. If you do need more room in those areas but still have a foot at the length of a Euro 36-38, then I’d probably still recommend trying the men’s versions.  $399 MSRP.

Alpinestars Stella GP-R Tech Air Jacket

(just FYI, Stella just means womens, so whenever you see that it’s not a style name, it’s just acting as a pronoun)

When Tech Air was announced from Alpinestars, it was mainly focused on the men’s segment but now it’s our turn. Just like the men’s jackets, it has the ability to take in the Tech Air Race Vests which are sold separately. 

In addition to this jacket, there’s also a Missile Tech-Air 1Pc Suit for women. $599 MSRP.

Alpinestars Stella GP-R Tech Air

Dainese Torque 3 Out Boots

I have the older womens Torques which I was SO excited about when they came out. What makes Dainese boots stand out is that they offer lateral ankle protection and, a lower profile overall. 

I don’t see any substantial changes from the previous model other than this eye catching white / fluo red! If you’re wondering why, it’s because it matches perfectly with a couple of their suits.

As Dainese is always Dainese, it’ll likely be a very narrow fit in the toes, instep and heels. So for comparable protection and a wider fit you’ll want to try a different brand.

Dainese Killalane PERFORATED Suit 

Holy colorway Batman. Colorway is retailspeak for colors. :D

If you’re looking for a completely different color option that is unique on the track, I think this is it.

I’m thinking Captain Marvel? :) And check out that Black/Teal combo. Woooo. Also, absolutely no pink. I know how controversial the pink theme can be, but Teal is still a very beautiful color, in my opinion. And something that hasn’t been beaten to death with marketing over the past 20 years the way that pink has. MSRP $999.95

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Dainese Carbon 3 Gloves

Let’s not forget matching teal gloves. I am really drawn to these colors for some reason.

Maybe it’s the asymmetric pattern? I don’t know. But I like it!

A little hard to wear unless you already wear all black or black/white. Of course there’s also black if that’s your color. MSRP $179.95

RUKKA STRETCH AIR JACKET AND PANTS

Rukka is one of those brands you’ve probably never heard of. But it’s a brand that you want to know because their mesh jackets are magical. That’s really the best word I can use to describe them.

This jacket is particularly wonderful at keeping you comfortable in ungodly hot weather. What really makes this brand unique is the application of Cordura AFT fabrics.

It’s a very unique application of mesh that you can only find with Rukka. As you can see, it can be cost-prohibitive and not very many people can spend $500 on a mesh jacket. Fitment for women’s Rukka can be challenging (fairly straight except for roomier shoulders and bust space, so slightly inverted triangle shaped) as well. The pants tend to run a bit slimmer in the hips with some extra room in the waist and then slimmer legs/calves. I’ve never ridden in one of these, but I hope to try one out this Summer to see if I like the fitment.

I’ll be honest, the only real reason I haven’t flipped a switch to Rukka for summer is simply styling and aesthetics. I much prefer how my Revit mesh looks. Vain, I know! 

If I weren’t so vain, I’d spend a little extra on this suit in a heartbeat. MSRP $499 Jacket, $449 Pants.

Cortech Lolo Jacket

The Lolo is one of the few leather jackets that I’ve found that fit really well for very curvy girls.

Not only does it (and all Cortech womens jackets) offer plus sizing, but also a roomy chest, shoulder, bust and waist with a slightly shorter sleeve length. The leather looks great in person, not too shiny and not too worn. Available in brown and black. MSRP $299.99.

Firstgear Bancroft Gloves

This is a brand new style for FirstGear and I think it offers a tremendous amount of protection for the price point. As the brand goes, you’ll find these great for shorter, wider hands and shorter fingers. 

Full wrist coverage and a palm slider. For $99, it makes for a great Spring/Fall/Mild Winter waterproof glove. 

But if you don’t like longer cuff gloves, try the shorter versions, the Electra. 

Bull-It Tactical Straight Fit Jeans

I haven’t found any pants (with the exception of Oxford Leggings) that fit as curvy as these do. I would call these a Plus Size Fit Jean because the rise is so high and because the waist fit is so generous. 

They aren’t the highest protection or performance, but they do offer a fitment that simply doesn’t exist in women’s riding pants.

And for that reason I highly recommend them.

You can amp up the protection with D3O level 2 armor from Klim or Icon if you want a little more. MSRP $129.95.

ROLAND SANDS MIA LEATHER JACKET

I like this jacket because it’s super stylish for riding, but also perfect off the bike. The hoody is a removable, stand alone softshell jacket. Per usual Roland Sands fit, it still has a slimmer profile. But with the huge stretch panel that runs vertically from the shoulder to the waist along with the small hip gussets, it works well for lean, pear shape and some curvier body types. Not quite as curvy as the Lolo but not super slim like the Italians (Dainese, Alpinestars, Spidi). It’s been hugely popular in the Showroom and looks beautiful in person. I think you could make it work on any riding style, even sporty bikes (without the hood because if you ride extremely forward, and wear your full face helmet, it will definitely be in your way when you try to move your head back or check your blind spot.)

If you don’t love black, don’t worry there’s also a lovely light grey and dark brown. MSRP $599.

ROLAND SANDS TRINITY PERFORATED LEATHER JACKET

A casual styled leather that’s also perforated is really, really hard to come by. In fact, I want to say the Trinity is the first one I’ve seen. This is essentially the perforated version of the Mia. So what does that mean? It means when it’s 80F out, you’ll get to wear this pretty leather jacket if you’d rather not wear textile mesh!

The biggest difference is that there’s no removable liners. The Trinity has the same stretchy panels along the back from the shoulder down the sides of the torso. This makes a huge difference for fit, allowing for a more versatile fit that can be worn by multiple body types. It won’t have the slimmest fit like a European brand but it comes pretty close. And when a woman who does need a little more room around the bust or shoulders needs the space, it’ll allow for that as well. Kudos to Roland Sands for the smart design on this and the Mia. MSRP $450.