We Ride: The Harley Davidson Guide for Women. (Vol. 1).
This guide provides all of the introductory basics for women in riding, but is specifically geared towards Harley Davidson customers. The guide includes information on learning to ride, motorcycles and dealerships, parts and accessories, apparel and gear, events and organizations and a quick reference glossary. The resource can be downloaded for free and read in one short sitting. While it is geared towards Harley Davidson customers, the information is applicable to women riders in general.
Female Motorcycle Riders: The New Easy Riders or the Riders with a Cause
This resource is an academic paper written in 2004. Although it is not the most up to date resource, it contains good basic information about why women ride and contributing factors to the increase in women riders in recent years. The paper is well researched and includes a useful bibliography. The paper is more geared towards WHY women ride as opposed to information on riding itself, but it is good background information.
Wilcox, T. (2004, June 8). Female Motorcycle Riders.Retrieved April 2012, from www.instruction.greenriver.edu/bahl/E127/WilcoxFP.rtf
Untamed Spirit: Around the World on a Motorcycle and Untamed Spirit II: Living the Dream
Doris Maron gave up everything at the age of 53 and went on an around-the-world adventure on her motorcycle, visiting 44 countries on six continents. These are the two memoirs of that experience. In the first book Doris describes the first 19 months of her journey. The second book encompasses the second part of her trip through Nepal, China, and South and Central America. There are no professional reviews for these books, however user reviews are mixed. More information about the books and author available at : http://www.untamedspirit.net/Books.php
Maron, D. (2010). Untamed Spirit II: Living the Dream.iUniverse. Maron, D. (2010). Untamed Spirit: Around the world on a motorcyle. iUniverse.
Riding in the Shadows of Saints: A Woman's Story of Motorcycling the Mormon Trail
This book is a well-reviewed memoir of the author’s spiritual journey on the Mormon trail. The author chronicles the adventures on the back of her motorcycle and mixes the joys of riding with introspection about family history. The Kirkus Review of the memoir says it is “Well crafted, intimate and engaging: an unorthodox rite of passage with ruminations on faith, feminism and more.” (Kirkusreviews.com, 2005). This is included both for the commentary on motorcycling itself, and because the author is a female motorcyclist. An excellent read, and a good resource to aspiring riders who want their riding to truly take them somewhere.
Richman, J. (2006). Riding in the Shadows of Saints: A Woman's Story of Motorcycling the Mormon Trail . Three Rivers Press.
Women and Motorcycling- The Early Years
A historical account of the first women in motorcycling, this resource includes timelines, photographs, and biographical sketches of female motorcyclists. This book is geared towards those interested in the history of motorcycling. While not professionally reviewed, many user reviews point to this book as informative and enjoyable, especially to those who want to delve into the history of the first motorcycling women.
Hollern, S. (1999). Women and Motorcycling - The Early Years. Pink Rose Publications and Marketing.
How to Be Sexy with Bugs in Your Teeth: A Motorcycling Manual for Women
While not the most current resource available, this book is a classic look at 1970’s women’s motorcycle culture. The book includes suggestions for maintaining one’s femininity while riding and is considered a classic of women in motorcycling. Due to the age of the resource it is not readily available but is worth trying to find.
Yeager, T. (1978). How to Be Sexy with Bugs in Your Teeth: A Motorcycling Manual for Women. Contemporary Books.
Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment: Fifty Inspiational Stories of Adventure and Self Discovery
This is a compilation of first-hand accounts from fifty different women motorcyclists of varying background and experience level. This book is more for inspiration rather than instruction, but provides good context for the woman rider. Although there are no professional reviews, user reviews are generally positive.
Jansen, L. (2011). Women, Motorcycles and the Road to Empowerment: Fifty Inspiational Stories of Adventure and Self Discovery.Trillium Wordworks.
Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road
Ferrar’s book chronicles the stories of many riders that she met during her cross country trip to interview women motorcyclists. According to a review in the New York Times, “It is a celebration of the lives of all women who quietly and unobtrusively went against type and rode the icon of wild, throbbing power of the wildly free American male -- the motorcycle” (Stevenson, 1996). The book includes practical sections on safety, clubs, choosing a first bike and other topics as well as historical portraits and modern interviews. It’s a valuable resource for all women riders, especially those new to the sport.
Ferrrar, A. (2001). Har Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles, and the Rapture of the Road. Whitehorse Press.
Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America.
Karen Larsen rode her Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster from New Jersey to Alaska and back. In this memoir/travelogue of her experience, Larsen tells her story of self-discovery and adventure. Well reviewed by professional reviewers and readers, this book is appropriate for all interested in riding, particularly those who want to take on longer trips and cross country adventures. “Larsen is not given to wild mood swings—she mainly describes road conditions, landscape, her campgrounds and her limited contact with people along the way. Buried in the daily details, however, are some inviting questions about the travel experience: why do so many tourists wander into risky situations believing themselves immune to disaster? And why do we believe our chosen mode of travel is more authentic than someone else's, just because it's more arduous?” (Barber, 2004)
Larsen, K. (2004). Breaking the Limit: One Woman's Motorcycle Journey Through North America. Hyperion.
Bike Lust: Harleys, Women, and American Society
Joans is an anthropologist who studied her own obsession with her Harley Davidson as well as that of other women riders. The book focuses on biker culture itself and Joans’ involvement as a new rider. This is an excellent resource for a new rider and those new to “biker” culture. The Publisher’s Weekly review states, “It's hard to be in love when your friends don't quite approve. That's the fix in which anthropologist Joans (director of the Merritt Museum of Anthropology at Merritt College, in California) finds herself in this mix of memoir, anthropological study and apologia for the love of ‘hogs’.” (BIKE LUST: Harleys, Women & American Society, 2004)
Joans, B. (2001). Bike Lust: Harleys, Women, and American Society . University of Wisconsin Press.
Lois on the Loose: One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000 Miles Across the Americas.
This is another travelogue/memoir by a woman rider. This rider went from Alaska all the way to the southernmost tip of Argentina. Lois encounters breakdowns, language barriers and even a night in a Mexican Brothel. A fun read for all women riders, but particularly those interested in long distance riding. “Local bikers helped the witty and sociable Pryce get her Serow fixed, strangers offered shelter or advice and various friends joined her, for better or worse. She rode through flaking dried mud and boulder-strewn donkey paths, through broiling desert heat and blinding Andean snows. Armchair travelers will delight in this funny, vivid account.” (Lois on the Loose: One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000, 2006)
Pryce, L. (2007). Lois on the Loose: One Woman, One Motorcycle, 20,000 Miles Across the Americas. Thomas Dunne Books.
Bikerlady: Living and Riding Free
This book is a celebration of women riders from 1910 through present. It contains historical information, profiles of women riders, and general information about women riders. Reviews state: “". . .Her enthusiasm and pride in all women who ride is uplifting." -- Ann Ferrar, author of Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road and ". . .enter the unique, bold, mysterious, dangerous, and delirious world of women bikers. This is a book for everyone." -- Dr. Barbara Joans, author of Bike Lust: Harleys, Women and American Society, columnist for Thunder Press. (Bikerlady: Living and Riding Free!, 2012)
Mullins, S. (2003). Bikerlady: Living and Riding Free. Citadel.
The American Motorcycle Girls: A Photographic History Of Early Women Motorcyclists
This book of pictures and interesting captions/notations is a way to connect with women riders throughout history. Although some of the featured riders are famous, many others are just every day women riders captured in the act of riding. Although there are no professional reviews of this resource, user reviews are positive and cite the breadth of the pictures and subjects.
Simmons, C. S. (2009). The American Motorcycle Girls: A Photographic History Of Early Women Motorcyclists. Parker House Publishing.
Chicks on Bikes
This book is filled with pictures and stories of women motorcyclists. These are average women riders and their stories. The only reviews of this resource are in “Thunder Press Magazine” and could not be found on their website, no other credible reviews are available, but it seems like an interesting resource. Companion website: http://www.chicksonbikes.us/
Shook, C. (2009). Chicks on Bikes. Paperwings Publishing.
Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons from Friends who Faced Cancer
This book is a more specialized book of stories about women who ride and who have faced cancer. It’s an examiniation of and celebration of women of life lessons learned through cancer. The book includes exercises and reflection questions. There are no professional reviews of this book, but it is included because this is an issue faced many women and particularly many who ride.
Rich, T. (2011). Live Full Throttle: Life Lessons From Friends Who Faced Cancer. Minerva Holdings, Inc.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles
This resource is a general resource on riding, and although not professionally reviewed it comes highly recommended. Jayne Cravens states, “About this same time that I was taking this taster course in Germany, I read The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles , which was really helpful in helping me decide further about motorcycle riding. It told me a lot of things about motorcycle riding that I never learned in any class, and laid the foundation for my own approach to motorcycle riding” (Cravens, 2012). A good solid resource for all beginners.
Motorcycling Magazine, D. H. (2008). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motorcycles. Alpha.
Motorcycling for Dummies
Although not geared specifically towards women, this is an excellent resource for beginners of any gender. The book is easy to read and has a variety of information in an easy to follow format. A bestseller on Amazon.com for a number of years, it’s an excellent overall resource. Although there are not professional reviews, the publisher is popular and reliable and there are numerous positive user reviews.
Kresnak, B. (2008). Motorcycling for Dummies.For Dummies.