Profile of a Female Motorcyclist Meet Shirley

Next up – Profile of a Female Motorcyclist Meet Shirley (nickname: Roadrunner) is from Aiken, SC. As I continue this series I’m so appreciative of all the women that have taken the time to answer the questions and submit a picture or two.

Much wisdom and many life lessons are being written. I’m also being challenged and feeling the desire to become more than a hobby rider. Thank you friends!

Profile of a Female Motorcyclist Meet Shirley

How long have you been riding a motorcycle?

5 years

How did you learn to ride?

I learned the basics by riding at low speeds around my neighborhood. Then I took a Motorcycle Safety class. The safety class was a big confidence booster for me because there were others around with the same skill level as me.

I highly recommend to anyone learning to ride and even seasoned riders – take the safety class.  You’ll learn a lot.

What was your first motorcycle?

I started on a Honda Rebel 250. I only had that bike for 6 months before I upgraded.

How many have you owned?

I’ve owned 3 motorcycles: Honda Rebel 250, Honda Shadow 600, Honda Spirit 1100

Why did you want to ride a motorcycle?

I rode by a scooter place one day.  I was intrigued … it looked fun so I took a test drive. I had so much fun that I decided I wanted a scooter.

I decided to sleep on the purchase … and after more thought I decided a motorcycle would be better even though I’d have to learn how to shift.

Tell us about your riding.

Mostly for pleasure, although Friday’s are casual at our workplace so sometimes I ride my motorcycle into work on Friday’s.

What advice do you have for women who ride or want to ride a motorcycle?

Before buying a bike, try out different models and notice how low/high they sit from the ground. You want to be as flat-footed as possible. Also, take the safety course.

What is the longest trip that you’ve taken on your motorcycle?

The longest trip was from Augusta, GA to Maggie Valley, NC. I had been riding for a couple years and our riding group (Chrome Divas) took a weekend trip to the mountains. I think the total mileage for that weekend was 1,000.

Do you belong to any motorcycle groups?

For 3 years I rode with a great group of ladies, the Columbia, SC chapter of the Chrome Divas.

Do you have a favorite riding story?

Yes, I rode the Tail of the Dragon by accident (a road in NC/TN that boasts 311 curves in 11 miles). I had programmed my GPS to purposefully avoid the Tail of the Dragon, because I felt I wasn’t ready for the challenge since I had only been riding about 2 years.

I wasn’t paying attention to my GPS though. Before I realized it I was 2 miles into the Tail of the Dragon … too late to turn around. I had to keep going and it was so much fun after I calmed down. I ended up riding it two more times on that trip.

What do you do when you’re not riding?

Polish the chrome of course! 🙂  I’m an avid reader, I love to garden.

Thank you for stopping by to read Profile of a Female Motorcyclist Meet Shirley! I am always looking for more stories like your adventure into riding. Your experience, knowledge, and insight will encourage women in their motorcycling journey! Fill out the contact form and let’s connect!

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