I had a day to consider this post and what it should contain and, after great consideration, say this: What exactly is a “motorcycle for women”? I combed an entire web site only to discover that “motorcycles for women” are distinguished solely by virtue of slick paint jobs and accessories! Huh? I was under the impression that they had created a motorcycle “just for women”, which made less sense the more I thought about it. I mean, why do we women need a motorcycle made for us?? How does one engineer a “motorcycle for women”? Apparently, engineering has nothing to do with it.

When I was growing up I had a girls’ pink and white Schwinn bicycle. Aside from the color and my fancy basket, the only other factor that distinguished it from my brother’s Schwinn was that mine lacked a bar that ran from the front wheel to the seat (an accoutrement that seemed deeply ironic in light of its placement with respect to the male anatomy). I rode a girly bicycle only because I was told it was girly.

Ok, well let’s have a look at Roar Motorcycles’ online den. On the first page is the tagline, “because you deserve a beautiful bike”. I take pause and consider what exactly this statement means. Why do I deserve a beautiful bike? And more importantly how do they know what I might consider beautiful? I was reliving my girly Schwinn.

I select the showroom tab and then look at the stock. I am even more confused. Now I find myself perusing a stock of repainted Suzukis, Yamahas, Kawasakis, and Harleys. They are not new bikes, just motorcycles that have been customized with fancy paint, cut down seats and adjusted bars. That’s it. These are now “motorcycles for women”.

The Distinctively Roar is the endeavor’s “Designer Line”, featuring models even more glam than glam. Here we find offerings with names like California Dreamin’ and Royal Peacock, both refitted Kawasaki Vulcans with price tags in the mid 20s.

Roar Motorcycles calls these creations for women “vintage modern”, an oxymoronic slogan which I guess they think appeals to those in the market for a “motorcycle for women”. But let’s cut to the chase here. Roar has created nothing more than fancy overpriced bikes which seem very much like yet another ploy to cash in on the most promising demographic in motorcycling: women. They are doing it by appealing to the gals in search of yet another mindless fashion-conscious jewel to acquire and adorn.

And did they lighten the weight of the damned things? No. Did they craft a sport-styled or touring bike lowered optimally around the range of the average female height? Nope. Did they do anything out of the ordinary, beyond a big flash in the pan? You be the judge.

I frankly am dumbfounded by how Roar has presumed to equate a “motorcycle for women” with superficial “beauty” and nothing more. It’s a dumbing down motorcycling to presume women are neither skilled enough nor hearty enough to just get out and ride. Nothing more than a way to make a quick buck off the bored C-level’s wife who suddenly sees herself as a rebel in black leather and a pepto-bismol pink, crystal encrusted, $25,000 V-Star.

Please… get real.

If you want to ride, take the MSF course or check out the Rider’s Edge program by Harley. Get some protective gear and plenty of practice and you are off on the journey to RIDE YOUR OWN. Simply put, you don’t need a “motorcycle for women” to earn respect in the riding community. Just ride.