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Are you a woman dual sport rider? Please introduce yourself and your ride in the comments section!

3/16/2012

21 Comments

 
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21 Comments
Chelle
3/6/2013 12:36:00 am

I am not a rider yet.....but as of last weekend this idea has not left my mind! (I have ridden dirt bikes and quads) I am an avid hiker and like the idea of being able to get "out there" farther and really want to camp with it. I think one of your later posts answered one of my questions (keeping up with your boyfriend on your bike). I'm not at all afraid of the country rides but I too am quite nervous about city/freeway. I'm just one of those that doesn't trust the other guy on the road so much. Thanks for this website....just stumbled upon on it. Keep up the adventure, now that I found this I will be reading along!

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Rachel
5/14/2013 03:30:25 pm

Thanks for this website! Inspired by a female rider friend, I took and passed the MSF last weekend. I don't yet own a bike and am scared to go on city roads without more practice. I've planned a trip where I'll rent the exact type of bike you have (I found your blog searching for "Kawasaki etc + women rider"). It'll involve a couple of rides around Vancouver Island - one hour and two-three hours. I'm feeling good about the choice of rural, small highways with speed limits of 55. The whole thing makes me nervous but in a good way, to use your dating analogies. Very nice to find your blog. Please keep us updated!

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Girl Gone Wheeled link
5/15/2013 12:30:57 am

Yeah!! Go Rachel! You will LOVE it. :)

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Heather
6/4/2013 09:03:58 am

Hi,
I got my endorsement last spring and have been riding an 81 Yamaha xs400, I am just now learning to ride a Kawasaki KLR650. It is going to be a big transition.
Thanks for the blog!

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Diane Millican
8/7/2013 04:30:26 am

I am a 64 year old woman and a Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer survivor. Seven months ago I decided to learn to ride a dual purpose motorcycle. (Same reason as so many, that back in front of you.) I first bought a KLR 650, promptly dropped it on myself standing still. Then bought a 1985 Yamaha Exciter. Lost it in a curve and scraped my way through the ditch. Now own a 2007 Super Sherpa. On August 10 I begin the OBDR, the first four sections. This journey is for me and all woman who are conquering cancer. Diane

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Girl Gone Wheeled
8/7/2013 05:11:15 am

Diane, your story inspires... thank you so much for sharing! :)

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Jill
9/6/2013 09:36:26 am

Hi! I have been riding dirtbikes with my husband for the last 8 years.. Over the years I have been slowly upgrading my bike to something bigger and more powerful. I was bored one day and started watching the series on NetFlix the long way round and now the long way down with Ewan M. I have to say that inspired me to start thinking about the transition over to a dual sport. I've had a lot of seat time on the back of motorcycles but now I am ready to move over to that on my own. In fact I suggested to my husband that we ride from Anchorage Alaska to NYC next year for our 10 year anniversary. We were actually married on 9/11 and my husband is a firefighter so we couldn't think of any better way to celebrate.. Trust me the looks I have gotten when I have told people about this plan are absolutely nuts, but you know what you only live once! Love your blog! Glad to have stumbled across it!

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Girl Gone Wheeled link
9/6/2013 10:21:15 am

Hi Jill! Glad you liked my blog!! Randomly, by cosmic coincidence, I just yesterday got back from a moto trip from Anchorage to Seattle!!! Flew home from Seattle. My BF bought a new BMW GSA 1200 in Anchorage, then I hopped on the back to help him get the new bike home to California... I had to hop off in Seattle for work reasons, but he is still motoring as I write this! It was AMAZING (saw lots of bears!) and the only thing that would have made it better is if I was on my own bike... but his was way more comfortable and faster than my little KLX 250 so this was the way to go for us. Keep riding!! And keep dreaming of your AK to NY trip!!!

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Céline Aubé
11/15/2013 05:11:49 am

I am on a bike for the last 20 years. I have a BMW GS 1150,170,000 km so far . Been riding off road more and more for the last 5 years. So I had to by a KLX 250 S to have more fun in deep woods. I took a lot of corses , sand ,mud , obstecles. Whit MXPRO from Montréal .In my case , I am the one who is brigning my bf by force off road. We have a lot of fun ...like you said Liberating.....You are great .....have fun. ( excuse my English...i am french. from Canada) I will follow your site....

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Tracy
12/30/2013 10:52:27 am

Thanks for your sharing your stories and advice! I look forward to reading more of your posts.

I have been riding on and off for 10 years. I bought my first dual sport 2 years ago, a TW200. It is the most fun I have ever had on two wheels! It is fun to have a go anywhere bike (ok anywhere but highways). My favorite rides are going out solo and trying to get lost or explore new roads in my state, PA! I'm going to try motorcycle camping this summer.

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Erin O'Brien
4/13/2014 01:41:36 pm

I don;t have an enduro yet. I've lusted after the Adventure 990 (now 1190) for a looooong time, but KTM doesn't make a bike like that for us ladies. My question is what are the better bikes for ladies. I'm 5'6", and absolutely loved my very brief experience on an ex's TDM a ways back. I've been told that a KLR650 with the lowering link would be a great fit for me. I've had a little 250cc Honda Rebel, but it's feeling small and cramped, and I'd like something that can handle Colorado's hilly mountains better. It was scary as heck flogging my little Piglet through the Eisenhower Tunnel to Silverthorne/Dillon.

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Heather
4/13/2014 03:14:27 pm

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike.
I must say I am loving my klr.

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Heather
4/13/2014 03:14:34 pm

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike.
I must say I am loving my klr.

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Heather
4/13/2014 03:15:07 pm

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike.
I must say I am loving my klr.

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Heather
4/13/2014 03:20:34 pm

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike. Look at the Yamaha WR250 and Honda's newest 250 dual sport (CRF?) street legal version.
I must say I am loving my klr and we opted to not lower it as it effect the bikes suspension geometry in a very negative way.

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Heather link
4/13/2014 03:21:27 pm

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike. Look at the Yamaha WR250 and Honda's newest 250 dual sport (CRF?) street legal version.
I must say I am loving my klr and we opted to not lower it as it effect the bikes suspension geometry in a very negative way.

Reply
Heather link
4/14/2014 10:38:34 am

I am 5'.5" and ride a KLR 650. No lowering link but I did re-do the seat and make it much easier for me to reach the ground. I will admit I have a rather long inseam for my height (32 inches) so that makes a difference. I sat on a friend's ktm recently and could not reach the ground at all - talk about a leggy bike. Look at the Yamaha WR250 and Honda's newest 250 dual sport (CRF?) street legal version.
I must say I am loving my klr and we opted to not lower it as it effect the bikes suspension geometry in a very negative way.

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Leni
6/30/2014 02:30:42 pm

Hi Heather,
This is interesting because I am looking for a dual sport myself and I am 5.5. 32 inch seems quite high for me. Do you know of any bikes that might be a bit lower in the 30 inch range? Well by the way if anybody out there sells a used girls bike, I am super interested. I used to ride quite a bit including trans alp crossing in Europe and I would love to get into it again. Love to connect with girls that have the same vision about traveling with a cool bike :).
Leni

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Heather
6/30/2014 03:35:12 pm

Hi Leni,
(Gotta love glitches creating multiple repeats of my post.) I have spent some time on a KLX 250, it is lighter than the KLR and has plenty of umph, but it isn't much lower. Dual sports are leggy bike - they have to be to have good ground clearance. I had a hard time feeling like I couldn't touch the ground at first, but I just got into the habit of consciously choosing one foot to put down when I stop - I alternate depending on the conditions at the moment ie - which side of the bike is on higher ground, if I am on a hill and need to keep my brake engaged, etc. It is a learning curve and it can be daunting, but it is totally overcome-able.

Jacque
2/27/2015 10:08:04 am

We are working to get information out to women who ride dual sport. There are so few events for women and especially for dual sport riders. This is the second year of this event which is all geared towards women riders. This year they have quite a few events geared towards dual sport riders. One of the key events are free riding clinics taught by Pat Jacques.
http://www.steelhorsesisterhood.com/the-steel-horse-sisterhood-summit/
http://www.steelhorsesisterhood.com/the-steel-horse-sisterhood-summit/

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Diane R.
8/28/2016 02:06:31 pm

My husband and I just bought dual sport Yamaha 250's. He got the WR250 and I have the XT250. I'm not quite 5'3". I could touch on tippy toes without the lowering link, but decided to go with the lowering link. We just lowered it an inch or so. I just got my license and have been having a blast so far. I love going 50-60mph, but I haven't ventured onto the freeway yet. I'm mostly practicing to ride on country roads and in town, along with some off-road. So far, I love it. I love this blog site too! Cheers to all the women out there!

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