| Author | Message | ||
     Kootenay |
So, I was at a Suzuki demo ride (yeah, yeah--just lookin') and one of the dealership employees--a young woman--started asking me about my XB9R. I suggested she sit on it, and she said she was about to ask... Anyway, she told me that she was quite interested in an XB9R last year, was ready to buy, but wanted a test ride first--but the dealership she was at refused her, apparently because she's "a girl." Now, that sucks; she is an experienced rider. She ended up buying a secondhand Triumph Sprint RS instead. She told me she's encountered that kind of attitude a fair bit, even from the Victory reps when she works their demo rides. All I can say is, some macho idiot at a Buell dealership cost at least one sale. Oh, BTW, we did arrange to go riding together sometime, so we can trade bikes and she can at least get a taste of the Buell experience! | ||
| Mrvvrroomm |
My wife has demo'd numerous Buells, HD, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Triumph, Ducati, Aprilia, etc. Did the girl have a motorcycle endorsement on her license? I've seen some pretty "experienced" riders without them. | ||
| Littleone |
It ticks me off when a dealer won't allow a test ride due to what ever BS story they come up with Like "oh i think that is too much bike for a girl like you" Hence why i don't own a Kawi, or a Yamaha... My Buell dealership was awesome as long as you have a class 6 your good to go. | ||
| Crusty |
My wife has never had a problem getting a Demo ride on a Buell. In fact, when we went to Liberty H-D/Buell's gig last September, the Demo folks were encouraging her to take out a Lightning Long, since she was waiting for me to test ride a Uly. They wouldn't allow me to take my 14 year old daughter along as a passenger, though, since she was under 18, because of insurance considerations. I've never seen any discrimination against women at any Demo event I've been to. | ||
| Court |
A dealer who ignores women has made a poor choice. The Buell demo team has many females on the team, you'll never have a problem there. | ||
| Lovematt |
I recently had a friend of mine have that problem at a bike dealer (not Harley or Buell) and it surprised me. She has not ridden for very long but has been to a track day and out on several long rides with me following/leading to watch her lines through the turns. She has learned a lot in just a year and her riding shows it. I was so pissed to hear about it and this was with a dealer I have bought several bikes from over the past 15 years. We went back and I had a "talk" with the guy that refused and she ended up getting that test ride (and a new bike) the next day. I agree with Court...I have always felt that all people should be given equal chances in the beginning whenever possible. After than it is a person's behavior, track record, capabilities, and abilities that will dictate how their life goes. In my line of work (loading cargo ships and working with software developers) I continue to be amazed at the opinions of some regarding women...yet a women leads our software test group and she is amazingly capable...as well as a good friend. (Message edited by lovematt on May 07, 2006) | ||
| Stretchman |
First they want to smoke, then drink, and vote as well. Now, they want a test ride? What's next?  Stretch | ||
| Court |
Woman have an incredible amount of buying power and play the "key" role in the majority of vehicle purchase decisions. We've purchased two new cars in the last 3 weeks and my wife is a much keener (I suspect it comes from 20 years on Wall Street and being a 5'-0" All-American basketball player) negotiator than I am. Buell has slanted a good deal of marketing toward the female riders and wisely so. | ||
| Edmbueller |
We had a similar experience her last year. My wife and I went down to the Buell Demo days. When we got to the table to sign the waivers, the guy running the show looks up as she is signing hers and says to me "oh you want to ride the lightnings" "yes, all three models please" and he says "well the Uly is the only one we allow two up rides on" I scratched my head not fully understanding him then the bulb went on. "She has her own bike (which she pulled in on by the way) and has over 50,000 Kms under her belt you jackass" Everyone within earshot blew into a huge laughing fit and the guy looked liked he had been kicked in the balls. I was floored, how could someone promoting riding of any brand motorcycle be so ignorant to the largest growing motorcycle buying group? | ||
| Lovematt |
Good on ya! | ||
| Kootenay |
Did the girl have a motorcycle endorsement on her license? I've seen some pretty "experienced" riders without them. This question did not come up, but seeing as she leads demo rides for various manufacturers, I assume she does... I have known (and do know) a lot of female riders over the years, and in fact several of my motorcycle instructor colleagues were women (back in the early 80s). I remember stopping in a ferry lineup with one of them, who happened to be tall, slim, and striking in appearance; dressed in her black Belstaff gear, you'd never know her gender, but when she took off her helmet and shook her long red hair out, you could hear the vertebrae snapping as all the guys in the next line did a double-take! | ||
| U4euh |
MMMM! Riding Gear MMMMM Long Redhair MMM and she was on her own bike, tell me more tell me more!!  JKNG Those individuals would probably stand to learn something by being true motorcyclist. Doubt very many of them ride that often. The number of female riders in North Carolina has risen hugely in the past 4-5 years, and I believe that is due to the company's understanding that women can and in fact do ride bikes as well as men, if not better in some cases. If I could convince my wife to ride I know she would love it, but she says she is just happy being on the back. Besides there is nothing sexier than a goodlooking woman that can handle a bada$$ machine, IMO! | ||
| 1313 |
Besides there is nothing sexier than a goodlooking woman that can handle a bada$$ machine, IMO!  IMO, too! 1313 | ||
| Xgecko |
 though my wife ride I Kwak I gotta agree...women on bikes are just one of life's finer sights | ||
| Angelwild327 |
Damn..I HAVE to get some pics of me riding my 12S dammit. Hey...Stretch has seen my bike..lol..so at least I have another witness. A little under a year ago when I was checking out Buells for the first time, I went to Buell Demo days in Miami. They were more than eager to let me test ride, I had to give them credit for being so willing to help me out. I didn't even have my endorsement yet, and I was honest about it.. they'd have probably let me ride, but I wasn't interested in taking chances on them...not the right thing to do! | ||
| Buellshyter |
I'm not sexist and have no problem with women riding but around here I rarely see women in the driver's seat. | ||
| Bindy |
There are still those that can't come to grips about girls on bikes, but the majority of people think it's pretty cool.  One of the things I still enjoy is the look of respect when a guy comes over to my Buell and realizes it's a 1200. I know that it's really the Buell he's impressed with...  But hey I still get a buzz and like to think it's also because I am a 5' nothing girly on the front of a bike.  | ||
| Teddagreek |
I see women riders all the time.. Funny thing is years ago I used to see more women on harleys now I think I see more on sport bikes.. All in all there are more women riders now then ever... I think its cool | ||
| Kdan |
I'm doing my part. My girlfriend, Bambi has all but assumed the title on my Blast. This is a good thing. It gets ridden twice as much that way. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/cgibin/discus/board-profile.cgi?action=view_prof ile&profile=bambi-users | ||
| Bindy |
Hey Kdan, Bambi sounds like a barrel of laughs. Sham we are on the opposite sides of the globe would love to go riding with her. Take Care Be Safe and Stay Upright. | ||
| Kdan |
Hey Bindy, looking at your profile, you sound like a hoot too. She'd probably also like to ride with you! We'll look you up whenever we finally make it to that side of the planet. We're not quite done seeing this side yet! | ||
| Blazinc5 |
Tell her not to feal to bad,, the dealer here told me that they only alow people to test ride if they are going to buy it.... What the hells the point of buying if I can't test ride? So I went to a private party to buy,,, dealer coulda had all that cash but chose to be that way,, so no money from me.... | ||
| Debueller |
My sister rode with my brother and I this weekend. We rode over 800 miles with about 75 of the on gravel.(some of it very steep and loose). She did it on a Kawasaki Concours. I was on a my Uly and my brother rides a 950 Adventure. We slept in our own tents both nights. She never complains unless we aren't covering enough miles. She is capable of "test riding" ANY bike. Any salesman that refused her a test ride would be foolish. I bet she might be able to out ride most of them salesmen. |
