Remember that there is two kinds of riders. Those that have wrecked and those that will wreck. If you are a rider and have love ones that ride, purchase a demon road bell to put on there bike. Superstition among us that ride is that all roads have demons that hitch a ride as a biker passes by and begins to cause problems with the bike and rider until they finally wreck. Placing a bell on your bike traps the demons inside it and the ringing eventually drives them so crazy they fall off and die. The bell has to be purchased by someone else and has to be given as a gift or it will have no power. Some say it will only have half the power. I was given one when I first got my bike. I’ve been spared from having an accident, sometimes just by a hair or second, but still spared. These, I practice every time I ride.
1. Don’t wear Shoes with laces. (tennis shoes) the laces can catch on the foot peg, and when you try to put your foot down, it pulls the bike off balance just enough to dump it.
Yes. I dropped my bike at a gas station in front of everyone just trying to get a bottle of water I dropped. And because my lace was caught on the peg I ended up with my bike on top of me. Not like being a woman rider doesn’t draw enough attention, right? I did gain some dignity back when I picked it up by myself.

2. If you have an allergy to venom (bee’s or any stinging creature with wings)
Make sure you carry an Epi-pen and Benadryl with you at all times, even for a trip to the store. On my way back home from a Vegas run a bee stung me in the chest (cleavage area).Because it was So hot out, I decided not to take mine with me. I didn’t really want to have to carry something that needed to be kept cool all the time. (hot temp. ruins epinephrine).I ended up being medi-vaced off the 177 highway in Ca. to Joshua Tree Hospital. Would have rather had my first helicopter ride be something I could enjoy. I got complacent and Stopped carrying it again and a few months ago (5-6 years later) I road to the store a few miles away and was stung again. That cost me three trips to the hospital in one week.
3. Riding closer to the centerline (in the part of the road where most cars left tires travel)allows oncoming drivers more aware of their placement in their own lane. You will notice that most drivers will drift over to the right of their lane allowing more space between you, way before you pass by each other. You will learn after a few cars when those idiots who don’t increase the space or who aren’t paying attention are not going to increase the space and you can make that adjustment yourself in plenty of time. Its subconscious thing most drivers do.
4. Long hair (esp. mine cause its curly too) gets so tangled you might consider dreadlocks instead of getting them out. Braids or low poney tales help. A bandana worn just over the beginning of where your bangs begin helps keep your bangs from getting kinks that stick up like an antenna.(my problem ) And a well ventilated helmet helps keep your head from sweating. Mine has two vents on the top and two on the side, I pull my visor up just a bit and air flows through nicely. This is what I do to keep from getting helmet hair.
5. Sometimes long rides can be a bit boring and conversating with yourself doesn’t cut it.I always take my mp3 player or ipod with me. The best ear phones to use are the ones shaped like mushroom. BUT ONLY use one. Never have them in both ears. This way I’m able o hear what my bikes doing, and I’ll hear sirens etc.
6. Centrifugal force causes your bike to lean when you are taking a curve or turning. The sharper the turn the more the bike leans. If you slow down too much, gravity kicks in. Take turns and sharp curves in second gear and Increase your throttle gradually through it and lean with the bike. This allows a smoother curve or turn because the Centrifugal force pushes you into the seat. If you going slower then you have to turn your handle bars a lot more and you’re not very sturdy. If you can learn to relax your body while riding and allow consider yourself a part of your bike (leaning the same as it does) its easier.
7. Turning in water or gravel can be a bit tricky cause the back tires traction is compromised . I find it easier for me to go through it slow and wider.
8. When you ride with other people, agree on signals , hand signs, and gestures to use to communicate with each other. This is handy when you want a cigarette or bathroom break, want to stop and eat or just stretch your legs, or see a police car lying in wait.
9. When cars or trucks pass you make sure they see you. Slow your speed a little to give them plenty of room to move back into the lane. I have been almost creamed by so many cars and trucks trying to pass.
10. Sharing the lane with other bikes is common. I like riding along side my Boyfriend. But,.. When we approach a fairly sharp curve one of us falls back during the curve and then catch back up with them. This will give you more space to lean into it and gives you more of a cushion in case an oncoming vehicle takes the curve too wide. This is when it’s better to ride in the middle of the road . Oncoming traffic won’t see you and most are concentrating on the curve and their position in their lane, trying not to have use your lane to take the curve.
11. NEVER pass a car on the left side unless they are stopped or going very slow to make a left turn, and even then it better just to wait.
12. Believe it or not, I ride in every kind of heel. I actually have a more stability at stop lights, and it makes up the difference for my short legs. I can flat foot my bike but just barely. Platt formed or wedged heal works great and feels sturdy.(and let’s face it, looks hot too.) Spiked heals are not as sturdy and can cause you to wobble and then you and your bike fall over, especially if for some reason and there will be, you are fighting to keep your bike from tipping. High heals hinders you and makes it very hard to keep your bike from getting to that point of no return .Thank God I have not had this happen but I almost did, and I became more careful about stopping in a hurry and getting off my bike.
13. Realize now that being a woman rider makes a lot of people look. Id say at least 95 % of the drivers and passengers will stare. I admit it’s a kick in the pants, but if they are looking at you, then they’re not looking at the road.
14. And last … after you put your kickstand down and before getting off your bike, with both feet on the ground and both hands still holding your handlebars kind of wiggle the bike between your legs to insure that your kick stand is firmly holding your bike up. Soft soil, sand and other things are not a good place to park. I wound up diving under my bike as it was going over because the kickstand was slowly sinking into the sand. I found the one small spot about 4” big that wasn’t concrete and put the kickstand in it. It looked the same as the concrete but looks can be deceiving. And again I picked my bike and pride up by myself and rode off.
Thankfully its been saved from dents and scratches from the foot pegs and handlebars. So it still shines and looks beautiful. Maybe the Bell really does keep the road demons away.
Ride safe ladies
Tracy

I hope you don’t mind me popping back and bunging another link to my site on here. I got a new bike for Christmas, a 1995 Fireblade (Honda CBR900) and had a.. ermm.. little difficulty reaching the ground on it..

This link – http://ravenbladerider.wordpress.com/2010/03/15/lowering-the-ride-height-on-a-cbr900-fireblade/ – shows how I shaved the foam off the seat of my bike so I could get a bit more foot on the floor :-)

By the way, on the 600 – I sat on that bike the day I ended up buying the 750. I LOVED the way it felt and fit; the only reason I didn’t buy it was because it was only a four-speed, which my hubby thought would not be enough power on the highway. I bought the 750; later heard mixed reports from others who owned the 600 – some said they never felt like it was lagging, others definitely did. As much as I loved the way the bike fit me, I was glad I bought the 750 instead.

Have fun shopping!

Kat Kleinsmith

Riding position – Because I’m so short, I’ve found that often, the stock handlebar set-up on a new bike creates too far of a reach. This can burn starting between my shoulder blades and all the way down my arms into my hands. The solution is to figure out how much pullback you need in your bars, and see if you can find some risers or extensions that will alter the handlebars into the right position.

Vibration – I hadn’t heard about vibration being a problem with the Rebel, but on a pre-2004 Sportster, believe me – it’s an issue! So it might be with your bike too. Depending on how the engine is mounted (among other potential variables), the vibration from the engine might be traveling through the bike and creating a buzzing or vibrating sensation in your hands. After some distance of riding, this makes them feel numb and/or puts them to sleep. There may be a deadening insert you can put into your handlebars (I know at least one person who did this on her Sporty), or maybe some kind of padded handgrips might work to reduce the vibe.

All that said, if you are looking new bikes, definitely research whether vibration is an issue in the bike you’re considering as well as the handlebar position. As a very short shopper, I found that the Honda VLX (which is a 600) and the Shadow 750 Spirit both fit me very well. I owned the Shadow for about 18 months and put padded grips on it (Kuryakyn ISO Grips), and never had a vibration problem. On my 883 Sportster, I changed handlebars a couple times – once for comfort and once for looks – and it didn’t lessen the vibration any but it did make my shoulders more comfortable. On my 1200, the engine is mounted differently so the vibration’s not so noticable, but I got ISO grips for my birthday so we’ll be adding those soon and that should eliminate virtually all of it.

Other thoughts welcome, so others please chime in!