Fuzzygalore.com Motorcycle Misperceptions – Changing Them, One Person At A Time
Yesterday when I stood outside of my office packing up my sidebag and getting ready to head home – a man walked out of the building, eyes fixed on me and the Tiger. I smiled at him and he smiled back.
“Wow! All this time I thought it was some big 6’5″ guy with tattoos who rode that bike. “
No, sir. It’s just little old me. 
Comments
Great story. Reminds me of a time when I was dating Robin who still lived and taught school in New Jersey. We were riding around her town, with Robin on the back, when we stopped at a red light. The station wagon next to me had kids in the back seat. All of a sudden, one of them starts leaping and waving — it was one of her students! He couldn’t believe his teacher was riding on a motorcycle. From then on, Robin had major street cred with her fifth grade boys.
You’re an great ambassador for motorcyclists, male and female.
You simply wouldn’t believe the number of times that people will ask me if it’s comfortable on the back of my bike … assuming that some mystery man from the front of the bike is hanging around elsewhere.
Oh, and particularly when I’m traveling(and they see my out-of-state license plate) “Did you ride that all the way here by yourself?”
Only once did I have the presense of mind to tell them, “No, I get off and walk beside it every few miles”
“No, I get off and walk beside it every few miles” LMAO!
Wendyvee, I’m snagging that line. I live in AZ and often escape the summer heat on the scoot. You’d be amazed at the number of folks who think you must trailer a bike from AZ if it’s hot….and then when they see a gal riding…it just doesn’t compute for them.
Fuzzy, I remember a friend of mine who (when you asked her how tall she was) replied 6 feet. (She was 5’0″ tall…but carried herself as if she actually WAS 6’0″ tall.) No one questioned her!
Ride safe!
Awesome.
Isn’t it nice to break some stereotypes?
I bet if it was a pink bike he would have thought a girl rode it. I wanna see a big 6’5″ guy with tattoos rock a pink bike too.
Love it!! It’s so funny to hear people comment on me having my own motorcycle.
I find it hilarious when I walk out to where my bike is parked and someone is looking at my bike and their eyes bug out when they see a mild aged woman get on it. I kind of like playing with their mind marbles a bit, I give them a wave and zoom off.
I love the looks we get when we pull in somewhere, park the bikes, and my wife takes off her helmet. Girl power!
You break ‘em and I put ‘em right back. The other day a guy walked up to me after work as I was getting on my 2300cc Rocket III and said “all this time I thought it was some petite attractive young lady riding that bike”.
Okay, I totally made that up. Been away for a while and had to chime in.
You made my morning, Tim
It is always great to break the stereotypes, i’m sure you changed that guy’s opinion on motorcyclists a good amount too.
Here in Seattle (rather progressive, you understand) it’s pretty normal to see chicks on bikes. And they ride all types of bikes.
I’ve seen similar reactions based on age rather than gender. I’ve been stopped a couple of times for recognition of my ability to travel faster than the posted limit. When I take my helmet off, I get a physical reaction from the officer who then lets me off. They tend to be surprised by my gray hair. One of NYS’s finest even chased me 5 miles to then let me go with a warning. I knew I had a change with that guy when he couldn’t help but laugh. I think he was picking on the rookie driver because he couldn’t catch me on the twisty road.
I actually get a chuckle out of the looks, remarks, etc. Just the other day, while out riding, I stopped to fill up the ole gas tank. I was being lazy and left my helmet on. Someone was on the other side of the pump filling up a car. Just as I was finishing, I thought I heard, “Dude, nice bike.” I said “excuse me?” (because I couldn’t hear) as I looked up. This cute little 18-20 year old guy was looking at me, eyes wide. He actually stepped back before saying, “Oh, uh, ma’am I mean. I’m sorry. But that’s a nice bike.” I just laughed and said thanks. The expression on the kid’s face really was priceless. If only I’d had my helmet off he would have been doubly shocked at all of the natural gray highlights on my head!