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How you started? like how old where you, and age bikes etc…
When I was a teenager, I dreamed about motorbiking. But as usual: there was not the time nor the money. And with time passing by I forgot about that dream. Almost 10 years later, I suddenly got to know one biker after another. And my passion for biking returned. In summer 2018 I finally got my license. And I can’t imagine a life without motorbike anymore. It’s my best companion: I take it to work (about 80 km a day), I travel with it, I use it for daily business and of course I take it for a drive. In total I ride more than 20,000 km a year at any weather or time.
I started with a Honda CB500f, which is a perfect bike for beginners. But after 3 months I switched to a more powerful bike: a Yamaha XSR900. I love the XSR but it is a very tame bike. When I first saw the Indian FTR1200s Race Replica I immediately fell in love. The FTR is not just beautiful and unique, it is a beast, self-willed, powerful, sometimes bitchy but still reliable. I have never ridden a bike like this! And I have tried many!
How you begin traveling on a motorcycle? And why?
I dont own a car. So until I got my motorbike license my only way of motion was public transportation. At the same time I love nature, the mountains and freedom. Traveling by bike combines all of that: you are outside, riding in the mountains is one of the most amazing things on earth and you are free to go where ever you want. You can take roads that you can’t take by car, at the same time you reach distances incomparable to walking.
Does you’re bike has a name?
Not a specific one. I call her all kinds of names: beast, diva, silly girl, darling, honey. Whatever I feel like or rather how ever she behaves. But I am sure it is a girl;)
Tell me about difficulty’s you had along this trip…
After one year of bike riding I went on my first trip. A friend of mine lives in Slovakia and I was meeting her for a festival there. First I planned on taking the plane but then I thought: Why don’t you go by bike? And that’s what I did. My FTR was brand-new and to tell the truth, the bike is too big and heavy for me. It weights 230 kg and I can only reach the ground on my tippy toes. And even worse, until then I never really went for serpentines. A sane person would probably have never gone on that trip. But luckily I am not sane;-)
When you ride a bike which is too tall and heavy you always have to plan ahead because you can’t push the bike sitting on it nor pushing it uphill. That’s not just important for stoping or parking but also if you go the wrong way and you have to turn. Turning in narrow and steep streets is impossible.
What would you recommend to new bikers, woman motorcyclists?
First: Get a bike you are comfortable with. You won’t ride a bike that you don’t like and if you struggle with it, it might be intimidating. As a motorbiking woman you are always observed. So if you are already nervous because biking is still new, observing people will make it worse. So get a bike you can control and you are completely comfortable with. And you will get used to being observed or even enjoy it sometimes 😉 As soon as biking becomes a habit you can challenge yourself with new bikes.
Don't hesitate to ask for help. Sometimes you feel like you have to prove yourself but only jerks will condemn you for that. Most people are lucky to help you and are amazed of motorbiking women. And why shouldn’t we make life easier by taking advantage of our charm?!;-)
And last but not least: Take your time. As a woman we often feel under pressure to assert ourselves. But beginners are no experts, everything needs time and practice. Take as long as you need, don’t rush. Identifying and respecting your limits is a sign of strength and not of weakness.
Tell me five thing’s you recommend before start a motorcycle trip..
Get the right equipment: Starting from the bags up to packing the right cloths. Bags should be waterproof and easy to attach but not easy to steal. Getting cold and wet on a bike is the worst thing ever. Try to pack for all kinds of weather and temperatures. Weather can change very easily and temperatures that feel nice and warm as a pedestrian might feel very cold on the bike. And since you´re not on your bike all of the time don’t forget cloths for your leisure time. But mind volume and weight!
Check your bike: of course mostly you are not far from civilization, but check air pressure, oil, battery etc. before you start. A save bike is the basis of a save and fun trip.
Planning is important but don’t plan too much. You can only spend a certain amount of time on your bike before getting bored, sore or unfocused. Be flexible to change routes, to add new stops to your trip or to take some time off in between.
Get a good navigation system, either an App or old-school motorbike maps. I like to use both: maps for the overall view and the app for detail planning.
Mind set: be courageous and enthusiastic. If you decide already before you go that the trip will be fun, it will be fun. Don’t panic or get insecure. As long as you are optimistic, nothing, no bad weather, no unpleasant experience will bring you down!
Tell me five things new bikers shouldn’t do on a motorcycle trip
Don’t get scared or hectic. If you are in a situation which is scary or overstraining take a moment, take a deep breath, tell yourself that you are able to handle it and I can tell you: you will! And if not, search for help. It is nothing bad to get help.
Don’t get too ambitious and reckless, be realistic and humble: don’t plan too long of a distance and plan enough breaks. You will get into a flow, and suddenly riding curves feels so easy. Thats an amazing feeling. But especially then don’t get reckless and overestimate yourself. Be happy about this progress and enjoy this moment instead of keeping on pushing.
Being ignoring: bikers and locals have the best recommendations, they know the surroundings and needs of bikers. They can tell you where to go, where to take a break or even good hotels for bikers. Get into touch, ask for advices and their experiences.
Riding highways: biking is about the landscape, curvy streets and about passion. Rather stay close in one area than going on the highway our big and crowded streets, just to go fast or ride long distances.
Disrespecting local rules: mind speed limits and safety requirements. You might get into real trouble if not. And rules might be very different in other countries. Being a foreigner is no excuse if you get caught by the police.
But at least I finalized some planning for my next bike tour.My next tour will take me all the way through the German and Austrian Alps down to Italy close to Venice. From there I will travel along the coast to Croatia. And Then via Slovenia and Austria back to Germany. I haven’t calculated but I assume that it will be around 4000-5000km.
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