HD Sportsters are for Women?
While at a motorcycle rally this weekend that was open to all makes and models of bikes, I overheard someone make the statement that HD Sportsters were for women. I’ve heard this statement made about various makes and models of motorcycle before, but I have never understood it.
Is there really any motorcycle out there that is specifically made for women? Are women’s needs in a motorcycle different than men’s? There are only a couple of things that I would think would be a factor in making a motorcycle less appealing to a woman, and those things would be weight and seat height.
The weight of the bike seems obvious. Generally women are not as strong as men. You may be able to find me the occasional exception to this but it’s generally a fact. The problem is that you don’t need to be strong to handle a large heavy bike. They are not heavy once they are moving and would only be a problem at low speeds if you had really short arms which isn’t a gender specific trait.
The seat height comes into play in the fact that women are generally shorter than men. Once again, this is not universal. In order to safely handle the bike at a stop you should be able to plant both of your feet flat on the ground. I have seen many cases where people can’t do this, so even this does not seem to be an absolute requirement. However, I would not ride a bike when I couldn’t plant my feet on the ground.
So, are HD Sportsters lightweight bikes with low seat heights?
According to HD’s website, the unladen seat height of a 2008 Sportster XL 883 is 29.3″. Here are some more measurements:
2008 HD Sportster XL 1200L - 28.0″
2008 HD Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG - 28.5″
2008 HD Fat Boy FLSTF - 27.5″
2008 HD V-Rod VRSCAW - 27.1″
2008 HD Electra Glide Standard FLHT - 30.7″
So it seems there is not much difference among HD models and seat height. If the seat height were the only criteria, the V-Rod would be the best women’s bike.
What about weight? The 2008 Sportster XL 883 weighs 583 lbs in running order.
2008 HD Sportster XL 1200L - 581 lbs.
2008 HD Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG - 678 lbs.
2008 HD Fat Boy FLSTF - 714 lbs.
2008 HD V-Rod VRSCAW - 670 lbs.
2008 HD Electra Glide Standard FLHT - 780 lbs.
There is some difference here.
This still leaves me unconvinced. So let’s hear what you think. Are there specific models of motorcycle that are marketed toward one sex or the other?
It’s almost riding season
Not too much longer to wait and the snow and salt will be off the roads and it will be time to get that motorcycle out of hibernation. I can’t wait.
One of the best things about owning any vehicle is customizing it to make it your own. Anyone can add or modify the parts on their motorcycle to suit their own taste. This is probably the second most fun thing that you can do with a motorcycle, the first is riding it, of course.
This year I plan on adding a couple of upgrades before the riding season starts. On my list are:
- Oil pressure gague
- New sissy bar
- Performance air cleaner
- Carborater upgrade
- Handlebars
The oil pressure gague I received for my birthday last year, I just didn’t have time to put it on. I figured that I would rather be riding than installing something. The new sissy bar is to replace the one that I have. I got a new Corbin seat last fall and with this seat the current bar is too short.
The performance air cleaner and carb upgrade are both related. I need to change the jets when I install the new air cleaner otherwise it’s going to run lean. I’m going to use the K&N air filter kit, and the Thunderslide carb kit. Apparently the polymer slide that comes in the Thunderslide kit will make the throttle much more responsive, I’m looking forward to that.
I might skip the handlebars, I’m not really sure yet. I do know that I would like some mini ape’s, much like the ‘07 softail customs have. But if I do that I’m going to want to conceal the wiring in the bars, and also replace the cables with stainless steel braided lines. I might wait until next year for that.
I’ll post pictures after the installations.