on 1/16/05 5:20 PM, Janna Nichols at nwscubamom@... wrote:
>
> This has been of curiousity to me too. Where ARE the women?
So far I've
> only seen guys answering questions here.
The origins of this thread actually start from a post by a lister, Kathi; so
there are women on the KLR list. And occasionally one catches a 'name' that
seems female. I'm sure listers with more time on the list can expound upon
your 'Q', We may even hear from a few female listers?
But considering that the KR 650 prolly far outsells the 250 version, I would
guess that considering the 'tallness' of the 650 seat, you're well beyond
the 'average' woman in height, so likely the 'average' female KLR lister is
going to be an above avg height woman - and one liking the style of a
'pug'-nacious KLR vs the more accepted 'look' of a chrome cruiser or flashy
sportbike.
Lastly, from a purely personal observation on a number of moto-lists; women
seem to be less 'chatty' on moto lists. Not meaning less 'active', just not
likely to debate the 'best number of folds in an oil filter element' with
the guyz. But given a question of need, they'll post the 'Q' or 'A'.
I have found that when women riders do post more frequently the scope and
range of 'topic' does seem to be broader cover more angles.
It would be a real plus for KLR list to have more female riders/posters.
>
> I am sort of used to being in sports mostly inhabited by men - Scuba in the
> northwest (very cold water) is largely a male based sport, but a growing
> number of women are enjoying it. Their biggest fear? The weight of the gear
> we have to carry, and the cold.
Same, same with the KLR as relates to seat height. On the plus side, the KLR
is eminently easier to 'handle' as a street bike because it is easily more
than 100 lbs lighter than the avg. street sport machine and prolly 2 hundred
lbs lighter than most cruisers.
To that end, I beleve the 1st manufacturer to build a light DualSport with a
much lower seat height will have a significant niche in the moto market to
themselves. The Zook 'Wee'strom (DL650) comes about as close as we can get
in the US, but still off the mark by a wide shot.
For a lot of women, seat height alone, keeps them restricted to 'cruisers',
which is a shame.
Course based on your self-description, you thankfully, don;t have that
problem.
>
> There are plenty of men and 'manly attitudes' in scuba too. I just chuckle
> at 'em and dive with the people who are NOT like that.
'Balance' in all things is, of course, most desirable. Itz what makes any
2whlr so much more than any 'cage'. Itz what connects all the best things we
do, whether riding, skiing, diving, dancing, skating or anything that takes
our attention beyond 2 dimensions into the 3rd and 4th.
And a lack of 'balance' in attitude comes across clearly in that rider's
approach to riding and riders.
Like you say, plenty of other options.
>
> One of the things I do NOT like to see as a scuba instructor, is women who
> take up the sport because their boyfriend/husband/whoever wants them to.
> They whine an awful lot, expect others to carry their gear, are terribly
...snip...
> They're simply doing it for the wrong reasons. And it's a shame because
> they're missing out on some incredible adventures!
The nature of creating dependency, and even 'guilt' for the partner/person
who does 'luv' the doing.
I tried, some time back, to introduce my wife into moto riding and all the
things that make it special for me. Not much success. She just doesn;t see
it the same way. Even though we both like bikes, she can't get past the
motor thing, the combusting mechanics and the general dis-regards she feels
from 'cagers' when she's riding. Although still prevelant on a pedal
machine, the options, when confronted by 'assholes behind steering wheels'
seem less deadly and offer mmore acceptable 'outs' to her.
Otherwise, I think she enjoys the 'experience' of riding, whether moto or
'pasta' powered.
Thankfully she seems to realize how much a part of me 'ridin' is, so I don't
much get a heavy bag for ridin; except when I forget to 'balance' that time
with something else more globally accepted.
>
> And I, for one, am really looking forward to some new adventures above water
> on a motorbike!
> - Janna
Here's hopin that you and all listers (especially if we can get more woman
listers to post) share those adventures. I luv a good 'doohickey' thread,
but I can never read too many ride reports...
js
Didn't know you were lurking here!
--John Kokola