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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Canadian_Flag.jpg BMW Motorcycles Canada kicks off 2009 with its “For Women Only!” ride event. (cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=202936)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2009_BMW_Canada_-_Woman_Ride_Events.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (cleanmpg.com) – April 23, 2009

Female rider aboard one of BMW’s 2009 Bikes.

Whitby, Ontario -- BMW Motorcycles Canada will be holding its sixth annual edition of the BMW “For Women Only!” test ride event with 3 locations across Canada.

Since 2004, the BMW “For Women Only!” Test Ride Event has offered female motorcycle riders the opportunity to test ride a full range of current BMW models in a relaxed and controlled environment.

Administered and hosted by seasoned female motorcycle enthusiasts in affiliation with BMW Motorrad Canada, the events are offered in three major Canadian cities:

Vancouver- Saturday, April 25
Toronto - Saturday, May 16
Montreal - Saturday, June 20

The first two BMW “For Women Only!” ride events conveniently “bookend” the 3rd Annual International Female Ride Day staged on Friday, May 1, mutually supporting and promoting the ever-growing sorority of female motorcycle enthusiasts.

International Female Ride Day is the inspiration of Vicki Gray, founder of MOTORESS, an international website developed to encourage and support women in motorcycling worldwide. Vicki works tirelessly to “Connect women with motorcycling” and the International Female Ride Day has spawned numerous female-only motorcycling events focused on the annual May 1event.

BMW Motorrad Canada is a strong supporter of female motorcycling in Canada and a regular sponsor of MOTORESS since its inception.

For Women Only (http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/En/page.php?page=3)!

You are invited to the BMW Motorrad Exclusively Female Test Ride Event

In order to introduce you to the full range and capabilities of BMW motorcycles, BMW Motorrad Canada is offering an Exclusively Female Test Ride Event.

This program is reserved for women only. Only BMW Motorrad Canada personnel will be on site to offer you assistance and information. No sales pressure just an opportunity for you to enjoy the Ultimate Riding Experience in a relaxed and controlled environment.

BMW Motorrad is committed to meeting the needs of female riders. With our customized and comprehensive line of rider apparel for women, you don't have to "adjust" to male sizing and styling anymore. Our Rider Equipment is designed for you. In many ways, our motorcycles are too. With fully-adjustable ergonomics and new lower seat heights, BMW motorcycles are easily adaptable to female riders of any size and shape.

We look forward to sharing this unique event with you. Check out this web site to review the full BMW motorcycle line up. For further information and to book your test ride, please email us.

Vancouver
Saturday April 25, 2009
Contact: Trish McLaughlin
trish1000rr@hotmail.com

Toronto
Saturday May 16, 2009
Contact: Liz Jansen
liz@trilliumtours.com

Montreal
Saturday June 20, 2009
Contact: Stephanie Chagnon
stephanie@teamtumbleweed.com

A great time of the year to reach out to a group of riders not normally expected to take on the open road opportunity for themselves.

Good for them. They finally get that women actually have a (much) greater than 50% infuence on vehicle purchases.

We need more women on bikes. It's not a male thing, really. It's about fun - and what do girls want?

The "badass" biker image is thankfully getting more and more transparent as very very very few of them are badass, and we all know it.

The "badass" biker image is thankfully getting more and more transparent as very very very few of them are badass, and we all know it.


It's ludicrous having "badass bikers" trying to imitate outlaw 1%-er bikers by dressing up and going without helmets, or wearing fake ones. Every day isn't Halloween, so why pretend to be someone you are not?

BMW riders in particular have no use for that nonsense. One of the good things about riding a BMW is that you are free to wear all the safety gear you feel appropriate, including a full-face helmet, full coverage riding suits or leathers, and a hiz-viz jacket or vest, without getting any peer pressure to do otherwise. Only Harley riders will glare at you for not observing their dress code.

I believe the bike in the photo is a BMW F800 twin-cylinder, a good choice for a woman rider. (It might be an F650).

Harry

Hi Harry:

___Regarding gear, you are so absolutely right! While on the Honda XR650L, I was fortunate enough to put the Aerostitch - Darien jacket and pants plus the Shoei Hornet DS through its paces on Tuesday and Wednesday. Boy what a difference a good set of gear makes for not only a safer ride but far more comfortable one as well!

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Darien_Gear_-_XR650L_-_Shoei_Hornet_DS_-_On_the_Pacific_near_Huntington_Beach_CA.jpg
Overlooking the Pacific just before the sun was going to set.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/Darien_Gear_-_XR650L_-_Shoei_Hornet_DS_-_Overlooking_the_Huntington_Beach_Pier_on_the_Pacific.jpg
Huntington Beach, CA Pier.

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/523/XR650L_across_from_the_Honda_Center_in_Anheim_CA.jpg
Across from the Honda Center in Anaheim, CA where the Insight-II launch was held.

___I also ride with steel toed leather boots and leather gloves as well. I just do not know how I am ever going to ride with a base leather jacket and jeans again :(

___I will be working with BMW’s bike group for a 650 Dual Sport ride in a few months and if it rides anything like their 335d drove, I am sure it will impress.

___Either way, it is great to see BMW supporting woman riders! I have not seen this kind of support from the other manufacturer although I have only been following bikes for what, a little over a year???

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wayne, what beautiful pics of palm trees and the Pacific ocean! I'll get out there again sometime, probably when I retire in 3 years. That's when I'll have time for cross-continent road trips on my bike.

You are dressed BMW-style. Some people won't like it, and will want to give you a hard time, but you know it's the way to go to ride responsibly. Aerostich is pretty much standard issue for BMW riders, although BMW also has some nice gear, and other manufacturers are supplying suitable gear, some of it in hi-viz colors.

BMW has a new mesh hot-weather jacket I spotted a couple of days ago at the local BMW motorcycle dealer. It has hi-viz yellow on the shoulders, down the arms, and a big patch across the back, with large areas of mesh to let the air flow through. I have a BMW mesh jacket now with yellow sleeves, but the new hi-viz yellow would really stand out in traffic. A mesh jacket lets you wear protection in the hottest weather, especially here in the East where it's often humid when it's hot.

I also have a pair of Kevlar jeans which are a tad sticky in hot, humid weather, but provide excellent protection.

I've got a nice pair of Held racing gloves with kangaroo leather and another pair of BMW summer gloves with mesh panels.

I won't go down the road @ 70 mph without full coverage gear, jacket, pants, gloves, and a full-face helmet like you have on in your pictures.

Harry