Women on motorbikes are increasingly making their mark on the travel scene. With a good dose of adventure spirit, they explore remote places, overcome borders and inspire others to realise their dreams on two wheels. Whether travelling solo or in a group, women today are showing that travelling by motorbike is not just for men.
Text: Andreas Hülsmann; Photos: Motorbike women, Benedikt Reiwald
The first circumnavigation of the globe by a woman on a motorbike took place more than half a century ago. In the early 1970s, Anne-France Dautheville set off on a Kawasaki 125 to circumnavigate the globe. At the time, the adventurer was not only one of the few women to ride a motorbike, her trip around the world also made her an absolute exotic. This picture has changed, and for some years now the proportion of women riding motorbikes has been increasing, with the market share of motorbikes registered to women currently standing at more than 11 per cent.
ANNIKA GRAMLICH
AGE: 38
OCCUPATION: Marketing consultant, Founder of SHE Rides
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since I was 30 years old
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? Royal Enfield Classic 500
ONLINE-CONTACT: www.sherides.de
There is no doubt that the picture in the motorbike scene has changed significantly since the turn of the century. Whereas men used to dominate the scene, today a we see a diverse and growing community of women who use the motorbike as a means of freedom and adventure. Particularly in the travel scene, motorcycling women have become an inspiring force, opening up new ways of travelling.
CLAUDIA COURTIN
AGE: 43
OCCUPATION: Public sector employee, mental trainer
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 2003
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? Yamaha Tracer 700
ONLINE-CONTACT: www.facebook.com
But what's the difference? Do women have a different perspective when they go on tour by motorbike? ‘Absolutely, unfortunately only a few girls dare to travel the world on a motorbike, especially if the tour takes them off the tarmac,’ explains Nina Spitz-Boneberger. Annika Gramlich believes that this view has less to do with gender-specific differences: ‘It has much more to do with the different types of travellers. From my experience, however, I know that the atmosphere is important to women and the issue of safety also plays a greater role.’ Claudia Courtin has a different view on this topic: ‘The different perspective starts with sanitary things and ends with the procurement of food. I try to incorporate everything that I'm not so good at myself, such as repairs, into the planning.’ One aspect that should not be underestimated ‘on the road’ is safety, an important point when travelling.
MARGAUX NYCZ
AGE: 28
OCCUPATION: Product manager at Touratech
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 2020
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? BMW R 1150 GS and BMW R 1250 GS
Is there a higher risk potential for women travelling in different countries? The opposite seems to be the case. ‘People in very different countries have always met me with respect, friendliness and helpfulness,’ says Judith Seeberger, describing her experiences. Perhaps because of her age, Judith says, people are often surprised that she is travelling on a motorbike. Margaux Nycz has also had nothing but positive experiences when travelling: ‘Before my trip to Morocco, many people told me to hide my long hair under my motorbike jacket. Instead, it always fluttered in the wind on the entire tour, and there were never any problems.’ Dunja Schneider has also had positive experiences on her trips: ‘So far, I've only travelled in Europe, but I've never had any problems whatsoever.’
DUNJA SCHNEIDER
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: M.A. International Sales and Order at Touratech
SINCE WHEN HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 2020
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? Kawasaki ER-6n
NADINE KRAN
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: Media designer at Touratech
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 2022
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? Yamaha Ténéré 700
But safety is just one reason why women like travelling in company. You also have to like travelling alone. And many women like travelling in pairs or in a group for a variety of reasons. ‘I've only ever travelled with a companion,’ explains Nadine Kran. That way you can support each other, says the 23-year-old media designer, if something doesn't work out. But she could also imagine travelling solo. Judith Seeberger has no problem travelling solo. She likes to be ‘alone with herself’ when she's travelling: ‘It has the advantage of being able to do what you want at any time’. Travelling together has the advantage of sharing experiences, as Margaux Nycz, who goes on tour with her partner, sees it. Both see themselves as a team ‘on the road’.
JUDITH SEEBERGER
AGE: 56
OCCUPTION: Tourism sector, Motorbike-tour-guide
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 1990
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? Suzuki DRZ 400 and Royal Enfield Interceptor 650
ONLINE-CONTACT: www.judytravels.com
The fact that motorcycling is no longer a gender issue is shown by the reactions of men who meet women who also take longer trips on their motorbike. ‘Die-hard riders think it's great when more and more women get on their motorbike and set off,’ is Nadine Kran's experience. Silly remarks about women riding motorbikes, which used to be common, are now a thing of the past. This is also confirmed by the other female riders that Travel Time interviewed on this topic.
JULIE HAUSER
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: Business economist for logistics
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? Since 2020
Current motorbike? Honda Africa Twin and Honda XR 600 R
ONLINE-CONTACT: www.instagram.com/jhhjulie
What makes women want to go travelling by motorbike? Do they have other priorities or, as with many men, is the idea of adventure the driving force? For Annika Gramlich, very pragmatic reasons initially took priority: ‘I didn't have a car for a long time, so I had no choice but to get on my motorbike if I wanted to go somewhere. At some point, this necessity turned into an adventure.’ Claudia Courtin had a completely different motivation: ‘For me, it was the pure desire for new experiences and the wish to make new friends and discover new places far away from the motorway.’
NINA SPITZ-BONEBERGER
AGE: 37
OOCUPATION: Commercial clerk at Enduro Reise & Training
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN RIDING MOTORCYCLES? For more than 20 years
CURRENT MOTORCYCLE? BMW R 1250 GS
ONLINE-CONTACT: www.enduro-reise-training.de
What is certain today is that more and more women are discovering the fun of owning their own motorbike and taking their bike on tour. It doesn't matter whether it's a solo trip at the weekend, an organised tour or a big trip around the globe. Travelling by motorbike is an opportunity to discover the world in a completely new way. According to Nina Spitz-Boneberger, it is important to gain your own experience while travelling. And she urges women travelling by motorbike: ‘Go out and see the world!’
