I was reviewing some web stats on Google Analytics recently, and came across two articles that peaked my interest: “The Story of the VMAX” and “Birth of the XV1900.” Normally I’m not much of a tech guy, but our MC product manager John Bayliss does a wonderful job of taking readers through the stages of developing a bike (it’s not all done in Japan!) start to finish.
I’m trying to talk him into resurrecting these great articles with a new one on the history of the YZF-R1 …maybe you blog readers could help persuade him? Because my knowledge of motorcycles isn’t even comparable to that of a legend like Bayliss, I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking the reigns. However, I wouldn’t be against bringing you the story behind Yamaha’s YZF motocross machines …. if there were enough interest.
The big day is almost here … nope, I’m not referring to my birthday (May 31!) but International Female Ride Day! On May 7, women around the world will be riding their bikes, celebrating our great sport. It’s no secret that women and motorcycles are becoming a much more common sight on the tracks, trails and roadways.
In my personal experience with motocross racing, not long ago I could count the number of Ladies’ racers on my fingers and toes—now there are separate classes for beginners and experts and the CMRC has been running a National Women’s Championship since 2006!
As far as street bikes go, I’m sure everyone has noticed the increase of women on the road. I think it’s great. To me, there is nothing more fun than riding a two wheeler and men and women deserve to share the experience together. (In fact, Yamaha’s Facebook Photo Contest winner was a woman rider, Katrina Bryant, who owns an R1).
To be honest (not that I’d ever lie to you ), I didn’t know much about International Female Ride Day, so I called up someone who does, the founder and extreme motorcycle enthusiast, Vicki Gray.
Bike Blog: What’s your background with motorcycles and what is MOTORESS?
Vicki: My background includes 27 years of riding, licensed back in 1983. I decided to get into motorcycling because I grew up as sort of a thrill seeker/tomboy. I’d climb trees, build rafts and ride snowmobiles. I really had an interest in motorcycling, but it wasn’t until I moved to the East Coast of Canada and was very busy with a corporate career that I took the opportunity to take the training. I needed an outlet to get away from the stress of work. I tried sailing as well, it’s nice and calm, but didn’t give me that kick I found from motorcycling.
Tell us about MOTORESS.
It’s a one-stop shop for women and motorcycling. MOTORESS didn’t just come out of the air; it’s a take-off from a brand that I had in the community called RaceGirl Motorsport in Europe. In Canada, I did a lot of riding and teaching here, but in 1989, I left and went to the Caribbean. I lived there for six years and within a year I opened my own training school. So this whole journey of MOTORESS is stuff that happened in between.
I think what spurred it on was when I started racing in Europe in 1998. Again, it’s a guy’s world there, especially in racing. I decided to start a brand and community called RaceGirl, which encouraged women into motorsports and through the non-profit organization, I gave higher skills training. I gave lessons to men as well and held track days. I worked with TT Circuit Assen during MotoGP and World Superbike. I was constantly interviewed when these races were in town, and I always spoke of women and encouraging them to get into motorsports. All of that and my passion seemed to grow like crazy! It was only a hobby but RaceGirl started to get so big. I was working in the telecomm industry at that time, which was having its up and downs. I kept changing jobs and then sat down and made a business plan for MOTORESS. To be honest, all along I searched for a way to make my passion my livelihood.
Vicki raced throughout Europe, and in the first ever European Women’s Cup, supported by the renowned Ten Kate Honda Team.
Now, you’re the founder of International Female Ride Day. What goes into creating an official “day?”
It was an idea … as you can imagine, in 1983, I was a woman riding a motorcycle and there were many women before me, but even then, I was part of the very small number of women riding. Of course, we have challenges keeping it in our lives but we really do have so many women riders out there. In North America—in Europe it’s not such a phenomenon to see a woman on a bike—yet it still gets a lot of response. I thought if we introduced a day, where women would just get out there, we’d show everyone first hand how many of us there are! The day also promotes women in motorcycling. Women are role models in themselves, and they influence other women. You have younger and older women, on cruisers, sport bikes, dirt bikes and it’s so diverse, I thought this concept, synchronized would show other women how wonderful and fun it is.
What’s your take on where women and motorcycles are at now?
It’s really evolved, just like women have. Social values and choices have changed; women buy houses alone now. The whole role of women has changed. Women go exploring other stuff, like motorcycling. Some women are terrified of them [laughs], and I meet some men who are too. I think it’s how we are brought up; generally women are not pointed in the direction of more dangerous “deemed male” activities, like the guys.
What advice do you have for those women who are shy and nervous about riding bikes?
[Laughs] Things are not as they appear. You know, that whole illusion theory and perception-motorcycling looks intimidating but once you’re sitting on a bike, have some good lessons and skills under your belt, you’ll see the other side of motorcycling that catches us all; it’s the same for racing.
Favourite bike you’ve ever owned?
I don’t have one because I love them all! They all bring something different to the road. Obviously my Ten Kate Honda race bike was exceptional, and riding that thing, on my God! Even Honda Japan would come to see how they tune their bikes. I really love the Yamaha R6. When I teach at F.A.S.T. I often use that bike.
Where do you see women going in this sport? And what can dealers, manufacturers, anybody do to help promote women’s involvement?
I think you (the manufacturers/industry) are already doing it. You guys have ladies events, you have a great array of motorcycles that are available and you’re underlining these to women; the clothing is getting better. There isn’t much more to do, but it’s accepting the fact that women ride. For instance, when I see women at motorcycle shows, my mindset is that they are there because they ride. The goal of MOTORESS is to show women that motorcycling belongs in their life, and it should be placed higher on the priority list.
Unfortunately, for the average women, we have so much to juggle in our lives. There are big debates to that, but studies have proven, women, unlike men, can’t leave domestic duties alone for too long. After a day of work, arriving home, tending to say a partner, children, household demands … when all is said and done, if we have any time or energy remaining, what will receive the priority? With MOTORESS, we’re trying to bring it to an easier belonging, a lifestyle and make motorcycling that choice priority.
With that, what do you hope for International Female Ride Day, simply to get women on their bikes and ride?
Of course! There is so much going on around the world it’s unbelievable. I received an email from Cape Town, South Africa where women are organizing a ride day. Women riders just seem to take such pride in being a part of it. It’s awesome! This year, I even had to translate the logo into Hungarian so they could post it and use it. I would really like this to one day, similar to Mother’s Day, be recognized by the country as an official day.
Hey ladies (and guys) are you going to be out supporting In. Female Ride Day? If so, please comment and let us know! Feel free to share your bike of choice as well!
We’re gearing up for a big, long, warm Canadian summer, and we want to share it all with all you Bike Blog readers! We also want YOU to share your summer with us. Whether it’s a fun story, quote, photo, video, or anything else related to motorcycles and something our readers might enjoy, please send it to me (danny_brault@yamaha-motor.ca). We’ll get it posted!
This Blog is intended for you, so please, take some time and send us some ideas of blogs you want to read about. Want to know the inside scoop on the development of a certain bike? Ask an expert a question? Find some sweet riding places/roads? Hear stories from the road? Feel free to tell us what you want.
Needless to say, our customer relations team receives some “interesting” feedback from past, present and future Yamaha owners. It could be someone looking for general tech support, or someone is upset because the rear tire on their 1973 DT3 is already worn out … it’s never a boring job, that’s for sure.
More recently, one of our agents helped provide some tech specs to a then-and-now Yamaha rider named Lynn. As it turns out, Lynn endured some eerie coincidence on her new bike. (Looking at her pics, she’s also attained some wisdom in regards to proper riding gear )
Thanks for sending me the detailed tech specs for that DT200. I am comparing it to what I currently have, the WR250R, which was the bike that replaced the DT200. I never thought I’d be able to come close to replacing that beloved DT, and to be honest, when I bought the WR and was riding it home, I got goose bumps. Not because I was on a flashy new bike (well, that was kinda part of it) but because of the day and time I took possession. It’s REAL creepy.
I bought that old 1986 DT200 brand new in Penticton; I was 19 and had saved up from working a whole winter up at the ski hill in Kelowna. I absolutely LOVED that little bike. Roll forward to 11:30 AM, Oct 23, 1988. I wrote off my poor bike after an old lady failed to yield and decided to cut in between me and the truck in front of me. Bike was totaled. All I have left of that memory is a picture of me on it when I was camping at Christina Lake in the Kootenays.
I had always wanted to get another bike like the one I had. Life took me different places and I never got the chance to get another, even though I kept my eyes open for that year of bike. Nothing. I ended up with an old 1977 Honda XL 250 that was a heavy tank of a bike, and didn’t enjoy it near as much (I still have that old bike)…in fact it never even could be compared. I had numerous street bikes, the last one being a 1995 Suzuki RF600R. Stupidfast bike. It was a scream to ride, but every time I’d go past a trail off the road I’d want to explore it. NOT a good thing on a sportbike.
I then went onto the Yamaha site and saw the WR on there. I had looked at the WR250 years before, but because it wasn’t street legal I never took a second look. I read up on the R that others own, and the responses were incredible. A new bike, basically a dirt bike you can ride on the road rightout of the crate. I immediately thought of my old DT, and HAD to take a ride on one. I had to wait for a demo day in order for that to happen, but once I rode it, I was hooked. I felt I had finally found a replacement, even if the damned thing was so high I couldn’t touch the ground. That was in July, 2008. A month later I sold the 600.
Roll forward to Oct 23, 2009. I’ve got the paperwork in my hands, my gearon and anticipating my first ride on my brand new 09 WR250R. The salesman had managed to get in the very first ’09 in BC, right after the dealer demo that was held in Whistler, just for me. They hadn’t even been released to the public at that point, but he apparently knew someone and pulled a few strings. So at 11:30, I am on my new bike and riding down the highway. It was then that it hit me, and why I felt a cold shiver run the length of my spine. When I got home, I found the paperwork from the accident on the old DT. Check this out:
Oct 23, 1988 11:30 AM : 1986 Yamaha DT200S written off Oct 23, 2008 11:30 AM : 2009 Yamaha WR25R ridden off the showroom floor.
Last 2 numbers on the VIN are 23.
20 years later to the exact date and time, I have replaced something I never thought I ever would.
Sorry if I’ve bored you with this, but what you’ve done really means a lot to me. I’m going over the spec sheets for both bikes, and besides the difference of the DT being a 2-stroke, the two bikes are very similar in a lot of ways.
Again, I thank you for doing this for me. I’ve sent along some pics, just for comparison. One of me when I was on the old DT (well it was maybe 5 months old there), me on the new WR250R, and the WR after I went to work and modified it.
What do you think? Is this all coincidence? Or was Lynn meant to be back on a Yamaha dual sport?
THE QUESTION:
Hugh Hutner: I ride with a number of other riders on various brands of bikes, but one day, at the cafe, we notice that the five guys who ride the R1 are all left handed. The other day we had a woman rider on an R1 join the ride from one of our affiliated social groups, and she is left handed.
So we have ages ranging from 30 to 60, both genders, all different years of R1, ethnic backgrounds are german, malaysian, chinese, african, thai and russian jew (hey, this is Vancouver, eh) and occupations range from low tech to professional. So the question is: what is it about the R1 that makes it the choice of lefties?
THE ANSWER:
Bryan Hudgin: Hello Hugh!! Since I’m the PR specialist, customer service sent me your email and what a great message it was! It actually got me thinking about the people who work here. You guessed it, I’m also left handed. Both VP’s and the President are as well. There seems to be a disproportionate number of staff that I talked to that are left handed.
I’m thinking we can put this to the test on our Facebook page and the 2000+ Yamaha fans we have on there. If you have Facebook, look for us at http://www.facebook.com/YamahaMotorCanada. We’ll ask the question later today and see what kind of response we get. Something like, “Do Left-handers prefer Yamaha?” and we’ll point to your informal data as the catalyst.
As a side note, I did come across this while looking for the breakdown of handedness amongst general populations. It seems like the intelligent choice is Yamaha? Maybe it has something to do with right brained people preferring the colour blue? Maybe it’s because left handers are the only ones in their “right” minds? [laughs]. Have a great day, Hugh.
Two Pakistani researchers explored the effect of handedness on the intelligence level of students. The sample included an equal number of left-handed and right-handed students drawn from various universities in Pakistan, altogether 150 subjects. Subjects were assessed for both handedness and intelligence.
The researchers found no significant difference in intelligence between subjects from various educational levels, but they did find that left-handed subjects were significantly more intelligent than right-handed subjects. Results were published in the January 2007 Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology
Spring is here, let’s go riding! You know, I’m not a huge fan of the cold, bitter weather of Canadian winter, but it definitely makes me appreciate these warm, sunny days that much more. All I can think about is calling in sick, loading up the pickup with a YZ and heading out to Gopher Dunes…
On the topic of riding, OFTR’s KenHoeverman was in the office yesterday discussing the going-ons of trail riding in Ontario. Ken is a passionate, intelligent guy who has some really good ideas, many of which are already in action, to promote off-road riding throughout the province.
His main objective is answering the most simplest of questions for new (and even current) riders. Things like, Where can I ride? Do I need a license plate? Do I need insurance? Where can I learn how to ride? Furthering his proactive approach, Ken wrote these questions down on hang-tags, and has sent them to supporting dealerships to place onto bikes.
Makes sense … I’m buying a bike, now tell me where I can ride it. It’s not like it used to be; you can’t just fire up your bike and head out into the great unknown. Well, you can, but it’s not going to help the cause.
Insurance has been a longstanding battle for those wishing to hit the trails without spending a fortune. Fortunately, the wall is starting to crumble. Ken and his group have worked out a deal with Open Skies Insurance. Beginning May 1, 2010, Open Skies is offering a flat rate liability only insurance for trail plated bikes in Ontario. The rate is $160/year for non-members, and OFTR members receive a 25 percent discount on the premium. Not too bad, eh!
Stay tuned to their website, oftr.ca, for more details.
Noise (more sound = less ground), who to ride with, training facilities, current stats, and general trail riding responsibility was discussed as well. Probably the biggest hurdle that keeps us dirty dirt bike riders from gaining more ground, is the fact that we’re still looked upon as “bad.” We’re no good. Our bikes our loud, we kick up dust and promote chaos everywhere we go. I don’t mind being considered a badass (chicks dig it!) but this “dirt bikers are bad guys” has got to stop.
Most of those on the trail are reasonable, approachable people, and it’s usually families and kids looking to enjoy our land. Our tainted image won’t be removed overnight, but if we work together, and support clubs and organizations who are taking on “the man,” we’ll get there.
I’m more of a track than trail rider, so my knowledge of trail riding is limited. But I am working on making contact with other regions in Canada, and will do my best to bring the pertinent info to you guys and girls here. Darryl Copithorne of Alberta Society of Off-road Motorcyclists (ASORM) touched base with me today, and appears to be trying to create some structure in his region. I’ve also shared some conversations with Scott Josey, who works with the Nova Scotia Off-Road Riders Association (NSORRA). Those guys should be able to answer any questions in their respective regions.
If you have any suggestions of places to ride, that won’t cause a fuss, feel free to share them with us. Or if you have ideas that could help bring new light to off-road riding, share them also.
The Annual Polk County SnowBlow Championships are just around the corner, and brothers Dougie and Donny are struggling with unreliable machinery and very limited mechanical skills (and tools). What are they to do? They must keep Grandpa Sparky’s legend alive … but how??
Spam. For desk-jockeys, is there anything more annoying than your inbox overflowing with spam emails each morning? They keep telling me I’m too fat, too small, too short, or that I need to send money to some dude in Russia, and for that he’ll award me a million bucks in his will. And if it’s not that, it’s my colleagues forwarding me the latest Newfie or in-law jokes….
Ouch.
Oddly enough, today I received some spam that was actually relevant to motorsports. It’s from LIFE.com, a link to a gallery of rare and unpublished photos from the 1948 Daytona 200.
If you’re a racing fan, or even someone who appreciates good photography, I suggest you take a few minutes and flip through the images.
That’s it … just thought I’d share.
If you have some old school pics of your own, feel free to send them over, we’ll take a boo and post some here on the Blog. Thanks!
I’m guessing for all you scooter folk out there, things are a little slow right now. Between the snow and cold temps, it’s probably not quite as thrilling cruising the streets (or rural roads). I definitely give props to those brave souls who are enjoying the odd “brisk” ride …..
Our “My Yamaha Photo Contest” is well underway, with submissions coming in from all over Canada, and in reference to nearly every one of our product lines … still missing some sweet pics of sporty sport boats though.
For those of you who don’t know, the Photo Contest is being run on our Facebook page. It’s easy to enter; all you need to do is become a fan of our page, upload some sweet pics and hit “submit now” on the Contest page …
), I didn’t know much about International Female Ride Day, so I called up someone who does, the founder and extreme motorcycle enthusiast, Vicki Gray.
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