Throw away the image of a woman in a leather jacket straddling a bike behind a man. More and more of those Harley-Davidsons zooming in-between our clogged Orange County lanes are driven by women.
Bold women who don’t care to have automobile shells between their bodies and the open road. Women who turn heads so much they have to be secure with the attention. “Look mom, a biker chick!” Wave. Wave.
Ray Malzo, owner of Orange County Harley-Davidson and Capistrano Harley-Davidson, sees a shift in perception. He notes that even 10 years ago there was a barrier for women walking into a Harley-Davidson dealership. “The environment was very macho,” he said. “In the old days, salesmen paid attention mostly to male customers. It used to be that when a woman walked into a store, we steered her to a small bike. Now a lot of them are going right to the larger bike. They are taking the riding courses, and they have a lot more confidence. The salesmen have learned not to be condescending.”
According to Malzo, women buy 17 percent of the Harley-Davidson market share in Orange County. These are women who can afford the $12,000 to $100,000 power-machines, and who prefer to ride alone.
Harley is not the only bike out there. Honda, Yamaha and Kawasaki also have cruiser and sport motorcycles that are growing in popularity.
After a Sunday fundraising ride, three motorcycles rest outside a Ruby’s Diner in Laguna Hills. Inside Stella Ledesma, 47, of Garden Grove talks about her perception of “the ride” with friends Lori McCammon of Mission Viejo and Tamlyn Kelsey of Laguna Hillls.
“We all get this alter-ego when we get on our bikes.” Ledesma said. “We feel bad!Like we’re out of the ordinary. When I was a little girl my parents wouldn’t buy me a bicycle because I was a girl. My brothers got bicycles and customized them and all. Now I ride a Harley!”
Ledesma struck out on her own 10 years ago. Her boyfriend rides occasionally and her children don’t ride at all. “I had children when I was young, and now I’m making up for it. I am not responsible for anyone but myself.”
On weekends Ledesma calls friends to ask,” What are you doing? Where are you at? Who are you with?” Often, on the other end of the line is Marci Kaptuikiewicz, 37, of Riverside. “We all have the same synergy. We’ve all got our problems, but when you get us all together — it doesn’t matter. When these women find themselves riding their own bikes, they start to have more self-esteem in other areas. ‘Wow, I have mastered this, and I can do this!'”
Ledesma brought Kathy Hurwitz 54, of Tustin, into the fold of women who ride by breaking her in on the road four years ago. Riding a Harley was Kurwitz’ top item on a list of things she wanted to do before she died. Today she is hooked on the feeling it inspires.
“I compare it to how I felt like when I saw my first concert. It was the Beatles in 1964 at the Cow Palace. I get the same feeling on the bike,” Kurwitz said. “It’s enormous. It’s powerful.”
The power rush is something McCammon feels, too.
“We are redefining the definition of what biker chicks are. It’s a high that nothing in the world can substitute. It’s as close to flying as you can get without leaving the ground.”
