Holiday Gift Guide For Women Who Ride

Chronicles of a Motorcycle Gypsy is about a former track racer who embarks on a solo adventure across the continental United States with her makeshift retrofitted ADV bike (a Yamaha FZ-07) after suddenly losing her job and spiraling into a bit of an existential crisis. Tiffani Burkett is a candid and endearing writer who doesn’t shy away from the gritty, embarrassing, or beautiful details. Her story of self-discovery serves as both a potential travel guide and a vicarious escape from the routine of daily life.

Lone Rider: The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World is another incredible story about a young woman braving the challenges and embracing the joy of an epic solo ride in 1982 on a classic BMW R60/6. Elspeth Beard is funny, smart, and fearless. Her natural independence and ingenuity proves she can handle anything life throws at her; and on two wheels no less! Lone Rider is sure to bring a smile to the face of any female rider that gets a kick out of shocking patronizing old farts.

Have you ever noticed the lady rider in your life struggling to tame and detangle her hair after a ride? Maybe you’ve noticed her shoving the tail of a braid down the back of her jacket, only to see it flapping in the wind as soon as she rips on the throttle? One female-owned small business has designed a great solution for the helmet hair problem: The Diva-Do Helmet Liner. This simple and comfortable helmet liner design keeps hair wrapped and protected from the wind. The Diva-Do is adjustable and easy to use, and thanks to its seamless design, there won’t be any painful pressure points when worn under a properly snug helmet. This is the kind of thoughtful gift that shows you notice the little things… or at least pretend to.

In most places this time of year, it’s getting pretty cold. Thermal base layers are a great way to stay cozy without feeling too bulky under your riding gear. There are a lot of options out there for base layers, but I suggest Klim if you want to win some brownie points. This set of technical riding gear is designed to trap heat and stay dry. Klim’s new Solstice set comes in a few fun colors and patterns, so they may also double as a cute pair of (really fancy) pajamas on Christmas morning.

Cold and wet weather are not a deterrent to motorcyclists with the right gear. That being said, most winter gear is bulky and uncomfortable. Who likes riding in gloves that feel like oven mitts? Ergo, Rev’it has designed some excellent women’s waterproof thermal gloves that feel surprisingly lightweight and comfortable. The Hydra H2O gloves feature goatskin leather palms, putting them a notch above most textile gloves in abrasion resistance and tactile grip. Additionally, the palms allow you to feel your heated grips. (These gloves, combined with some heated grips would make a great gift.) The technical materials found in the Hydra H2O gloves include Rev’it’s abrasion-resistant PWR|shell 500D material, Temperfoam knuckle armor, a Hydratex waterproof Z-liner, touch screen fingertips, and Thinsulate G polar fleece to keep the fingers cozy. Note: these gloves are designed for urban riding, they are not CE-rated.

Is the lady rider on your shopping list on the short side? Get her a nice pair of heels. Heeled riding boots, that is! TCX Tourer Gore-Tex boots have a 1.25” wedge, giving her a little height advantage that will help her get some firm footing while riding her big, bad bike. These boots also have a Gore-Tex liner, so they’re guaranteed to keep her feet dry even in the crummiest riding conditions. Of course, they also include typical features of a real touring boot: reinforced toe and heel, ankle armor, shin plate, and shift pad. Plus grippy soles and an upper made from treated leather and Cordura. I have a feeling these TCX Tourer boots may just become her new favorite pair of shoes.

Ladies who are longing for female comradery and a good road trip will find exactly that in the annual Babes Ride Out events, hosted in four locations across the United States. Babes Ride Out events are becoming increasingly popular, welcoming all kinds of female riders to a one-of-a-kind motorcycle weekend getaway. The organizers plan food and drinks, fun group rides through the region’s best winding backroads, educational workshops, riding skill competitions, and a wild nightly campout with hundreds of other biker chicks. Bonus: If you’re a female motorcyclist shopping for your partner or best friend, this gift could be the perfect opportunity to make some fun memories together.

Babes Ride Out list of upcoming events:

Having done my first track days earlier this year, I can now attest to how awesome they truly are. Track days are pretty much the best thing ever. Nothing will improve her confidence or skills in riding more than a few hours on a closed course, surrounded by bike enthusiasts and the smell of petrol fumes. Give the lady rider in your life the gift of unbridled adrenaline. Better yet, introduce her to a bunch of other female track junkies at a women’s-only track day event! Here are a few organizations around the United States that host track days for women:

By the way, she’s going to need a tracksuit for her upcoming track day if she doesn’t already have one. If you feel like being extra generous this holiday season, you might pick up one of these Tech-Air airbag compatible race suits by Alpinestars. This particular suit fits better than most, comfortably hugging feminine silhouettes without sacrificing safety features.