Harley Sportster XL 1200

by Christine Aleta
(Buffalo, New York)

I love my Sportster 1200. I learned on a Rebel, passed my MSF test and have been riding my Sporty since then. The MSF instructor told me that a Sportster was the wrong bike for a woman as it is too top heavy but I don't notice it. At any rate, I've learned to ride it and feel comfortable with it and I won't be trading it in anytime soon. I just invested in some $800 saddlebags for it, so that's another reason I will hang on to it. I take it to work during the week and around town on the weekends.

People STILL do double-takes when they see a woman riding...at least around my area. I've gotten used to that and feel proud to BE a woman rider! I hope I am an inspiration to other women who see me riding and want to try it. I know that when I saw other women riding, I was in awe and finally decided to go for it. It was not easy! I got politely asked to leave the first MSF range because I had no idea what I was doing!!! Then, went back and failed the test (went over a cone) but finally passed it the second time! I refused to give up and am glad I didn't.

Moral of this story: IF you REALLY want to ride, you can do it. Just do NOT give up. It takes some people longer to learn, especially if you've never ridden any type of motorized bike. Give yourself the necessary time YOU need to learn. Forget about the others who ace their test the first time around. This is not about them, this is about YOU and YOU want to ride! I am proof that anyone can be a rider if they have a strong desire to learn.