More women bikers change the face of motorcycling

When Barb Zeigler of Reno began riding motorcycles on the streets of Los Angeles 33 years ago, few women held the handlebars. The female's job was to sit behind the male who drove.

"Back in those days, when a woman rode a motorcycle, it was looked down upon," Zeigler said. "I was called a lesbian. I was called all kinds of stuff."

What does Zeigler call herself today? "Motorcycle grandmama," the 55-year-old Zeigler said.

Women now account for 10 percent of motorcycle sales nationally, an increase of 36 percent since 1998 and are the fastest growing segment of the motorcycle buying population, according to a June 23 article in the Dallas Morning News.

Debbie Groves, 51, of Gridley, Calif., drove her 1989 Harley-Davidson Heritage Soft Tail to this year's Street Vibrations and thinks there are more women riders this year than last year. Same thing at the big motorcycle rally in Sturgis, S.D., earlier this year.
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Motorcycle collision with horse results in Avery man’s death

A man was killed early Saturday and a woman was taken to a Texarkana hospital after the motorcycle they were riding hit a horse near DeKalb, Texas, authorities said.
The accident happened just after 12:30 a.m. Saturday on Farm to Market Road 1701 and County Road 4357.
Billy Charles Murphy, 56, of Avery, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene by Justice of the Peace Gerrold Rankin.
Sharon Kay Berry, 45, his passenger, was taken to CHRISTUS St. Michael Hospital and was listed in stable condition Saturday afternoon.
Murphy was driving a 1999 Harley Davidson motorcycle north on FM 1701 and collided with a horse that was in the middle of the northbound lane. The horse was struck broadside and both the driver and passenger were ejected.
The accident was investigated by Department of Public Safety Trooper Keith Lang.
The horse’s condition was unknown.
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Mitch takes to the road

As the sun set on Thursday night the throbbing growl of a big bike cut in over the noise of homeward-bound traffic on Racecourse Road.
In front of a crowd of biker mates, Mitch Van Der Krogt pulled out on a gleaming gold customised Harley chopper, aptly named Export Gold.
Mitch, who builds houses for a living and choppers for a hobby, has spent 12 months on his latest project, starting from scratch with a basic 80 cubic inch, 1340cc Harley-Davidson, the beefed up bike now runs on a 114 cubic inch, 1700cc motor, complemented by a six-speed gearbox and gear drive, a high-tech digital speedo and numerous other features.
Everything about the bike reflects Mitch’s perfectionism and his attention to detail, from the chain guard and disks featuring laser cut X symbols, to the personalised plate – Export of course.
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