Motorcycles have often been seen as symbols of manliness and strength; a domain of the strong, independent and wilful. But 15 years into the new millennium, these old-fashioned ideals have begun to crumble, paving way for a more equal, and more importantly, more interesting world. In a time when equality of the sexes is still not given the due it deserves, some bold women have taken the small step up from being satisfied with peppy little scooters to taming larger, heavier machines with the same ease as their male counterparts.
For Zarine Jamshedji, who runs an eponymous architecture firm at Kakkanad, the decision to ride a motorcycle was a functional one. “I started riding in Pune when I was 18, because bikes are fuel efficient and also fast,” she says, adding that while she has shocked people and even been chased on occasion, she finds it fun to see girls get excited when they see her ride. “I think a lot of women who ride two wheelers don’t make the step up to motorcycles because they think they are difficult to handle. In reality, they are easy, much more comfortable, and safer,” says Zarine, who rides a 125cc Honda.
Vidya Lakshmi, on the other hand, always had a passion for motorcycles, which she finally indulged in after her marriage two years ago. “I told my husband about my interest and he was game, and helped me learn how to ride,” says the 26-year-old who has worked as a customer relations manager with Harley Davidson in the city, and on more than one occasion mounted the big American machines to take them for a spin. “Once I started riding, I bought a Hero Karizma and use that for my daily commute. And while people don’t often notice me on the road because I dress in jeans and shirts, the ones who do are very appreciative,” she says.
Much like Vidya’s husband, the entry of more women into the biking fraternity is being met with enthusiasm by men. A glance through the forums on the Royal Enfield website has a couple of female riders asking for advice on which model to purchase, with the responses ranging from congratulatory to explanatory, guiding them towards the perfect buy to suit their requirements.
While on the topic of the Royal Enfield, anyone who travels the roads of Kochi is likely to have come across the rider fondly referred to as the ‘Madam on the Bullet’. Penny Marie Boudreaux, an American social worker who has lived in Kochi for the past 15 years, is often seen traversing the roads of the city on one of her three Royal Enfield motorcycles. “I often joke that any of my friends who come to Kochi can just ask traffic policemen which way the ‘Madam on the Bullet’ went and they’d be able to give them my location,” says Penny, who took to riding at a young age because cars gave her motion sickness. “It’s been fun riding here, as guys are fascinated and girls are encouraged, and everyone wants to take pictures with me. I have also developed friendships with a number of clubs and am planning to do an all Kerala ride to commemorate 15 years in Kerala and later a cross-country ride to celebrate 20 years in India,” says Penny, who came to India in 1994 and just added a 2014 500cc Royal Enfield to her motorcycle collection. “People asked me why I want such a big-engined motorcycle which would not return spectacular mileage but I always say when you want to ride, petrol is not an issue, you just fill up and ride,” she laughs.
Apart from riding, Zarine admits she also enjoys the technical side of things, having often done oil changes on her bike and candidly explains how some of the most expensive motorcycles available in the country are not as well engineered as one would expect. It is a similar level of technical expertise one witnesses when visiting JR & Sons, a spare parts store for Royal Enfield motorcycles, which is managed by women. “There are five women here and eight more at the wholesale warehouse, and we know all the parts on the motorcycles our customers bring. Sometimes we even diagnose problems and give them the necessary parts to take to mechanics who are grateful we make their job easier,” says Philomina George, one of the employees at the store. She admits that at first, they did make mistakes, but an interest in their work has led to all the women being proficient at what they do. While she has not taken the step to riding these big machines, and prefers her automatic two-wheeler, Philomina is proud of the women who do. “We should prove that we can do anything, and not depend on men. Nowadays, women are taking the lead in all fields, and that is good to see.”
These are just a few of the women who break through barriers unconsciously created over centuries, and show others that many tasks deemed unsuited for the fairer sex are often misconceptions. Here’s hoping there will be a lot more of them on the streets soon, kicking engines to life and shifting the gears of empowerment.
