International Women’s Day 2024: Inspire Inclusion X Bryony Martin

Early Years

Growing up, motorcycles did not play a particularly significant role in my life. At five years old, my father bid farewell to his Harley Davidson, trading it for a 1942 Chevrolet Dump Truck, and my mother had not ridden since before I was born. Family holidays centered around vintage events like War and Peace Revival and The Great Dorset Steam Fair. As a family, we would exhibit vehicles that my father had restored

In the midst of these experiences, joyrides in a 1942 Ford GPW Jeep emerged as one of the highlights of my teenage years. Navigating the back fields provided an unparalleled sense of freedom. Hours were spent with my brothers, sneakily exploring, searching for mud, and testing the limits of our driving skills. In many ways, a Jeep became the closest thing to a motorcycle for our family of five.

We saw lots of other children riding around on quad bikes, which looked like an immense amount of fun. After many years of asking, my parents finally wore down, and my brothers and I came downstairs to find two grinning parents and a 1952 vintage motorcycle in the living room. The feeling that I had loved so much from driving the Jeep was translated so well in to riding this motorcycle, and I took my CBT so that I could work towards my full license. The four years that followed were spent at University, where I had neither the time nor the money to pursue riding any further, and truthfully it just wasn’t at the top of my list, it wasn’t until I graduated in 2020 that that changed.

A Return to Two Wheels: Rediscovering the Joy of Riding

Relocating with my partner Alex to Kent during the first lockdown presented an opportunity for rediscovery. Alex’s riding explorations around Kent inspired me to reclaim my expired CBT. Refusing to slap standard plastic L plates on my almost 70-year-old bike, Alex and I spent a day in his workshop crafting metal plates from scratch. These plates, now proudly displayed on the wall at home, serve as a testament to that memorable time.

Summer weekends saw us exploring the picturesque Kent countryside on our old bikes, a tradition that continued even through the winter (being careful to clean the salt). As I settled into my role as a Management Consultant, the solitude of working from home nudged me towards a creative outlet. Thus, a second Instagram account dedicated to motorcycle photos was born, in the hopes that it would be a source of inspiration for new adventures, act as a creative outlet, and a gateway to a community of like-minded enthusiasts.

From A2 to Full License: Embracing Classic Motorcycles

At 22, I obtained my A2 license, marking the beginning of a two-year journey through various bikes, including those featured on The Classic Motorcycle Channel. Classic motorcycles, despite their charm, can feel very inaccessible to those who are younger or starting out due to increased maintenance needs and the absence of modern safety features. They require more time and effort, but to many of us, the reward is so much greater. As a presenter on The Classic Motorcycle Channel, my goal is to break down these barriers, showcasing that a love for classic motorcycles spans generations and genders. The positive responses from viewers, inspired to embark on their riding journeys or try specific bikes after watching my videos, reinforce the importance of representation.

Since owning my first bike, I have always done all of the maintenance myself; learning from 70 year old manuals, questions on Facebook groups, and asking Alex for advice. Alex is an aircraft engineer, restoring, maintaining and flying Warbirds at The Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar. He has plenty of experience with engineering that my own job hasn’t afforded me, so I’m grateful that he has been able to share so much wisdom on how to keep my bikes thriving. We have spent many wonderful weekends in the workshop, each working on our own classic bikes and enjoying the playlist of whoever won the rock, paper scissors.

The Commando 961 SP Adventure: Conquering the Great Mally Mountain Rally

In the summer of 2023, just before turning 25, I obtained my full A license, opening doors to testing a plethora of bikes for The Classic Motorcycle Channel. Soon after, I embraced the challenge of The Great Mally Mountain Rally – a 1500-mile adventure through six countries in six days. I arrived in Innsbruck, Austria, and was greeted for the first time by the motorcycle that I would spend the next week on. The Norton Commando 961 SP is an incredibly iconic machine, and I was full of excitement (and nerves) at what we might encounter together. We were blessed with the most gorgeous weather, and the Rally covered a beautiful curation of roads that allowed the Commando to shine. I had held my unrestricted license for three months and one day, and prepared very little more for the trip than buying some waterproof socks and a Quad Lock.

On the second riding day of the trip, we took on Stelvio Pass; 48 consecutive switchbacks ascending over 9000ft through the Italian mountains. Halfway up, I came face to face with a car on the inside of a right-hand bend. With the incline of the mountain, my foot wasn’t greeted by the road when I placed it down, and the bike landed on its side. As I came off, my legs went back over my head and I backward rolled down the road of the mountain. Two other motorcyclists kindly stopped to help me pick up the bike, and I pocketed the inch of brake lever that wore the main scar of the fall. I was full of adrenaline, boiling hot from the sun, and trying not to picture that around every switchback corner would be another car on the wrong side of the road. I got straight back on, focused on heading for the top of the mountain and an ice cold Orangina, taking the road one corner at a time. When I reached the summit, I was shaking with adrenaline and couldn’t believe what I’d achieved. The moment looking out across the top of the of the mountain is one that played in my mind a lot over the rest of that week, reminding me what I was capable of. I’m sure that moment is something that I’ll never forget.

The whole week spent riding the Commando 961 was an incredible adventure; the Malle ethos of using inappropriate motorcycles rather than a traditional tourer made for a completely unique experience. The Commando 961 feels the most like a classic motorcycle of any modern classic that I have ever ridden, which makes it a truly special bike.

Sharing my love for the Commando online and in person sparked a wave of inspiration, witnessing others express interest in trying the bike or participating in the rally. Particularly heartening was the growing number of women eyeing the Rally, breaking stereotypes about what they believed was for them.

Breaking Stereotypes: Empowering Women in the Motorcycling Community

Entering the motorcycling world as a young adult proved both challenging and pleasantly surprising. It is certainly a space that has been traditionally dominated by men; but as is the vintage automotive scene. As a teenager, I was also a Steam Traction Engine apprentice, and that was another space that certainly had far fewer women. It can often feel as though there are more barriers to entry for a space that is not filled with other people that you can closely identify with. Everyone’s opportunities for being able to find and access these spaces will be different, and I was fortunate to be in a position where I was introduced to motorcycles through my family. I enjoyed motorcycles in isolation, but I didn’t quite feel like I fitted in to the community to begin with. Through Instagram, I was able to find so many likeminded people who loved bikes, and with that network I’ve been able to find my place in the community. Seeking out those supportive, likeminded, interesting people would be my key piece of advice for young women looking to enter the world of motorcycling. It is easy to see the vocal minority who speak disparagingly about women in this space and take it to heart, and being surrounded by the right people will be the continued reminder that those aren’t the opinions that matter. There are so many cool people in the motorcycle community, and far more of those are women doing amazing things than I realised. I’m inspired so much by the people who share the ‘get out there and do it mindset’.

Inspiring Inclusion in Motorcycling

In the motorcycle community, I’ve come across persistent stereotypes. Instances where strangers attempted to take control of my bike, kick-start it, and explicitly stated that certain aspects of riding aren’t suitable for women are unfortunately not uncommon. The lack of acknowledgment or discussion about these experiences is notable, and I’ve never witnessed a man having his handlebars seized by a presumptuous stranger. Women should not endure such instances, and it’s exhausting to repeatedly address them. It’s imperative for our community to collectively confront and eradicate these damaging stereotypes, fostering an inclusive environment that rejects narrow-minded perceptions and ensures everyone feels welcomed in our wonderful community.