From Pillion to Nervous Rider to Touring Europe- How I started riding motorcycles

Like many 'biker girls', I started bikelife as a pillion on the back of my husband. And then, one day, I lost my seat and found myself either needing to get my own bike- or missing out on amazing adventures. So I learnt to ride- although the road was NOT always smooth and I managed to freak myself out so badly that I didn't ride for nearly a year.
This is the story of how I went from a very nervous first-time rider in my mid-30s, to quitting my job & touring Europe on a motorcycle.
See how I quit my job to tour Europe here: • I quit my job to tour ...
If you don't already follow her, you can find Doodle on a Motorcycle's channel here: / doodleonamotorcycle
Thanks for watching!
Kat x
#motorcycle #female #touring #Europe #UK #bikerchick

[@DoodleOnAMotorcycle]

What an awesome story! :D Thanks for the mention :)

[@bikergirllife]

Don’t you be thanking me lady- I really appreciate your support. 💕💕

[@daveeccles7957]

Great story we are all connected by the love of two wheels and you see that connection on every ride, a nod, a wave or a 30 second chat at the traffic lights you only get that from biker to biker. Ride safe.

[@nealeburgess6756]

My mother had a Honda 50 Cub, which I used to ride around the garden. On my 16th birthday I rode it on the road, some of the time with her on the back. (No CBT in those days. At 16 you could ride up to a 250 on L plates, then after passing the test could ride any bike). A couple of months later my parents bought me a second-hand Suzuki 50 sports style bike. Which a week later I did a journey of 205 miles (to school for the term). Passed my test on that bike, full licence at 16. Now 66 years old. Bike 1998 BMW K75 (750cc triple). Done loads of adventures around Spain, France, Portugal and Morocco. Hoping to retire in the next few months and spend much more time biking. I hope my next trip will be to visit family in Scotland (I live in Spain). So glad to see your enthusiasm for biking. There is a biker cafe on the Ronda road near me. Great twisty road into the mountains that is very much loved by bikers. It is lovely to hang out there, and chat to all the other riders, many of whom are from different European countries. I think you and Mr WB would love it. It is a biker's paradise in the mountains around here.

[@bikergirllife]

That sounds amazing! We're hoping to do Spain during the winter if we can- although we'll need to come back again to do the mountains in summer :)

[@claire-janehawkins5883]

Hi Kat, fab video, i always watch your wandering bird videos as hubby and I have a motorhome which we travel to France in most years except last year and this year, dam covid. So thought i would check your biker channel out as i ride a Honda Shadow 750 and hubby rides a 1500 Gold Wing , we both love the motorhome and bikes. Can't wait to watch more of your bike videos. Stay safe and enjoy your travels.

[@seaninness334]

I like that concept of, "lost my seat". It seems to have multiple meanings. Anyway, Doodle sent me. Not sure if it was past, present or future Doodle. 😉 I first started on my cousins 70's era Honda 50cc dirt bike. It was great to learn the controls on an under powered bike in the dirt. The 50cc's grew tiresome in a day and my older brother and cousin were riding on their 75cc(?) dirt bike and wouldn't let me on my own (maybe it was a sibling denial thing?). Anyway, I was eager for more. A friend at home got a 90cc Honda(?) and when my middle brother turned 18, we pooled our money and got a Yamaha XT250... I loved that bike. Subscribed, btw. Best wishes with the channel.

[@bikergirllife]

Ha- all the Doodles are awesome. Great story- although aren’t siblings a pain 😂😬 Sounds like dirt biking have you a good start

[@seaninness334]

@@bikergirllife Yeah siblings are a pain. It was one of the few times we were on the same page. My oldest brother attempted to learn one day but he revved the engine, dropped the clutch and launched it into the garage door. Thankfully the damage was minor. My other brother and I were so mad. Put it this way, I get along with my sisters a lot better.

[@davewestsk8]

Doodle sent me, ive subscribed good luck. I like doing lots of different hobbies I've tryed all sorts, so about 8 years ago I tryed a motorbike taster session just fit a laugh . Was £20 and on a 125cc bike. I was grinning ear to ear afterwards, I immediately booked a direct access weeks course and bought a honda hornet 600 for my first bike. Didn't know anything about bikes either at this point.

[@bikergirllife]

Hey- thanks for saying hi. And that’s how you know you’re in the right place- if you’re grinning like a loon when you get off 😂😂

[@jpaulie2008]

I rode in high school, life happened and 30 years later, I actually got my license. It was a slow start, but my trips are getting longer and longer. I had a cruiser at first but then fell into my true love, a cheap little dual sport. Turning it into an adv touring machine a little at at time. I ride because I love to ride. Like you mentioned, everything feels more real and detailed riding a bike. Love you story, looking forward to hearing more. I am a Doodle fan too.

[@bikergirllife]

Cool story- and glad you found your love :) Sounds like an epic machine. Thanks for sharing.

[@awrebyawe]

Lovely video, sharing it with my gf whose at the beginning of her bike journey!

[@bikergirllife]

Awesome! Good for her- I hope she finds my story reassuring. ☺️

[@DoctorDJ1976]

hey hey greetings from Slovenia lovely video,lovely story :) i´m 45 and started riding last year, done my exam this year in May :) i have Honda CBF 600 SA (2011) , really love riding

[@bikergirllife]

Awesome! We visited Slovenia in 2019- beautiful country. Congratulations on your bike 👌

[@DoctorDJ1976]

@@bikergirllife wauu, nice Hope u will visit us again, let me know if so 😉

[@johncourt9580]

Hi Kat, I had a post from Doodle suggesting I check you out, and so glad I did. I love your story with the ups and downs. That was an unfortunate event, being overtaken by a rider with no respect for other riders, resulting in you not riding for over a year. You overcame your fears, and I see a wonderful future ahead of you. That's one beautiful Motorhome, and I'm looking forward to following your adventures.

[@bikergirllife]

Thank you very much- pleased you enjoyed it. Hoping for more adventures very soon!!

[@whskywolf]

Ok Doodle On A Motorcycle recommended you so thought check out your videos. I rode off and on now for past 35 years, recently got my first Harley a Road King Classic, majority of our roads here in Kentucky are twisties, but riding it becomes an addiction, just being in the wind and taking in all the scenery around you when out in the country. Have fun and be safe

[@bikergirllife]

Kentucky sounds like a fun place to ride! And I agree- total addiction. Thanks for saying hi 😊

[@billemond6695]

Hey Kat... I have followed Doodle since the begining and love her channel. She suggessed checking out your channel and here I am. Great start, I enjoyed leaning how you got started and hope you stick with it. Riding a motorcycle has been and is such a pleasure to me. I'll be following along to see your adventures, it's sure to be fun.

[@bikergirllife]

Thanks for coming to say hi. Appreciate the support 🙏

[@trailruntim]

Enjoyed your story. New subscriber here from North Carolina in the USA. Found you from Doodles suggestion. I'm a new rider, having just got my endorsement at the end of last year. I've ridden several different bikes since, but I've yet to purchase one.

[@bikergirllife]

Hi! How’s North Carolina at the moment?? You’re wise waiting- I think buying a bike so quickly was a mistake until I’d tried out some more and learned what I liked. Do you have your eye on one?

[@trailruntim]

@@bikergirllife our summer is winding down, but it's still hot. Right now I'm leaning towards a used Vstrom 650XT Adventure. Economical, reliable, good for touring, and able to do light offroading. We have fun winding roads in central and western NC. It would also be fun to explore the forest service roads of the Smoky Mountains.

[@Fee.1]

The trick with walking the bike is to find the balance point from front and center, side left, and side right. Like the course just stand there and get comfortable rocking it onto center of the tire and laying it back onto its side stand, when it’s on its balance point it’s weightless. You can also try what Carolyn does (she has a video on it) where she basically walks alongside it holding it up with her hip iirc

[@bikergirllife]

Thanks! I’ll try that and find her video 🙏

[@harveysmith552]

Good for you go girl!!

[@bikergirllife]

Thank you. Appreciate your support 🙏

[@Blujeans4eva89]

Hi, heard about you from Doodle! Love the video and your story. I'm a 31 year old fellow female rider, just started this year. I'm working on getting confident on the road right now by riding through local neighborhoods on my dual sport. Working on the courage to head out with more traffic soon! I love the part about you singing to help calm and direct your mind, I'm going to remember this and use it.

[@bikergirllife]

Hey!! Thanks so much for saying hi and sharing your story. Singing definitely helps me- I still do it all the time now (which is bad when I forget I have the intercom on with my husband-oops!) Let me know how it goes for you!

[@alanellis4107]

Great video, thanks for posting..Best wishes from Ireland V Star 1100

[@bikergirllife]

Thanks- glad you enjoyed it. Ireland has been on my bucket list for years- can’t wait until we get to explore it.

[@alanellis4107]

@@bikergirllife, It's a great place for biking...,I'm doing that right now..charity ride out yesterday and a stay over and a bit of exploration today!

[@RoadsOfOz]

It’s amazing the wheeling and dealing we do to get a motorcycle. I had an agreement with my fiancée that if she got to Hawaii before her 30th, I could get a bike. For our Honeymoon, we went to Hawaii.

[@bikergirllife]

😂😂😂😂😂 that made me laugh. What bike did you get??

[@RoadsOfOz]

@@bikergirllife 2001 Ducati 750SS. Have had quite a few different bikes since.

[@earlthepearl1241]

Loved this video Your authenticity shine through. I rode a little in my teens, the 35 years later I decided to buy a bike and ride again, Im at the point where you were when you freaked out. I don't have anyone to help me . Any tips ? Thanks

[@bikergirllife]

Absolutely! I’ll try and do a video with all my best tips to help you in the next couple of weeks, but most important is don’t give up! Most of us go through this- and you’ll definitely come out the other side.

[@johannacollins1130]

Hi. I live near Petersfield! Female biker too. I don't know female bikers and ride with hubby.

[@bikergirllife]

Awesome!! Do you ever go to Loomies?? Xx

[@johannacollins1130]

@@bikergirllife I tend to steer clear of loomies tbh as its always heaving !

[@michaelsweeney6596]

Great story I just got back from Sturgis and Yellowstone 15 days 5300 miles. I am thinking about Europe next year if I can find a good shipper. Where would you recommend I start trip and where should I go. Looking forward to hearing from you thanks. Ride safe and enjoy

[@bikergirllife]

Yellowstone has been a dream of mine for years- never thought about motorbiking through it. Is it easy to find campsites etc? And DEFINITELY come to Europe. I've heard that the UK is a good hub to ship in and out of and from there it's easy to get almost anywhere. Personally, I prefer the mountains, so I'd head for the Alps (France and up into Switzerland), then the Dolomites (you could also keep going up into Slovenia and the Vrsic Pass) and if you're feeling really ambitious head on up to Norway which is an AMAZING country but a long long ride! Let me know how it goes :)

[@michaelsweeney6596]

@@bikergirllife I will if you come to the US and Yellowstone here are some roads ( Beartoolh Highway and Chief Joseph byway ) google them or KZbin. Thank you for the heads up it will help alot. I watched your second video and enjoyed it also again thanks for the information

[@Clutch605]

I love riding and singing poorly in my helmet. Nothing quite like it.

[@bikergirllife]

So true! I do it all the time- just not when the camera is on 🙈🙈

[@Fee.1]

Yikes that’s a scary first ride I wouldn’t have liked that 😂

[@bikergirllife]

Yep- certainly was memorable!

[@racerdaveracerdave]

Under the Sea 😂👍

[@bikergirllife]

Goodness knows what my brain was thinking 🙈🙈🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️