Famous women motorcyclists: 10 pioneers who made history
They still say motorcycling is a guy thing? Wrong. For 100 years, women have ridden, crossed continents and won races. They paved the road for you. From the first aviator-biker to the Hollywood star, discover those who will inspire your next road trip. And how to follow their tracks with rydrway.
Table of contents
- The pioneers who dared to ride when it was forbidden
- The adventurers who rode around the world
- Pop culture icons: when stars ride motorcycles
- The champions winning in racing
- How to plan this itinerary on rydrway?
The pioneers who dared to ride when it was forbidden
They didn’t ask for permission. They grabbed the handlebars.
The first woman in history to shine as both aviator and pioneer biker is Belgian Hélène Dutrieu. Nicknamed “The Human Arrow”, she marked the turn of the 20th century with extraordinary feats on two wheels and then in the air.
Elspeth Beard, first English woman around the world (1982-1984). 55,000 km alone on a BMW R60/6. No GPS, no sponsor. Sleeps in a tent, repairs alone. Her book “Lone Rider” is the bible for solo female riders.
Dorothy “Dot” Robinson (1912-1999). American, co-founder of the Motor Maids in 1940. First women’s motorcycle club in the US. She won endurance races in the 1930s when women didn’t even have the right to vote in some states.
Anne-France Dautheville (1944-2025). French legend. First woman to ride around the world in 1973 on a Moto Guzzi 750. 20,000 km alone. Journalist, author of “Et j’ai suivi le vent”. She proved you could be a biker, free and intellectual.
Without them, no women’s motorcycle road trip today.
rydrway Tip : Want to ride mythical routes? Ask the AI or get inspired by routes shared by the rydrway community.
The adventurers who rode around the world
Long distance is no longer just for men. These women live on the road.
Elspeth Beard we mentioned, but also Lois Pryce. British, she crosses Africa North to South (20,000 km) then North to South America. Alone, on a small Yamaha XT 225. Her strength? Traveling light and meeting people.
Lea Rieck. German, ex-TV presenter. Quits everything at 30 for 18 months around the world. 90,000 km, 42 countries on a Triumph Tiger 800. Her mantra: “You don’t need to be a mechanic, you need to dare to ask for help”.
On Her Bike – Kinga Tanajewska. Polish-Australian. Over 150,000 km alone around the world since 2017. She documents everything on YouTube. She shows real biker life: mud, breakdowns, incredible encounters.
Their common point: they ride with little luggage, lots of curiosity and a flexible itinerary.
rydrway Tip : Prepare your Europe tour like a pro on rydrway. Set “Avoid highways” to favor small scenic roads and enable “Viewpoints” in Points of Interest to not miss anything.
Pop culture icons: when stars ride motorcycles
The woman biker in movies is not just fantasy. These are women who really ride.
Angelina Jolie. Passionate for 20 years. She rides BMW F650GS, MV Agusta. She learned to ride for Tomb Raider and never stopped. She takes her kids on the bike.
Katee Sackhoff (Starbuck in Battlestar Galactica). Hardcore biker. She owns several Harleys and Triumphs. She says biking helped her rebuild after cancer.
Singer Pink rides a custom Triumph Bonneville and Harley Low Rider S. She rides to the studio.
Mathilde Seigner, regularly seen on Harley Davidson. Not to pose. To ride.
Why does it matter? They normalize the image of the woman biker. Strong, elegant, independent. No need for tight leather to exist.
rydrway Tip : Fan of neo-retro style like Pink or Mathilde? Ask for “most beautiful photo spot roads” in your region on rydrway. The AI pulls the most instagrammable roads.
The champions winning in racing
On track too, they crush it.
Maria Costello MBE. British. Only woman with a podium at Isle of Man TT in solo category. 40 years racing, 3 world speed records. She still rides.
Ana Carrasco. Spanish. First woman world champion in motorcycle speed. World Supersport 300 title in 2018. She beats guys fair and square, on braking.
Laia Sanz. 14 world trial champion titles, 6 Dakar finished on bike. Catalan, nicknamed “La Reina del Dakar”. A machine.
In France, Amandine Creusot and Audrey Rossat. Enduro and trial. They win French championship scratch heats, not just women’s.
These champions prove one thing: technique beats strength.
rydrway Tip : Take inspiration from their precision. On rydrway, enable “Winding roads”. The app analyzes twistiness and builds you a route with many curves.
How to plan this itinerary on rydrway?
Want to follow Anne-France Dautheville’s routes or prepare your own tour like Lea Rieck? Don’t spend 5 hours on Google Maps.
Step 1: On rydrway.com, click “+ New” to create a road trip.
Step 2: Ask the AI to trace the legend. Select your number of days and mileage per day then type your intention: “panoramic itinerary like Elspeth Beard, small roads, 200 km/day max, nature spots”. rydrway generates a route with stages, real ride time and elevation.
Step 3: Validate, export GPX, share with friends. The route works offline, no forced highway. You ride free, like them.
rydrway Tip : Save your road trip as “Legendary Women Riders Collection” on your rydrway profile. You create your own inspiration map to share.
FAQ
Who was the first woman to ride around the world?
It’s Anne-France Dautheville in 1973, first woman to complete a solo round-the-world on a motorcycle. Elspeth Beard is the first English woman to do it in 1982-1984 with a much more documented story.
What bike to choose when you are a woman beginner?
Go for a low and light bike: Yamaha MT-07, Honda CB500X, Royal Enfield 650, BMW G 310 GS. Seat under 800 mm, weight under 210 kg, range 250 km. Most important is to touch the ground and be comfortable at a stop.
Are there women biker communities?
Yes, and very active. Motor Maids, WIMA (Women’s International Motorcycle Association), The Litas, Petrolettes… They organize beginner rides, road trip weekends and 100% women mechanic workshops.
Conclusion
From Dorothy Robinson in 1940 to world champion Ana Carrasco, women bikers never waited for the road to be opened. They paved it. Your turn has come.
Want to ride like them? Start with a route made for you.
