Sophie Young, Paulina Jaskulska, Sara Montalvao and Magda Piotrowska on their own bikes (00690776). Picture by Jon Guegan

MAY is ladies’ month at Motorama, and the guys in Great Union Road are running special promotions to encourage more girls to get out on two wheels.

Co-owner Roger Barons said that they had put together a display of ten scooters and bikes that were perfect for ladies. The machines come in a wrange of colours – including pink for all the Barbie girls.

Roger explained that they also had a comprehensive range of clothing and helmets in girls’ sizes, colours and styles.

‘These bikes are great for girls who might have shorter legs and don’t want a very heavy machine,’ he explained. ‘We are also giving away a free jacket, gloves and helmet to first-time riders who buy bikes.’

Motorama also hire to those who don’t want to make the commitment of buying a bike before they get their compulsory basic training certificate. Hiring a bike costs £51, but that is given back if you later buy a bike.

‘It’s all about giving people the confidence to come forward and give bikes a go,’ said Roger.
To help launch the initiative, Roger asked some of his female customers to come down and explain why they love biking. Paulina Jaskulska (29), who works as a project officer for lawyers Mourant, has been riding her latest bike, a Yamaha R6, for around a year.

‘I just love the speed, but not going too crazy in Jersey,’ she said. ‘Also, because I’m a girl, the bike must look good. Guys give you respect for being able to handle a big machine.’

Paulina has taken her time to graduate to a big bike because she feels it is important to develop good road sense and trespect the power of bigger machines. She started out on a Honda CBR.

‘It is probably not a good idea for younger people to have big bikes, to be honest,’ she said. ‘You have to have big respect for bigger machines before you get on one, so I’m a big fan of the long waiting time between starting on a 50 and moving up to a big machine.’

Paulina added that she generally got a very positive response from both guys and other girls when they found out she rode a big bike.

Sara Montalvao (24), a support worker, rides a street-fighter-styled Yamaha XJ6. ‘I’ve been riding bikes on the road legally since I was 16 and not legally since I was 11 back in Portugal,’ she admitted. ‘My uncle had a scooter in Portugal and I learned to ride on that.’

She got her first 125 at 16 and has never lost the bug. ‘I think people admire a girl on a bike, especially the men,’ she said. ‘They admire a girl who rides a big bike. They find it pretty sexy – depending on what you’re wearing!

‘I would like to see more women riding. It is more competition for the men, but I think women ride less aggressively than men. I do enjoy riding, but I am very, very careful.’

Magda Piotrowska (28), who works at Motorama, rides a 125. She said: ‘I have loved bikes ever since I was a kid. I like the speed and the cornering – everything. It is much more exciting than driving a car.’