July 2022 - Emily Roberts

July is Women's Motorcycle Month!

Fast Facts About Emily:

• Riding since she was 6 years old
• Writes for Canadian magazine, Motorcycle Mojo
• Holds an all-ladies dirt bike event in Revelstoke, BC every year

How long have you been riding?
I started riding when I was 6, I was lucky enough to have parents encourage me to enjoy the sport.

First motorcycle?
1979 Yamaha GT 80

Current motorcycle?
KTM 790 ADV R
Beta 300 RR
Suzuki SFV 650

Who taught you how to ride?
My dad taught me how to ride for the first time, we quickly decided it would be better for someone else to teach me other than a parent.

Was riding always a part of your family's life?
Ever since I can remember. I often say it’s lucky that I actually like motorcycles otherwise I’d be in the wrong family. My dad went as far as building me a wooden motorcycle to push me around on when I was first born.

How old were you when your parents started the magazine Motorcycle Mojo?
I was eight years old; I remember being dragged to bike shows and hanging out under the table while my parents worked the bike shows. 

When did you start writing?
I wrote my first article when I was 18, after I completed a 23,000km trip from Ontario to Alaska and back. I never took any formal education for writing. I believe it developed through the passion of motorcycles.

What is your favorite place to ride?
My favourite street ride is just south of my home in Revelstoke, BC, Canada. Just south towards Nelson, it is in my mind, the best riding roads in Canada. I often try to sneak away for an afternoon to go ride those roads.

How did you learn to maintain motorcycles?
My father was able to teach me a lot about motorcycles, although I’ve never had much confidence about diagnosing and working on machines. These past few years however, I’ve committed to taking apart my bikes and rebuilding them so I know every piece of the machine.

Have you ever been hurt by riding?
I have had many minor injuries while riding, but I did get injured badly while snow biking 7 years ago. Snow bikes are dirt bikes, adapted with skis and a track for winter riding. I had a really bad crash which broke my shoulder, damaged both legs and gave me a bad concussion.

Were you ever scared of getting on a bike? If yes, how did you overcome it?
There’s been few times when I’ve doubted myself with motorcycling. However, I have dealt with fear while riding after hitting my first deer 11 years ago. Since that day I’ve always been very nervous around animals and riding at night. However, sometimes fate has a different idea, last year while riding locally in my area I hit my second deer by bike. Both times I killed the deer, kept the bike up, and was able to walk away with little or no injury.

The biggest take away and reason why I’ve been able to overcome my fear is that assessing the situation and understanding what I’ve done right and what I could do better.

What was your longest or most difficult ride?
When I was 18 I decided to spend three months on the road from Ontario to Alaska  and back. I had run out of money by the time I had gotten to BC, so I had to work to be able to continue my way up and to Alaska.

Have you ever attended a women only motorcycle event or ride?
Yes, I actually hold an all ladies dirtbike event here in Revelstoke, BC every year.

How do you encourage other women to become riders?
The biggest thing I can say to any ladies who have doubt or concerns about their riding is that we’ve all started at the same point that you are at in your riding. We’ve all been beginners and we’ve all had huge struggles with our riding. We like to compare ourselves to others, but in the end we all have our own path with riding. Remember to enjoy yourself and find other women that help inspire you to be your best.

What is it like being a high-profile woman rider in a male dominated field?
(not sure I’ve ever heard myself be called high profile, lol I feel special)
It’s been great, throughout my career I’ve been able to have my voice heard within the industry for women riders. And have worked to be able to build up not only the women side of the industry but also the overall Canadian motorcycle industry.

I still get told at least once every ride “Isn’t that bike too big for you?” by a man. I politely respond, "they all feel the same once you’re rolling."

Any tips for women riders?
Ride your own ride, and don’t get caught up listening to others’ opinions of you or your bike. If you have questions about bikes or gear try to reach out to a knowledgeable female rider first, they’ve likely gone through the same struggles you have questions about.

Are there any other women specific grooming tips for women riders?
Always wear sunscreen, drink lots of water and always wear earplugs, it’s not fun being deaf. Also pack small and healthy snack to eat throughout your ride instead of heavy greasy food that will use energy to digest.

What other hobbies do you have?
I also love mountain biking and dirt biking in the summer. In the winter I spent my days snowmobiling and snowboarding. 

Favorite Aerostich gear?
That’s a tough one, I love all of my Aerostich gear, however, the R-3 one piece has quickly become my most used suit because of the comfort, versatility, and style of it overall.

Aerostich-related or Aerostich-specific stories?
I’ve travelled all over North America and the world, anytime I see someone wearing Aerostich I know they are a rider I can get along with. I’ve slid out in gravel with my Aerostich gear and confidently rely on it to protect me.