When women access into the forest… it’s a braap!!!
At a moto day organized by a women’s motorcycle club called WIMA Estonia, a group of off-road women shared their journey to dirt bikes and straight into the woods! How did the beginning of their off-road adventure go, and how have the women adapted their bikes for all this?
Written in May 2023, photos from the private collection
Kristi has been practicing off-road riding on her BMW 650 GS for a year. “After my first fall, I thought, no way! I’m selling the bike, but then I saw the other proud women next to me – they picked up their bikes and kept going!” she recalled the start.
Merle initially rode as a passenger with her partner on rough terrain until she got bored. “I thought I’d try it to see if I could do it, and well, I could!” she laughed. Now, she’s tackling gravel curves on her KTM 690. She feels she has progressed significantly in her four years of riding experience, as she has logged more miles in the forest than on asphalt roads.
After her first solo ride on the terrain, her next ride was to BMW Motorrad moto instructor Artur Kim, whom she praised highly. Every spring, she starts her season with a visit to the instructor to refresh her memory and correct her riding positions. “The instructor can see your mistakes and guide you, which you might not notice yourself,” Merle noted. She has installed wide, lowered footpegs on her bike for more comfortable standing riding. According to Merle, many have also raised handlebars to ensure proper standing riding positions.
Katrin also rode as a passenger behind her husband for over ten years. “When Merle got her license one day, I thought, what now? I’ll get mine too!” laughed Katrin, recounting how she got into the saddle two and a half years ago. She rides an Aprilia Touareg 660 off-road. What Katrin likes about forest riding is the surrounding nature and that it’s a bit challenging but also exciting!
Katrin sometimes gets caught up in the thrill of forest riding, feeling the adrenaline, and then doesn’t realize that her body is tired. Frequent falls signal that it’s time to slow down or head home. The workout engages muscles all over the body.
Kristina started her motorcycle journey 2007 on a bike, but got bored with the predetermined roads. Three years ago, she ventured off the highway. She also decided to switch bikes and now rides a BMW 650 GS.
Age has been exploring softer terrain on her BMW 1200 GS for three to four years. She also sought knowledge from an instructor because, in her words, you can learn on your own, but an instructor gives you the necessary knowledge and tips much faster. Although she had a period riding a 250cc motocross bike on tracks, handling a 1200cc bike is slightly different. When heading to the forest, Age removes the panniers from her bike and uses a soft tube bag on the bike’s tail for luggage.
Merri’s journey to the forest is a bit different. She rode around with her riding instructors for several years because she couldn’t make it to the exam because of lack of time. However, the instructors were more into off-roading. “I didn’t know what TET (Trans Euro Trail) was back then, and they invited me to ride there. Of course, let’s go! And then I struggled in the sand at Aegviidu with tears in my eyes on my bike – why is it so hard to ride this bike?!” Merri recalled. The next morning, she happened to meet moto-orienteers, something she hadn’t heard of before, and two weeks later, she went to a moto-orienteering event herself. Her bike fell apart on that ride, and she realized she needed to get another bike. She now rides an Aprilia Touareg and has been discovering off-road riding for three years.
So, how do you adapt a bike for forest riding? In Merri’s case, before heading into the forest, she changed the tires, had crash bars installed, and had a skid plate installed. She also carries a first aid kit and believes a GPS tracker would be good in case you get lost while riding alone so someone can come find you.
According to Merri, taking a forest detour after a day at the office is complete relaxation. Especially alone. “While riding, your brain is so engaged in fine motor skills and balance that it’s a total reset because your brain can’t think about other things,” Merri highlighted the mental benefits of this hobby. Motorcycle riding is her way of maintaining mental health.
According to Merri, one of the safest ways to learn off-road riding is to take the gravel class in moto-orienteering. Even if you fall, there are enough riders on the same tracks that someone will eventually pass by and help. The next moto-orienteering event in Estonia is Tarvajaht on August 24.
The women unanimously agree that after off-road riding, it’s worth washing your bike with a pressure washer immediately to make it last longer. If sand and dust get between important parts, like the shocks, they wear out faster. The most worn-out spare parts are levers that change shape or break during falls.
When choosing gear, Merle points out that it’s important for her pants to have leather patches on the inside of the knees for a good grip when holding the bike’s tank with her knees. Most women prefer high-enduro boots for off-road riding. Merri adds that extra knee and neck protectors would be good, too.
So, now it´s time to have some fun on the terrain! Let´s go!
