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In the past couple of decades, the number of women riders has increased at an enormous rate. Many motorcycle dealerships have tailored their franchises to focus more and more on women riders because they are earning or controlling the bucks, and they no longer have any hesitation when it comes to purchasing their own machines. There are women motorcycle rider magazines, and many websites and blogs that cater to female bikers.

As more and more women enter the sport of motorcycling, they bring their own sense of style, and their custom machines add a special glamour to the motorcycle scene. Until recently, the motorcycle scene was dominated with machines that mostly displayed some sort of macho paint design. While fitting for men, bikes customized by women are often different.

One woman making a significant contribution to this change is LaShawn “Hard Drive” Sykes. Like many women riders, LaShawn had her first biking experience at an early age. As a child, she rode her uncle’s moped on the streets and she would sometimes sneak it onto the freeways. She didn’t develop a serious desire to ride a motorcycle until she reached age 37, however. “I’ve been infatuated with motorcycles for years, but never thought I would learn how to shift the gears correctly. Then one hot summer day four years ago, while sitting in my car, a group of motorcycle riders went past me. It was in that moment I vowed that the next summer it was going to be me riding a motorcycle. I wanted to have the wind blow through my hair with the sun beating down on me, and the engine roaring in my ears while exploring the great outdoors,” said LaShawn.

LaShawn, a former Roller Derby champion, is the type of person who does what she promises to do. The following year, on Valentine’s Day, she bought her first Harley-Davidson motorcycle, a Sportster 1200 Custom. She had the local Harley dealership deliver her bike, because she was unable to pick it up. She didn’t have a motorcycle license, and she had no experience operating one. She signed up for a woman-only motorcycle class at American Eagle Harley-Davidson in Corinth, Texas. Within a few weeks, her whole world changed. “I’m now and always will be a Harley rider,” stated LaShawn.

Like many new riders, she quickly began customizing and personalizing her bike. “Many riders purchase a Sportster and leave it stock, and upgrade to a bigger bike within a few years. I just didn’t feel right doing that. When I hop on my Sportster, we become one entity; my bike and I quickly developed a close bond. I wanted to dress it in the same fashion as I dress myself,” said LaShawn. She started adding additional genuine H-D chrome parts, but it wasn’t until Mike Dusold suggested that she add a custom paint in the Coach fashion that she became truly excited and her very own unique bike style was created. She did not just stop at a custom paint job, she also had a custom special-made Coach seat, a pair of custom Coach wheels, and a custom painted helmet. For all you guys out there who are not familiar with Coach products, just ask your wife, girlfriend, female companion, or Google it.

LaShawn is employed in the information technology field as a Risk and Security Manager, and that’s how she got her nickname, “Hard Drive.” She was born in Chicago, Illinois, and moved to Covina, California as a child. She loves warm weather and is currently living in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. She’s owned her Sporty for three years, and has accumulated over 15,000 miles on it. She plans to ride at least another 15,000 miles within the next three years. Her longest continuous ride was from Dallas to Atlanta, 783 miles which took just 12 hours. Not bad for a new Sporty rider. I know a couple of male riders who start whining after a couple of hundred miles on the road.

LaShawn is also the founder of the all women’s Harley riding club, “2 DEEP.” “It’s a wonderful site to see a group of women roll up to an event on beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycles. We are passionate about riding safely, having fun, helping the community, sisterhood, and staying classy,” said LaShawn.

LaShawn “Hard Drive” Sykes’s custom Coach Sporty is a real head turner, a bike that adds a different style and a lot of class to the sport of motorcycling. We’ll see you on the road!