Why Children’s Motorcycle Clothing Needs to Improve
If you're a parent of a young rider or pillion passenger, or its on the horizon for you then Rachel needs YOUR help as she does her part for our next generation of women riders.
The Childhood Memory That Sparked My Love of Motorbikes
One of my earliest childhood memories was in Edinburgh. I was walking across a bridge when I suddenly heard a loud, rumbling roar behind me. I turned and saw hundreds of bikers coming towards me. I froze. My eyes widened. I was mesmerised. With my feet glued to the footpath in awe, a huge smile spread across my face and I said, "I want to do THAT!"
Ever since then, I became obsessed with motorbikes. Fast forward many years, and I took motorcycle lessons in my twenties. Six months later, I had three bikes on the driveway – including the one that captured my heart, a Ducati Monster 696. There was no stopping me. I was averaging 400 miles a week, year-round.
Now, at the age of 44, it has come full circle.
I have a nine-year-old daughter whose eyes light up just like mine did whenever she sees a motorbike. She'd been begging me for about two years to ride pillion, and now the time had come – she was ready. I bought her a helmet and took her out for a couple of short rides, and she fell in love.
Naturally, it was time to invest in quality riding gear so we could go on much longer rides. I naively thought buying the gear would be the easy part… but boy, was I wrong!
The Problem With Children’s Motorcycle Gear
We ordered pair after pair of children's motorcycle trousers. Some weren't protective enough. Others felt so bulky and restrictive that she could barely move comfortably. We tried standalone knee protectors instead. Still uncomfortable. We bought products from some of the best-known brands and even tried small women's trousers, but nothing passed both the comfort and fit test.
We had so many deliveries arriving that I think our Amazon driver started wondering what on earth we were up to! And that was just the trousers, before we'd even started thinking about jackets, gloves and everything else.
That's when I realised this probably wasn't just our problem.
Years ago, many women struggled to find motorcycle clothing that actually fitted well and felt comfortable. Thankfully, brands have transformed that landscape. Children's protective clothing, however, still feels like an area where there's enormous room for improvement.
What if motorcycle clothing for children was designed around the way children actually move and feel? What if it offered excellent protection without unnecessary bulk? Soft linings, non-scratchy seams, comfortable armour and child-friendly styling. Gear that children actually want to wear instead of simply tolerate.
If we genuinely believe that girls can do anything – and I certainly do – then surely we should remove as many barriers as possible to help the next generation fall in love with riding.
That's where I'd love your help.
What Better Motorcycle Clothing for Children Could Look Like
Before prototyping products, I want to understand what parents and young riders genuinely need, rather than designing what I think they need.
If you're a parent of a young rider or pillion passenger, I'd love to hear about your experiences.
What works?
What doesn't?
Which products have impressed you, and,
What frustrations still haven't been solved?
My dream is to design protective clothing that keeps children safe while making them genuinely comfortable as pillions and future riders, so families can spend more time enjoying those special moments together. Nothing beats feeling those little arms wrapped around you and hearing the endless giggles inside your helmet.
To make that happen, I'd love your help.
I'd like to hold a relaxed one-hour focus group with wine and snacks, where we can have an open conversation about everything from comfort, protection, sizing and fabrics to sensory considerations, styling and all the little details that make the difference between gear that gets worn and gear that gets left in the cupboard.
If you'd like to take part, I'd love to hear from you. Please get in touch at Calmrides99@gmail.com.
If you can't make the focus group but would still like to contribute, I'd be incredibly grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete my survey:
https://forms.gle/VXNo4V6KgKUfnhSP8
Every response will help shape products that I hope will make riding safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable for the next generation.
