BLACKGIRLSRIDE.COM | JULY 2019
MORE THAN A MAGAZINE... IT’S A MOVEMENT!
SAFE, SEXY, COOL
5 MUST HAVES FOR YOUR SUMMER RIDE
MIKAYLA MOORE GIRL POWER PERSONIFIED CALISLINGERS
JOY RIDING THROUGH SOCAL
RIDER REVIEW INDIAN CHIEFTAIN LIMITED
FOLLOW A
STRONG LEAD YOUR OWN.
For those who follow their own lead, the new 2019 Chieftain Dark Horse is here. With more aggressive, streamlined styling, premium technology, and the head-snapping power of our famed Thunder Stroke 111 V-Twin engine, the bar for baggers just got raised again. ®
®
©2019 Indian Motorcycle International, LLC. Always wear your helmet. Never drink and ride.
CONTENT 4
Featured Events
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First Gear
9
Geared Up
Letter from the Editor
5 Must Haves for Summer Riding
10
Mikayla Moore
14
Rider Review
16
Rider Prep
18
CaliSlingers
21
Your Favorite Shot
10
MIKAYLA MOORE
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CALISLINGERS
14
RIDER REVIEW
Girl Power Personified
2019 Indian Chieftain Limited
Riding Ability Vs. Skill
Joy Riding Through Southern California
Shots from the Streets!
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RIDER PREP
FEATURED EVENTS MORE MILES THAN EXCUSES
04 July ‘19
BLACK GIRLS RIDE TO ESSENCE FEST! July 4 - 7, 2019 We’re excited to announce our 2nd Annual Black Girls Ride to Essence Fest Powered by Indian Motorcycle, Polaris Slingshot, Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys & Essence Fest! Riders are invited to join our ride leaders from all over the country, as we all meet in New Orleans for an epic weekend of sisterhood, empowerment and parties! All riders are invited to join us!
31 July ‘19
blackgirlsride.com/essence-2019
NATIONAL BIKERS ROUND UP July 31 - August 4, 2019 The event serves to unite the Black motorcycle community and promote camaraderie. The National Bikers Roundup is the largest camping motorcycle rally in the USA and is organized by a group of African American motorcycle clubs. Its location changes every year but every decade it returns to its founding city of Kansas City. This
nationalbikersroundup.org
year’s Roundup will take place in Gulfport MS.
28 Sept ‘19
WOMEN RIDERS WORLD RELAY September 28 - October 14, 2019 Be adventurous. Be courageous. Be inspiring. Be real. Be united. We co-ordinate women motorcycle riders across the world to participate in the “Women Riders World Relay”, bringing fun, experience, confidence and a sense of unity to women riders globally.
womenridersworldrelay.com
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BLACK GIRLS RIDE | JULY 2019
FIRST GEAR: LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the new and improved design of Black Girls Ride Magazine! We took some time to rethink our passion for the ride, and we hope you enjoy our redesign! In this issue, We’ll also introduce you to our cover girl, Mikayla Moore. At Just 15 years old, she’s already on course for greatness. No matter where your road takes you this summer, we’re here to help you prepare. Keep Cool with our 5 Must Haves for Summer. And, we’ve taken the new redesigned Indian Chieftain to New York and back for our Long Distance Review. It’s touring season, my favorite time of year! All the planning is done, and it’s time to set out on our next cross country journey! We’re gearing up for our 2nd Annual Black Girls Ride to Essence Fest in New Orleans, LA. Sending love to all of the riders who’ll travel from all across the country to meet us for this exciting weekend of Sisterhood and Fellowship! There’s lot’s of road to cover... Let’s Go! See you in the Streets... Porsche Taylor Black Girls Ride BLACK GIRLS RIDE | www.BlackGirlsRide.com
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GEARED UP: 5 MUST HAVES FOR SUMMER STAY SAFE, SEXY & COOL!
Check out these riding accessories to help you beat the heat in the streets! Bohn Armor All Season Riding Shirt bohnarmor.com
Camelbak Repack LR 4 amazon.com
HyperKewl Cooling Sport Vest amazon.com MotorRider | 1800 900 700 | www.MotoRider.com
HyperKewl Cooling Sport Vest revzilla.com
Tour Master Airflow Women’s Gloves revzilla.com 9
COVER GIRL I was taught that nothing in life is given, but earned and whatever it is you want to be and have, you have to RACE for it.” MIKAYLA MOORE
MIKAYLA MOORE Birth Place / Date: Clinton, MD / November 7, 2003 2019 Carreer Highlights: ►► Motogladiator Race Series 7 Apr 2019 - Superstock 300 (Exp) 1st place - Superbike (Exp) 3rd place ►► Championship Cup Series (CCS) 25 – 27 May 2019 - MotoGirlGT 500 SuperBike 1st place - 300 SuperSport 2nd place - 500GT 3rd place - 500 SuperBike 4th place Follow Mikayla Moore: ►► Instagram: @mikayla_moore03 Photos by Apex Pro Photography & Noiseless Productions
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►► Facebook.com/mikaylamoore03/
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BLACK GIRLS RIDE | JULY 2019
GIRL POWER PERSONIFIED
MIKAYLA MOORE
ON TRACK FOR GREATNESS At just 15 years old, Mikayla Moore is burning up the track every chance she gets. She’s full of the commitment and passion it takes to become a legend. With the solid foundation of her family race team, Moore Racing, Mikayla is sure to become one of the sport’s hottest rising stars. We caught up with Mikayla, and she let us know what keeps her motivated... Please introduce yourself. My name is Mikayla Renae Moore and I am 15 years old. I am homeschooled and currently in the 9th grade. My passion is racing and riding motorcycles. I first learned how to ride a dirt bike in 2010 when I was 6 years old. I entered my first race when I was 7 years old at Sandy Hook Speedway. My favorite hobbies are cooking, doing hair, and riding my dirt bike. My life goals are to
be a R.A.C.E.R. I want to Represent the motorcycle industry well & be Reverent in this sport of motorcycle racing that I love so much. Achieve my goals. Conquer my fears & Chase my dreams. Be an Example and show that with hard work, dedication, and determination, anything is possible. Most importantly, I want to be a Role Model to females everywhere. I was taught that nothing in life is given, but earned and whatever it is you want to be and have, you have to RACE for it.
the day and I said no. He asked me if I wanted to ride the dirt bike, which was a Yamaha TTR-50, and I said yes. Once he showed me how to ride it, I knew I was meant to be on a bike. I had so much fun that I didn’t want to get off. In 2014, I attended a 3-day camp with New Jersey MiniGP (NJ MiniGP) to hone my riding skills, which helped me a lot. They used some of the drills my dad used to train me and my brother and he ended up becoming a coach for them. From there we
Describe your path to how you got to where you are with motorcycling today. When I was 6 years old, my family and I were riding dirt bikes and four wheelers at the family farm. I rode my brother’s four wheeler, flipped it and didn’t want to ride it anymore. So my dad asked if I was done for
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raced with other organizations such as Sandy Hook Mini Moto, the Herrin Compound, and NJ MiniGP. When I was 12 years old, I was invited to attend a track day with Evolve GT at New York Safety Track where I rode a Kawasaki Ninja 250R for the first time. That’s when things really started to take off. (Cont.)
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COVER GIRL
S
ince riding with them, I have ridden a Yamaha R6, a really nice Kawasaki KFX450 Supermoto, a Suzuki GSXR600 and my dad even let me ride his Yamaha R1 in Intermediate group at a track day. I now ride and race a Kawasaki Ninja 300 with MotoGladiator where I was able to secure a second place championship alongside my brother who placed first in Superstock, Superbike, and Supersport 300 class. I was able to achieve my goal of finishing top three for the 2018 season. My 2017 season was my first season racing the big bikes and I was able to use that year as a learning season to achieve my goals for 2018. I learned a lot from both seasons. How did you begin your racing career so young? What fuels your passion? Who inspires you in the sport? I began racing at 7 years old when my dad first introduced me to mini moto racing at Sandy Hook Speedway in 2011. It was my first time racing that year. The following year they started a race series where I won my first championship. From there, I continued racing with other organizations that I did very well in. The one thing that fuels my passion is knowing that I am going to make
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history one day. My dad tells me to believe in the impossible and the possible will make room. I was first inspired by Elena Myers when she made history in 2010 as the first female to win an AMA Pro Racing sprint road race. My dad gave me a magazine with Elena Myers in it with my picture next to it. I read it and he told me I could end up in a magazine just like her one day. He was right because two years later I was featured in the January 2014 issue of Roadracing World magazine in the kids section. SJ Harris also inspired me in the sport of racing because she was an African-American female, like myself, and I didn’t know what it would look like to be a black girl, that was a professional road racer, until I met her. Even though she didn’t get to finish her journey, she inspired me to want to finish the pursuit of making history and represent her legacy for young girls and women all around. What is your vision for your future in motorcycling, say ten years from now? My vision for the future of motorcycling in ten years would be that more people will be riding. There isn’t anything else like it. You see so much representation of all kinds on YouTube. More and more people are
gravitating to this lifestyle. I think if the motorcycle enthusiasts that are riding now represent the industry well, they will inspire others and motivate them to want to be apart of it, and then more people will consider being apart of the motorcycle community. If people keep getting hurt, losing their lives and having bad experiences, or even causing chaos, then people are not going to consider riding a motorcycle or owning one; even though there isn’t anything else like riding a motorcycle or owning one. The future of motorcycling depends on us riders and racers! If you could change anything about the world of motorcycling today, what would it be? If I could change anything about the world of motorcycles today, it would be to introduce motorcycle riding and racing to kids in school so they can learn about all the great things it has to offer. Even though people say they are dangerous, it doesn’t have to be if you approach it respectfully. If my dad wasn’t a motorcycle rider, and mom didn’t take up riding, I wouldn’t have realized how much fun it is or have met a lot of really cool people. Plus, you have to be responsible, have a positive attitude, be confident and be a good example in order to really enjoy this kind of lifestyle and I think kids can really benefit from learning that at an early age.
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BLACK GIRLS RIDE | JULY 2019
Do you have any advice for
will help your journey to be more
was able to help her with some drills
people who want to get into
gratifying and will make you enjoy
on a dirt bike and she watched me
motorcycling?
being apart of this great community.
race. The cool thing was that when
The advice I would like to give to
There are so many people who have
I first started riding on the big track,
helped get me to where I am today
SJ was attending the same event that
to include: my parents, brother,
weekend and she ended up helping
Nana, grandparents, aunts and
me around the track the same way I
uncles, cousins, 301 Dipz, Apex Pro
helped her. I thought that was cool
Photography, Artistic Creations, Black
because she was always willing to
Girls Ride, Custom Performance,
help and offer advice. We had a great
Custom Works, Evolve GT Track Days,
time on the track and I learned a lot.
KNMoore Photography, Moto-D
She helped me gain my confidence
Racing, MotoGirl GT, MotoGladiator
since it was my first time on a bigger
Racing, N2 Track Days, NJ MiniGP,
track on a faster bike. She was really
Noiseless Productions, O’Mens MC,
fast out there and all I kept saying to
Red Line Ravens, Rodio Racing,
myself was that I’m going to be fast
SportBike Inc, Stump Racing, Throttle
just like that. It was so cool. BGR
people is the same advice my dad gives to people at his shop when they have questions about wanting to ride. He tells them that riding and racing a motorcycle is a privilege and not to be taken for granted. It’s not for everybody. A motorcycle will either make your life or take your life, so take it serious or it will seriously take you. At first, I really didn’t understand what that meant exactly, but over time and different experiences of my own and through experiences of other riders, I realized what he was saying.
Life, Trackside Parts Club, Trackside Tires and Willpower Motorcycle
The other important thing is to
Service Center.
surround yourself around positive
If you could go on a ride with any
people that want to support you and
of your motorcycling heroes - living
make sure you have what you need
or dead - who would they be?
to keep going. I experienced this by seeing how the motorcycle clubs are with one another and how they treat each other like family. They
If I could go on a ride with any of my motorcycling heroes - living or dead - it would be with SJ Harris. I first met SJ at a MiniGP event and
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RIDER REVIEW
2019 INDIAN CHIEFTAIN LIMITED THE LONG DISTANCE REVIEW
Indian redesigned the 2019 Chieftain Limited from every angle. We took it on a cross country ride to Brooklyn, NY to put it to the test...
I
ndian’s flagship V-twin Bagger has been holding it’s own since it initially came on to the scene in 2014. I’ve been a fan since I got my own in 2017 Indian Chieftain Limited. The performance of the engine and the quick throttle response was un matched by any other v-twin. When I was invited to take a spin on the new 2019 Chieftain Limited at the November 2018 International Motorcycle Show, I was immediately impressed. After a quick ride around town, I knew I wanted to take it out for a longer ride. There was just too much to see and too little time. So, I planned to give it a full review on my ride to the Alabama All Female Ride in Huntsville. I figured, a cross country ride would give me the distance I needed to put it through it’s paces. At first glance, it admittedly looks very similar to Harley’s Street Glide. I missed Indian’s signature
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styling, including the fairing with the integrated turn signals and highway lights. The new slender front fairing has an air vent, and two simple turn signal lights. Their signature saddle and curvy bags had been replaced by a sleeker seat, and streamlined, aggressive bags.
While the updated look will catch your eye, it’s the ride that will have you ready to trade in the old for the new. The 111 ci air/-oil cooled motor has 119 ft/lbs of torque at 3000 rpm, giving you more than enough power to get around huge trucks and traffic on your long distance ride.
I love the new look of the bags, including the stainless steel touches. The new bags don’t lose any space from the old design. There’s plenty of room for 2 weeks worth of gear.
The last few Chieftain models have been known to get hot, especially in high ambient temperatures and in heavy traffic. They’ve completely fixed that issue with their new Rear Cylinder Deactivation. Rear Cylinder Deactivation was designed as an aid to reduce engine and exhaust heat to the rider. Rear Cylinder Deactivation turns off the rear cylinder when the engine gets hot and the bike is stopped. This provides enhanced comfort in slow-moving traffic and warm-weather conditions. When the ambient temperature reaches 60, and the bike is in 1, 2, or Neutral, or the throttle is closed, the rear cylinder will deactivate.
I was happy that they added the signature Indian head to the cut out fender, and they kept the 19” wheels.
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BLACK GIRLS RIDE | JULY 2019
The rear cylinder re-activates when the throttle is applied. When riding through Arizona, where the ambient temperature reached as high as 115, I was thankful for this feature. I never noticed it went into effect, and when I hit the throttle, I never lost power. There was no excessive heat coming off of the bike through the entire ride. Each Chieftain still comes with the adjustable windscreen, 100 watt audio system, power locks, alarm, Indian’s 7” Ride Command System still the best in the market, with GPS and, split screen programming, all standard.
While these features are already enough to make this a great cross country ride, my favorite new feature on the new Chieftain Limited is the Three ride modes (Tour, Standard and Sport) all accessible on the fly via the infotainment screen. Tour mode rides like the preceding line up, with plenty of power, but it’s throttle response has been dialed back a bit to accomodate a fully packed bike or passenger. Standard mode makes the Chieftan Limited quick and agile, but smooth. Sport is quick and aggressive, and commands the same throttle respect of a sport bike. My favorite of the three modes was Standard. It was quick enough when I needed the power, but didn’t make me feel like the bike could get away from me. At just 790 lbs It’s so light and well balanced, its a lot of fun to ride, especially in the turns! Stock, the design is beautiful. This bike has plenty of sound and power. I added Indian’s speakers in the bags for a bit more music, and a phone mount. Other than that, I wouldn’t touch a thing. BGR
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RIDER PREP
RIDING EXPERIENCE VS. SKILL BY SHEKELIA BUSSEY
The motorcycle community is filled with riders that boast years of riding, experience and knowledge. However there’s a huge disparity amongst riders who have experience and very limited skill. Until I became a MSF instructor in 2016 my skill level on a scale of 1-10 was a 3. In my mind I thought because I’d covered half the east coast on a motorcycle I was amongst the elite of riders in my motorcycle class. Oh boyyyyy was I wrong! Essentially I was a straight line rider who’d never been tested in an emergency situation. Truth be told, I’m confident that I lacked the necessary skills I’ll mention in this article that may have saved my life. STRAIGHT LINE RIDING Straight line riding is easy and requires minimal skill. The way a motorcycle works, the faster you go the more stable it becomes. We’ve all seen videos of motorcyclists being ejected from their bikes, but the motorcycle stays upright even without the rider in the saddle. The bike stays upright on its own is because of the many factors associated with motorcycle dynamics. This is why riding a bike fast in a straight line is simply EASY.
BRAKE CONTROL I often explain to riders, if you want to ride fast, be prepared to stop FASTER. Developing effective braking skills is essential and deliberately developed over time. Brake control, visual acuity, speed perception and timing all need to be at their best to manage speed. You might think braking is a simple concept, but there are variables to consider. Practice all types of braking by performing these actions: Normal stops in a straight line and Quick stops in a straight line.
TURNING SKILLS Often riders lack basic turning skills, it is imperative to practice Basic turns, Sharp turns and Turns from a stop. Turning a motorcycle at parking lot speeds require counter weighting and Turning at higher speeds require Counter Steering. Developing both skills require. What can you do to turn better at low speed turns and maneuvers? Practice!
AVOIDING HAZARDS AND SWERVING It’s important to practice swerving because the chance there will be something in the road you want to avoid is almost inevitable. The position of the body must be upright and press the handlebars in the direction of the swerve with no jerky movements. Riders must avoid squeezing the clutch or braking during a deliberate swerve to avoid loss of traction. TIME TO PRACTICE Empty parking lots are the best place to practice. Schools, shopping centers, and large business parking lots are excellent places to practice. Remember to watch for surface hazards such as oil, debris and potholes. You don’t have cones or lines to measure your progress? Cut tennis balls in half, water bottles, red solo cups filled with rocks or dirt to help you lay out practice lines and lanes. While practice might not necessarily make perfect, it is an important piece of the learning process. By balancing methods that include mental rehearsal, exploration, and other forms of learning, you can optimize skill development and become a more efficient & safe motorcyclist.
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S R E G N I L CALIS
JOY RIDING THROUGH SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
O
n a beautiful Sunday in Pasadena, California,
After the BBQ, we rolled out as a group and headed
the CaliSlingers (@calislingers) met up for
to Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles. The
their annual summertime BBQ. Made up of
roof was the perfect place to take a group shot, with a
riders from all walks of life, races and ages,
beautiful view of the sunset in the background. As we
these riders are drawn together to share their passion
made our way single file through the streets of LA, you
for the Polaris Slingshot. Each owner has a Slingshot that
could see the faces of both kids and adults light up as we
matches their unique personality. From the simple to the
passed them. They would point and take pictures and
crazy visual, to the unique audio visuals, you’ll find lots of
videos, pointing out their favorite rides. It wasn’t about
stimulation among this bunch. While the vehicles are truly
getting there fast, but rather enjoying the ride along the
eye catching, it was the free spirit and good vibes of this
way. It’s proof positive that the Slingshot is indeed “the
group that stood out the loudest. Everyone was genuinely
ultimate joy ride”.
happy and welcoming, and every rider received a gift. We caught up with Tosha Davis - President, Monica Lewis - VP, and Darnell Lewis - RoadMaster of the CaliSlingers to learn about their inspiration for their riding crew. They created Cali Slingers as a way to bring together these unique vehicles and their owners to ride and enjoy each other’s company. With 62 riders, they try to get out and ride every weekend. They’ve been featured in photoshoots and music videos, too.
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YOUR FAVORITE SHOTS
GET FEATURED! SEND YOUR SHOTS TO BLACKGIRLSRIDEMAG@GMAIL.COM
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YOUR ADVENTURE AWAITS
Learn more at Slingshot.Polaris.com/Joyride Slingshot® is a three-wheeled motorcycle. It is not an automobile. It does not have airbags and it does not meet automotive safety standards. Three wheel vehicles may handle differently than other vehicles, especially in wet conditions. Always wear a DOT-approved full-face helmet and fasten seatbelts. The Driver may need a valid motorcycle endorsement. Don’t drink and drive. ©2019 Polaris Industries Inc.
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