Black Girls Ride Magazine - May 2015

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BLACK GIRLS Ride

YUNGRITY CELEB RYDERZ

Want your club featured? Email us! blackgirlsridemag@gmail.com

FOUNDED: APRIL 2010 dETROIT, MI

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hen we stumbled across the ladies of Yung Celebrity Ryderz on Instagram, we knew we had to learn more about these up and coming rock stars of Detroit Bike Life. Founded in 2010

by Tawanda “SugaT” Thomas, these ladies have become garnered attention through sisterhood and riding. This year, in celebration of their 5th Anniversary, we invited them to tell us a bit about their bond, and bike life in the D...

“DETROIT’S

FINEST FEMALE RYDERZ...

IT DON’T GET NO BETTER.” @YUNGCELEBRITYRYDAZ

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JAMAICA

VICE PRESIDENT

BOSSY

SGT AT ARMS

Sinnamon

PROBIE CAPTAIN

ICEIZ

ROAD CAPTAIN

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“We are very motivated and head-strong women who

set our standards above the rest...”

SUGA T

FOUNDER & PRESIDENT YUNG CELEBRITY RYDERZ DETROIT, MI

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Q. Give us a brief history of your club...

A. Yung Celebrity Ryderz is an all female social club that is made up of a cast of sensual, sophisticated, classy, and professional women with many goals and ambitions. We are very motivated and headstrong women who set our standards above the rest with a goal to stay positive, dramafree and will always represent our “Celebrity Status” reputation.

Q. What’s the club’s mission or motto?

A. I don’t know who wrote this but it fits my crew, “God made some girls perfect, the rest he put in cars”.

Q. What was your biggest challenge as a Female MC? A. As a female club the major obstacle we face in Michigan is our riding season is too short! The only other challenge we face constantly is to be a better club than we were yesterday. Bike world is constantly evolving and in order to stay relevant we are constantly evolving, improving and growing.

Q. What type of member do you seek?

A. Specifically for us, that type of rider that would fit with us would be one who really loves to ride, travel, is focused and an individual who amicable and doesn’t mind giving back to the community. We also look for prospective members who would be positive role models to young women in society. When a woman is looking for a club to join, she should look for a club that has stability, members with a positive attitude and members who share the same outlook on life, goals and aspirations as you do.

Most importantly, is the love of riding.

Q. Describe some of your favorite rides.

The furthest we have traveled is Black Bike Week in Myrtle Beach. Our favorite city of course is hitting what we call the loop in Michigan (basically it’s all major freeways and interstates that connect in what we call the loop). We love Chicago lakeshore drive that’s a nice road to travel! Also, we have traveled to Cleveland, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky and to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Q. How do you become a member?

To become a member you must go through several steps “nominee status” for full membership. None of those steps will be demeaning or harmful. Just to name a few you are required to attend bike functions functions and are required to identify the president and vice president of clubs present. Also, if you do not already have a bike, which is preferable, within the first season of becoming a member you MUST have a motorcycle!

Q. What annual events do you promote?

We promote are our annual anniversary party and any other club event that promotes unity and uplift the community.

Our charities include Christmas toys for tots, hygiene gifts for men and women, hand bags of hope based in Michigan. We also adopted a family for Thanksgiving last year and provided dinner for them. This year, we’re celebrating our 5th Anniversary on May 9th! Join us at the Ultra Grand Lounge in Detroit, MI. For more info, find us on instagram: @yungcelebrityryderz

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GEARED UP: SPEED & STRENGTH’S

AMERICAN BEAUTY KEVLAR ARMORED HOODIE When we first came across Speed And Strength’s new American Beauty Armored Hoodie, we were curious to take a closer look. Could a simple hoodie provide good protection and comfort during a ride? We asked our BGR Real Rider, Jasmine “Baby Phat” Jackson to take it out for a spin. Here’s what she had to say...

We noticed that when you came over, you had on a lot of gear, which means you care a lot about your safety. What do you usually wear when you ride?

- I wear Jeans, knee pads, boots, elbow pads, facemask under my helmet.

Do you wear a jacket?

- I wear hoodies mostly. I don’t like to wear jackets.

So, the Speed and Strength Armored Hoodie would be the perfect product for a rider like you?

- Yes Why don’t you wear jackets? Why do you prefer a hoodie on top of all the other gear?

- Sometimes, it gets too hot. If it’s summertime, I don’t want to wear a jacket, because I can’t breathe through my jacket, so I’ll wear a hoodie.

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darker, because you’re gonna get bugs on it. So, you don’t want something bright colored, unless it’s just the trimming of a bright color.

What were some of the features that stood out to you when you first put it on?

The pockets are a big deal. Women like to carry our lip gloss and our cell phones on us, and we like to have the pockets to keep everything secure. The hoodie has zippers, and generally, when you get a hoodie, you don’t have zippered pockets. You don’t even have pockets on the inside. So, that was huge.

We’re reviewing the Speed and Strength American Beauty Kevlar Armored Hoodie.

When they sent it to us to review, the big selling point was having armor inside of the hoodie. What did you think about that, as somebody that usually layers up different pieces? What did you think about having an all in one piece?

I think it’s perfect because I don’t have to put on so many pieces, to where I can’t move. That eliminates a lot of the material and heat caused by all of the armor. It was light, it wasn’t heavy. It really felt like i had on a regular hoodie with nothing else on.

What did you think about the actual design? The colors they used?

The colors were ok, I wouldn’t have picked that color. I thought it was too bright. I would’ve gone with black. I’m a pink girl, so if they have black and pink... Something

How did the weight of the material feel?

It was very light and soft. Like a normal hoodie.

What would you expect to pay for something like this?

For this, I’d pay up to $170 for it. The back and chest protector alone is $220, elbow pads are $80, so you save a lot buying this all in one piece.

How did it feel when you were riding?

I felt very comfortable. I felt like I could move.

What thoughts do you have about the product?

It was great, very comfortable, I like it a lot!

The only issue I had was their sizing... it runs small. This XL fits like a large.

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I Jackson Photos By: Justin y ph ra og ot Ph J3 for e Taylor Words by Porsch

t’s been almost a decade since I sat at lunch with what would come to be one of the world’s biggest pop stars. Back then, we were discussing his plans for world domination of the music scene. He was enjoying the success of a smash record written for another R&B star in heavy rotation, but had his eyes firmly on the prize of his own success. He is a shining example of how a tenacious work ethic meets limitless creativity.

Fast foward to 2015... NE-YO is now a bonafied superstar. As we begin our “Stars On Ground” series, he was gracious enough to speak with us about his new album “Non-Fiction”, social media’s affect on love as we know it today, and of course, motorcycles. Come along for the ride...

Tell us about your new album, what inspired you?

This is album number six, entitled Non Fiction, because every single song is based on a true story. Now, only half of the stories belong to me. I definitely wanted to touch on some of the things that have gone on in my life over the last couple of years, like me and the mother of my two children seperated, and just what it is to be NE-YO. I also wanted to do something kind of special with this one. The climate of the music industry right now is... you might come out and have that hot song for the summer and then the following summer, you’ll be like “You remember that dude that had that song...

What happened to him?” We’re going on ten years with six albums. I needed a way to say thank you to the people that made it possible, which is the fans. I decided to reach out on social media, mainly twitter and instagram, and started asking people about vague, random questions like “Who has a girlfriend that does something annoying? Go...”, and I would let people go on a 140 character rant. I would follow that person, if I wasn’t following them already if I found something intriguing and continue the story in the DMs.

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Then, I took the stories and turned them into songs for this album. Every song on this album is based on a story given by my fans.

How is social media affecting these relationships now?

I personally feel like if you want your relationship to remain in a good place, you should probably keep it to yourself. Posting pictures of your girl and your man, and moments that you have together... you basically put your relationship on a pedastal for people to talk crazy about. There’s a lot of really unhappy people in the world that are even more unhappy because you’re happy.

They want you to be unhappy too.

Keep your private life private. Unless you’re like me, and don’t really care what anyone thinks... then let it all hang out!

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You know Black Girls Ride is a motorcycle magazine, the first of it’s kind. So, we have to ask you... Do you ride?

Yes, I do ride. It’s not a lifestyle for me like it is for some... shout out to those who live the biker lifestyle. For me, it’s more of a past time. I rarely ride because, I don’t do well with four wheels, so two wheels can sometimes be even more of a challenge.

What type of bikes have you ridden in the past?

I’ve ridden harley-davidson’s, the hoggs before. Those are more my speed than say the trick bikes or sport bikes. That’s a little too much speed for me. I don’t wanna kill myself or anybody else. (laughs)

We want to introduce you a new sport bike today, the new 2015 BMW S1000RR... are you ready?

That’s a big deal!

It is a very big deal! We’re one of the first to take a look at it, so let us know what you think! We’re so very blessed and honored to have you with us.

Is there anything else you want to say to the Black Girls Ride Readers?

I’m proud of you for blazing a trail and doing your own damn thing! To all of the BGR Readers thank you for supporting the movement! The only way it’s gonna get off the ground is if you help spread the word. Let all your friends know there is a magazine for black women that ride!

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FIRST LOOK: BMW 2015 S1000RR

Review by Porsche Taylor. Photos courtesy of BMW Motorrad

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e’ve been eagerly anticipating the 2015 S1000RR since it’s introduction at the IMS show in December.

You’d think it would be impossible to improve on their 2014 model, but they’ve managed to elevate the standard of race bikes with their current offering. With luxurious standard features, a shorter wheel base, less weight and an improved electronic features, the new S1000RR might be the bike to beat.

We took a ride up the coast of Malibu, CA for a Sunday Funday.

From the first look, the sleek and sexy design is eye candy. The BMW Motorrad Blue, White and Red was definitely a head turner.

For a sports bike, it’s stock set up is surprisingly comfortable.

While some bikes leave you feeling like a contortionist, the S1000RR feels like you’re sitting in the bike, not on the bike. You quickly become a part of the machine. It’s noticably lighter than it’s predecessor, and feels nimble and quick on the open road. The shorter wheel base makes cornering a breeze. You don’t have to do much to get the bike to respond to your cues.

As traffic started to back up, we were at a stand still and the bike got noticeably hot. You can feel the temp rise quickly, as the air vents direct the heat away from the engine, up and out. Once you pick up speed, the bike cools just as fast.

Let’s get into the standard upgrades. S1000RR comes with three riding suspension modes—Rain, Sport and Race—and standard non-electronic Sachs suspension, with each mode having its own default settings for throttle response: traction control, wheelie control, engine braking control. These standard modes cover the gamut for everyday and track riding. You can add on two more modes - Slick and User - with the Pro edition.

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FIRST LOOK: BMW 2015 S1000RR (cont.)

I chose the Sport mode to test ride, and the set up was near perfect.

The throttle was super responsive, yet I felt in complete control. The Brembo breaks are very sensitive and set up for track use; just a quick tap will slow you significantly, and two fingers will stop you on a dime.

BMW’s Shift Assistant Pro allows both clutchless upshifts in open throttle and clutchless downshifts in a closed throttle. Just press down on the foot clutch lever as you break to downshift or pull up on the foot clutch lever as you accelerate. In competition, it also allows you to shift smoothly and quickly to create some distance between you and the rest of the pack. Off the track, I found this feature most useful in thick traffic. You can upshift and downshift quickly, and avoid clutch hand fatigue, while splitting lanes. This is an amazing upgrade!

The cruise control and heated grips have always been my favorite features on the S1000RR. Sports bike riders can sometimes ride hundreds of miles in a day, just getting to the canyons or the track.

It’s nice to have cruise control as a standard luxury feature to relax your throttle hand on long distance rides. The heated grips come in handy on cold days, early morning rides and late bike nights.

The year’s S1000RR is lighter, faster, and packed with improved electronics and upgrades. At $15,500 MSRP, BMW has put the “Super” in Super Bikes!

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lack Girls Ride Magazine hosted our 3rd Annual International Female Ride Day Takeover on Saturday, May 2, 2015. Over 100 bikers met in Long Beach, CA and road to celebrate sisterhood on ground.

Riders honored the memory of our sister, Charmane “Runway” Bailey, who lost her fight with cancer. Her spirit led the way to our final destination at California’s legendary Venice Beach.

Road Captains: Carl Brooks, CJ Pettis, Eric Harris, Jarvis Brown, and Daniel Hemphil Photography by Marquita Thomas, Sarah Moreau, CJ Pettis, Christina Farr, Koi Sojer and Frank Rios

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Open to all riders, at all levels, the day was filled with beautiful weather, open roads, and good times! Ladies came as far as Las Vegas, NV to participate in the ride. We were honored to participate as a part of Motoress.com’s International Female Ride Day movement, with so many awesome women coming together to “Just Ride”! Special thanks to our sponsors, Law Tigers and Irv Seaver Motorcycles for making this a very special day!

BGR TEXAS AMBASSADORS TKAT & U’NIQUE

Next Ad Date: May 20, 2015

EVEN THE MOST REVERED TRADITIONS NEED REINVENTION FROM TIME TO TIME

THE CITIZEN e-CIGAR COLLECTION IS A NEW TWIST FOR THOSE WHO ENJOY SMOKING WHILE RIDING. e-Cigars gives motorcyclists and their riders the contemplative pleasure that smoking a Havana-esque cigar does, without the distracting tobacco smoke, smell and ash.

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AVAILABLE IN FOUR AWARD-WINNING FLAVORS:

Cuban, Chocolate, Peach and Vanilla.

RETAIL:

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