We went to our "local" dealer, BCM, a couple of days ago to look for a bike for Tracy. The sales guy saw us prowling around and came out to ask us (not just me) if he could help. When it became clear the bike was for Tracy, he shifted almost all his attention to her and her questions. He didn't totally ignore me, but I was definitely on the sidelines.

Most of the time when we've shopped for cars for her, the opposite has happened - they've just ignored her and concentrated on me.

We went to a second dealer where much the same thing happened. Once they knew the bike would be for Tracy, I just ended up wandering alone and whistling. It may have helped that the sales person there was a woman.

Each place, we heard about significant numbers of female customers more as a matter of course than apparently trying to impress Tracy that they knew how to handle a female customer.

Is this perhaps more characteristic of Duc dealers than of other brands?

In the Bay Area, at least, a female rider doesn't surprise anyone who rides or is a part of the sub-culture. I get most of my dumbass comments from the non-riding public who's idea of a motorcyclist dates from the Wild Ones.

Harley-Davidson has been making a highly publicized pitch towards women for a couple years (at least) now.

Multiple people have commented to me when they have found I ride, "Wow, I can't picture you on the back of a hog."

Of course they can't, I've never been on one.

[Later]
BF: How can he tell it's a girl bike without looking under the tailpipe?
   
That is great!!!!!   

Car dealers are the worst towards women.  Walked out of more than I should have due to salesmen wanting to talk to the other half before discussing money. 

Quote from: duqette on July 13, 2008, 07:47:13 AM
Harley-Davidson has been making a highly publicized pitch towards women for a couple years (at least) now.

Well perhaps they should advise their sales people on the floor to be a little more receptive then.

When I first started looking for a bike, I went to the local HD dealer to see if they had a Blast I could sit on, just to see if it could be another option for me if necessary. I was checking the bike out (important to note my bf was not with me) and waiting patiently for the sales guy to finish up with the family of three he was talking to. This family of three consisted of a father, teenage son, and mother. Not once did the sales guy address the mother; he spoke only to the father the whole time.

When he was done with the family he did not even acknowledge the fact that I was looking at a bike. Sure, I could have gone out of my way to get his attention, but after witnessing the way he handled the customers before me I was pretty much all set.

I could have had cash in my pocket to buy that bike right on the spot and he would have missed out on the sale because he was a jackass.

We popped back in one day (we being me and my bf) and it was quite amusing to see how interested in us the salespeople were.

Quote from: duqette on July 07, 2008, 07:22:14 AM
...Anywaaaaaaaay, over the holiday weekend the bf and I went on a little getaway to Santa Cruz, consisting mostly of riding, some wine tasting, and eating.  It was great.  ...

Hey, I am originally from Santa Cruz, now an Austinite 

Quote from: duqette on July 12, 2008, 10:39:04 AM
How can he tell it's a girl bike without looking under the tailpipe?

i plan on using this line someday 

Hehe, this reminds me of the time I was at kickboxing and was having a conversation with a guy at the end of class about bikes in general and possibly doing a group ride sometime. Then another guy, who overhears us looks at the guy I was talking to and says, "So is that your ducati out front then?" Doesn't seem like a strange question, except I was standing right there with a t-shirt that says DUCATI right across the front in big letters. When he said it was actually mine, the guy kind of looked shocked...or embarrassed, haha.

Not that there's anything wrong with riding cupcake / acting as the backrest.   I'm all for it if that's your thing.  I did it way back in the day.

Coincidentally, I have a female client who is a marketing director / events coordinator (and avid rider) at one of the "other" motorcycle OEM's.   She and I, like many of us, feel that it's a shame that there is such a low # of women riders and really frustrated with this particular manufacturer in the fact that any image used in any of their literature that has a woman in it, is of the woman on the back of the bike - straining and contorting her neck around the male (duh) driver. 

We jokingly have tossed around a few ideas to promote more women riders.  A web site such as  www.ohmyachinneck.com (with links to local chiro's and massage therapists) and a product:  Moto-periscope - so that the woman doesn't have to contort to see the views ahead while sitting behind the driver.   Of course the point is to press upon women the fact that they don't need the chiro, the therapist or the moto-periscope.  They need their own bike!     All for fun of course.  Just thought I'd share!

<insert moto-smiley that resembles a woman>

that's a really funny and great idea stella