Last Update: 7 August 2023
The motorcycling industry on a whole these days is applying its best efforts to ensure women are considered as equal tender in motorcycle marketing. But as women rider numbers expand there are still many steps taking women riders backwards. This was clear when I first caught sight of the new “Passenger Safety Accessory” called the “Moto-Grip”. It is a passenger safety harness.
The product pictures depict the male as the motorcycle rider and the woman as the passenger. It wasn’t this reason which caused me to twinge, it was the design of the “Moto-Grip” passenger safety harness, being that if worn by a woman motorcycle rider – it lies directly across the breast area. Incredibly unsuitable for any woman motorcyclist carrying a passenger. And I wonder if the straps are widely adjustable to fit various sized chests?
Funnily enough, there are vast numbers of women riders who have children or a partner who enjoys riding on the back of their motorcycle. The Moto-Grip may actually be a product for mom’s which could provide more “peace of mind” (Moto-Grip Junior) when riding their younger kids around. This product just goes to show that marketers are still not concerned with women motorcycle riders. In this particular case, it would be as simple as introducing a female version of the item! It would further be satisfying to the female demographic to show a woman rider in their promo material – as the rider.
It continues to strike me as unusual, that with women steering our global economies and controlling 80% of all household spending continue to be overlooked on most motorcycle targeted accessories.
Oh and then they show the adult and child rider aren’t even wearing jackets- just t-shirts! No concern here for the child’s safety, really.
I’m not convinced in any way that the passenger assisted grip works or provides any form of security for a motorcycle passenger; and do not endorse this product.
1 comment
Agreed, Vicki……like you, I consider the ‘natural’ female grips to work best.
All kidding aside, much of this sort of gender-non-neutral advertising and product development is slowly but surely “biting the bullet”. Motorcyling HAS had a long, long history of male orientation and it’s going to take some time to weed out all the dinosaurs (both people AND products) that have been the mainstays of the industry for a seventy-five years or so.
It’s coming, though…..largely thanks to boundary-breakers like you!
Best regards……and best of the season.
Michael Scott