AMA Charter Life Member Frances Lemen took her first motorcycle ride in 1954, and she was hooked.

“I was still in high school and rode behind my husband-to-be, who was off work at the time due to a broken ankle,” Lemen said. “I didn’t know any better, so went for a ride with him—ankle in a cast or not!”

Sixty-four years later, the Scottsurg, Ind., motorcyclist is still riding at age 81. And she has no plans to stop.

“I am still riding, though not nearly the miles I used to,” she said. “When will I stop riding? Who knows? If I only go to town and back, at least I’m riding. What would keep me from riding was if I couldn’t handle the bike and felt I was a terror to the general public.”

Lemen, an AMA member for 34 years and a member of the Motor Maids for 55 years, agreed to share her motorcycling history with fellow AMA members.

American Motorcyclist: What drew you to motorcycles?

Frances Lemen: I began learning to ride in 1959 at age 22. BSAs were a big deal at the time, so when my husband bought one, we rode with friends. One thing led to another, and next thing you know, he was teaching me to ride. Being young and ignorant, my friends thought it cool to ride [as passengers] behind me, and off to Peoria [Ill.] we went one weekend. After that, there was no going back.

AM: What was your first bike?

FL: My first bike was a 1960 (I think) BMW, and when I first saw it coming off the trailer I thought it was the ugliest thing I had ever seen. My husband’s rationale for getting it was that I was going to be riding with other ladies around the country and with the bike being shaft-driven, I wasn’t going to have to mess with oiling the chain.

My current bike is a 2007 Yamaha 1300 V-star, which I bought new.

AM: What got you involved in the Motor Maids?

FL: Seeing them parade at the Charity Newsies races in Columbus, Ohio. I was so impressed and wanted to do that, and after entering [the AMA] magazine’s “Most Typical Girl Rider Contest,” which my motorcycle club sponsored me and another lady in, I received an invitation from the Motor Maids to join them. I did and received my membership card in March of 1963. I was able to realize my dream of parading before the races and was thrilled to do it. I also got to parade at Peoria and other races.

AM: What prompted you to join the AMA? Why do you stay involved?

FL: Joining AMA was a requirement of my local motorcycle club, and, back then, it was also a requirement of Motor Maids. After a while, it was an incentive to get the AMA pin each year—I have most of mine still—and it’s an honor to say, “I’ve been an AMA member for so many years.” Now, I stay in so I can get the AMA Roadside Assistance. I want to keep up on what’s going on in the motorcycling world and to make my small political donation, as I feel the AMA does major work in fighting for motorcyclists’ rights.

AM: Tell us about the role motorcycling has played in your life.

FL: I cannot imagine not being connected to motorcycling in some manner. I knew when I got divorced that I would still ride, as it was a part of me. It has given me a totally different outlook on life that I would never have been exposed to had I not met all these great people.

I used to ride my son all around the area with a Steib sidecar attached to a BSA, and people still remember that. I eventually taught him to ride a Honda 70. I got to meet people at races we attended as a family. Both my husband and son got into motorcycle mechanics, which, again, led to meeting more people. And it’s a great conversation starter!

AM: Was it difficult to be a female motorcyclist when you got involved?

FL: While I’ve never had a problem being a female motorcyclist, I know people who have. But I was never turned away at a motel or restaurant. It’s only been in the last six or seven years that I’ve heard what might be called “nasty” comments on the sidelines, while people were watching a Motor Maids parade during our conventions, and I chalk it up to jealousy and ignorance.

Many times, you get back the same image as what you give out. So, maybe it has helped that the motto posted on my bike for years is: “Classy lady on board”!

AM: What is the most important thing you would like for readers to take away from your story?

FL: If you think you can ride, try it. Age is not normally a deterrent. I know people who have started in their 70s, as well as those who started in their 20s. But, if you say, “Oh, I can’t do that,” then probably you can’t.