Harley-Davidson In Hot Pursuit Of Female Bikers

"Fifty percent of the population is female and there is pent-up demand," said James L. Ziemer, Harley-Davidson's chief executive. "We need to remove barriers."

So they are producing more motorcycles that are low to the ground -- so women can plant their feet firmly at rest -- with narrower seats and softer clutches, and adjusting handlebars and windshields to make bikes more comfortable for smaller riders.

They are selling more clothes, too, in bright colors and with rhinestones, rather than the standard-issue black and orange leather jackets. Even the skull motif that appears on some clothing sold at Harley outlets has undergone a friendly makeover to include wings and flowers. Suzuki last year introduced a new line of clothes called Suzuki Girl with tight-fitting riding jackets in pink and baby blue.

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