Betsy Stringfield

The Women Who Started It All

In honor International Women's Ride Day, May 2, 2020 this post is for all women riders out there. Women riders have the blood and spirit of our sisters who paved the way for us to enjoy the sport of motorcycling. I am honored to pay love and tribute to Betsy “Bessie” Stringfield, dubbed “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami”. 

Bessie Stringfield got her first motorcycle, an Indian, at the age of 16 and taught herself to ride and maintain it. Stringfield tossed a penny on map and where it landed, she rode.

In 1930 at the age of 19, Stringfield defied bigotry, racism and sexism as a Black woman when she traveled solo to all the lower 48 states over the next decade. Bessie became the first woman to travel across the country. She served as a civilian dispatch rider for the U.S. Military during World War II. In her 4 years of service, she made 4 trips across the U.S.

Back then Bessie could be seen crisscrossing the country on her 1928 Indian Scout. Stringfield said she relied heavily on her faith in God to get her through encounters with racism, sexism and denial of essentials such as fuel for her motorcycle, and hotel rooms on her road trips. Yet, she continued riding across country in the 1950’s and 1960’s at the height of upheaval during the Civil Rights Movement.

However, Stringfield wasn’t allowed to enter sponsored races because she was a female and a “black” female. She would often enter races as a male but would have to forfeit the prize money when it was discovered she was a woman.

She eventually moved to Miami and founded the Iron Horse Motorcycle Club made up men and women. She became a lover of Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Bessie Stringfield owned 27 Harley-Davidson motorcycles in her lifetime. Her frequent appearances on the local motorcycle show circuit earned her the nickname “The Motorcycle Queen of Miami”.

In 1990, The AMA honored Betsy Stringfield as one of the “Heroes of Harley-Davidson” for lifetime achievement of breaking down color barriers before the Civil Rights Movement and advancing the joy of motorcycle riding for women. Stringfield’s AMA’s exhibition showcased many of her Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

In 2002, the AMA inducted Bessie into its Hall of Fame, and in 2000 the AMA named an award after her that recognizes outstanding achievement by a Female Motorcyclist. Bessie Stringfield died in 1993 at the age of 82. Somehow, she managed to become a registered nurse in between touring the country on her Harley. Stringfield proudly called Harley the “only motorcycle company that she loved.”

Ladies let us continue to pay homage to the great women riders who paved the way for us to enjoy the great sport of motorcycling. A group of lady riders represent this iconic rider and introduced me to women riding motorcycles. They have given their tribute to this lady rider. Let's continue to pay homage to all women riders that have come before us and that will come after us. Contact us for sponsorship!