The Throttle Dolls
From left: Erica, Nina and Maria
Continuing our look into riding groups, the emergence of all-women social groups (who aren't afraid of sharing their moto exploits) is not showing any signs of slowing down. Sydney locals The Throttle Dolls formalised their friendship-cum-riding posse less than eighteen months ago having been having a great time. Each of them got into motorcycling for their own reasons and supported each other in their first months on the road, a camaraderie that tightened their bond. These ladies are fast becoming a force within the custom culture scene in Sydney with big plans on the horizon. IVV invited the Dolls to tell us, in their own words, the journey thus far and where it all started.
WORDS | THE THROTTLE DOLLS IMAGES | KATE DISHER-QUILL
We are three best friends, Nina, Maria and Erica, and we are The Throttle Dolls. They say ‘4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul’… and we can vouch for that. And it’s even better when you are riding with your best mates.
The Throttle Dolls came about one day sitting in E’s garage (which incidentally we now call the Doll House as a nice change to Man Cave) we thought it would be fun to start our own girl’s bike gang. One that was representative of our personalities, which are a mixture of bubbly, girlie, nerdy tomboys that love to experiment with fashion and new adventures. We ride because we love the machines and the freedom and independency associated with riding, and we all have a passion for the custom, retro and vintage bike culture.
We had been riding for a while with the Sydney Café Racers, and we knew that riding in a group was a lot of fun. And that it was a great way to meet new people. It’s easy making friends when you have a mutual love, and in our case riding motorcycles was the perfect ice breaker.
Our favourite rides are to new cafes around Sydney, on the hunt for the perfect flaky croissant, a down and dirty swag and ride, pulling up to a secluded beach and sleeping under the stars, or on a long ride through the National park with a group of riders of friends or those we might have just met. All while wearing red lipstick, which for us has become our calling card. It wasn’t deliberate, but we have found that we have become attached to it - we love that we can wear our femininity on our face whilst opening the throttle on a purring machine.
At this point we would like to acknowledge all female riders who have come before us. We are so lucky that today no one thinks twice about a female riding a motorcycle, but we can imagine that this was not always the case. Through their paving the way we have been able to find our own little part of the moto community, with acceptance and ease.
We were surprised that we started to get some attention out there on the road, and we decided we’d like to use The Throttle Dolls as a way to encourage even more women to get out there and get their licence. Nina says that she even hopes it shows that when you do something you are passionate about, great things can happen, so whatever you are dreaming about – on or off the motorcycle – just get out there and do it. Our Instagram page is now a creative outlet for us, a little insight into our brains. Bikes Bikes, Bikes, interesting modifications or details, moto fashion, local or international female riders that we are inspired by, our own adventures… We have also started our monthly girls-only meet up called The Throttle Dolls Girl Gang, so if you are in Sydney and ride or would like to start, come join us! Check out our Facebook page for more info.
But don’t get us wrong, even though we’re three independent girls who love learning how to change the oil, we still have a long way to go about understanding the mechanics and lingo and we make no secret about it. We want girls to know that you don’t need to be an expert in order to get your licence… if you’re keen for the right reasons then all you’ve got to do is make the booking.
For us motorcycles have become part of our daily lives, from the commute to work and sometimes having to suck it up and ride in the torrential rain, to spending every last cent on modding up our bikes and talking about motorcycles way too much. Every single time, from the moment we start the engine to kicking down the side stand we’re grinning from ear to ear. And if we’re riding with each other… well, that’s our little slice of heaven and there’s not much more in life that tops it.
Heleana is a force of nature. The founder of In Venus Veritas and The Petrolette, and a co-founder of Rising Sun Workshop. Heleana shares her love of vintage cars, riding motorcycles, and (not-so-secretly) dreams of flying planes and piloting a riva aquariva (a la Sophia Loren) very fast through the canals of Venice. Supportive and connected, community is her lifeblood, and she is as real as they come.
