WIMA, Women’s International Motorcycle Association

WIMA is for all women interested in motorcycling, of any age or ability. We’re not campaigners and we’re not anti-men. Many of our men come along on rides and to events.

Our history

WIMA, Women’s International Motorcycle Association, was founded by Louise Scherbyn, an American who started riding motorcycles in the 1930s. At the time, this was not only unusual for women, but frowned upon. Scherbyn rode her Indian through the US and Canada and made many contacts with other women interested in motorcycling and, in the 1950s, she founded WIMA with a few others.

In 1958, women from Holland, England, Germany and Switzerland founded WIMA Europe. They put ads into motorcycling magazines to spread the word and get in touch with female motorcyclists. Gradually, individual country divisions were formed in Europe and the association spread further afield to Asia and Oceania.

Today, national WIMA divisions are established in 40 countries all over the world. WIMA has an international government but all national divisions are run independently, with their own governments and organising local and national events. National divisions take turns hosting international rallies, where all WIMA members and their families are invited. Prospective members can also attend. Members of WIMA enjoy a truly international network of support and friendship.