2 Malaysian women gear up for a six-day, 2,005km bike ride across the country

Nor Hasimah (left) and Linda have been planning for the trip across Malaysia since 2021. Photos: Nor Hasimah Nekmat

Two female big bike enthusiasts are embarking on a 2,005km ride across Malaysia tomorrow (May 25), to challenge stereotypes and demonstrate that motorbiking knows no gender boundaries.

Customer experience management head Nor Hasimah Nekmat, 51, and administrative executive Linda Suryani Ab Hamid, 45, plan to complete their journey – themed HER 2005km Ride – across 12 states in six days.

"The objective of the ride is to empower female bikers. We aim to inspire more women to embrace motorcycling as both a passion and a lifestyle," said Nor Hasimah during an interview in Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

'We aim to inspire more women to embrace motorcycling as both a passion and a lifestyle,' says Nor Hasimah.The women will kickstart their journey at 7am in Shah Alam. Nor Hasimah and Linda will ride their Harley Davidson Sportster 883 and 48 respectively through diverse terrains, starting from Selangor before travelling down south to Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor.

On Sunday, they will ride approximately 372km to the East Coast state of Pahang, where they will spend the night in Kuantan.

The following days will see them enjoying the scenic coastal roads of Terengganu and Kelantan, appreciating the beautiful beach views. They will then continue north to Perlis and Kedah before heading to Penang. The rest of their journey will take them south again through Perak, ultimately concluding in Kuala Lumpur on May 30.

"In total, we hope to cover around 380km each day. We will be spacing out our rides to ensure we don’t feel too exhausted during long hours of riding, which can be physically and mentally demanding. We also anticipate potential challenges during our ride, which include adverse weather conditions, given it is the monsoon season, and difficult terrains."

Nor Hasimah (left) and Linda doing some research for their epic journey, which aims to challenge stereotypes and inspire female bikers.

The women have been planning for the trip since 2021. To ensure they are prepared for the long trip, they have been training rigorously, undertaking long rides throughout 2023. They have also made comprehensive arrangements to handle any emergencies that might arise, said Nor Hasimah.

"Extensive preparation has gone into the HER 2005km Ride, including rigorous training sessions, safety drills and route planning. We are equipped with safety gear, including helmets, jackets, gloves and boots, to ensure protection and comfort throughout the journey. Our bikes have been serviced, and we will make pit stops at technical support points along the route. We are taking these measures to ensure we can focus on the journey with peace of mind," said the mother of three from Shah Alam.

Nor Hasimah (left) and Linda ensuring their safety gear is in place before they undertake their journey.

Linda, who has two children, explained that the ride aims to inspire more women to take up motorcycling and challenge traditional gender roles in the biking community.

"The ride supports the broader biking community and female empowerment by showcasing the capabilities and resilience of female riders. We want to inspire a new generation of women to take up motorcycling and pursue their passions with confidence," said Linda, who is from Klang, Selangor, adding that the trip is entirely self-sponsored.

Buckle up: Nor Hasimah (left) and Linda are all set to ride their big bikes across 12 states in Malaysia.

The women are members of the Ladies of Harley Petaling Jaya Chapter. Nor Hasimah said that they will post updates of their ride on Harley Davidson of Petaling Jaya's Instagram.

The estimated cost of their journey is capped at RM5,000, covering fuel, accommodation, food and technical support.