Page 25 - LHR Motorcycle Magazine August 2024
P. 25
ride one day in 1983. I got hooked line and sinker.
Since then I promised myself that I was going to get
one. Unfortunately through my line of work then I saw
many injuries related to motorbike accidents and I put
the idea at the back of my mind.
In 2013 a colleague of mine brought me a catalogue
from a Harley Davidson dealership and reminded me
of the talk I’d had with her back in 2008 on how I loved
motorbikes and how emotional I got when I heard their
sound. Believe it or not, that same week for my fiftieth
Name: Lydia Batho-Batho Mahlangu birthday I went to the dealership and ordered a bike. I
Age: 52 did not know how to ride a bike or bicycle for that
Country: South Africa matter.
Languages: English, Afrikaans, Sepedi, Setswana,
Isizulu, Isixhosa I had to get a Learner’s License before the dealership
Years Riding: 2 could process the purchase. I went to a riding school
Current Motorcycles: Harley Davidson 883 Superlow and came back purple and blue after falling all over
Past Motorcycles: None the place. I was advised to cancel the purchase and
Kms Per Year: 1 500 buy a bicycle instead. One of the guys had said that I
Please introduce yourself. I am a divorced mother of a was his mom’s age and she’d never consider
23 year old daughter. I have a bubbly personality and motorcycling as a hobby. Through determination and
I’m an extrovert. I grew up a tomboy in Pretoria, perseverance I looked for a private instructor who was
Gauteng province. I trained as a general nurse, patient. He took me through the baby steps until I was
completed midwifery and specialised in Operating able to ride my own bike during my lessons. I can
Theatre technique where I assisted in major surgical proudly say I ride very well and I’m still riding my 883
procedures from delivery of babies to mending broken Superlow Harley.
bones. I am currently working for the South African
Police Service medical aid. After two months of training I was invited by a group of
ladies – Angels on Bikes – to join them for a ride. I did
I used to play golf until I got into motorcycling. I like not know the destination but at least I would be on the
travelling and reading. I have a bucket list of things I road for the first time. I will never forget that day. I was
would like to do before I die: white river rafting but first I so nervous. I convinced myself that it was just a short
must learn how to swim, bungee jumping on the ride, only to find that I was mistaken. We rode for 200
Zambezi River at Victoria Falls, and lastly to see the kms to Mpumalanga in another province of South
Serengeti migration in a hot air balloon. Africa.
I continued to ride with other ladies to gain confidence.
Describe your path into motorcycling. My neighbor Now I’m contemplating doing a advanced riding
had a boyfriend who rode a bike and he took me for a course.
Interview with a Biker
