GOING DEEPER:
with The Throttle Dolls
GOING DEEPER presents three best friends, Nina, Maria and Erica… otherwise known as The Throttle Dolls.
Having ridden with the Sydney Café Racers, and quickly learning that being on the road with your best friends was the best way to travel, the girls decided it was time to form their unique gang.
From custom retro to vintage bike culture, these girls have a true passion for anything with two wheels and an engine. For them, motorcycles have become part of their 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 their bikes and talking about motorcycles way too much. Every single time, from the moment they start the engine to kicking down the side stand they grinning from ear to ear.
In this exclusive interview, we sit down with Doll Erica, as we learn all about their biking adventures, their favourite places in the world to ride, what really is so special about being on two wheels and their tips on how to get into biking as a first timer.
Dolls, thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us today. We’re so excited to have you involved with our ‘Going Deeper’ series.
Thank YOU for having us. We absolutely love BODA SKINS so we’re excited to be a part of it.
So, let’s start from the beginning for anyone who doesn’t know you yet. Who are ‘The Throttle Dolls’?
The Throttle Dolls is the name of a motorcycle girl gang that was born in Sydney Australia in 2014 by three best friends - Nina, Erica & Maria. The idea came about quite early on in our riding together, we thought it would be something fun and a way to document our adventures. From the start we wanted it to be authentic to who we all were - fun, adventurous women, who could easily move between being ultra feminine and at the same time be wild and free.
For example, we often wear red lipstick while riding. It makes us feel good to just be ourselves. We don't want to be put in a box, and we’re loving that so many female riders resonated with that.
We really didn't realise at the time that we’d connect with so many people all over the world in the moto community. We love being part of the community, and hope to make people smile when they follow our adventures.
Nina is wearing WARRIOR. Shop the Warrior 2.0 here
Where did your passion for motorbikes come from? Has it always been something you’ve all been interested in from a young age?
Both Nina and Maria’s Mum’s ride motorcycles, and Nina grew up in Sweden, so her teenage years were spent on a scooter, while Maria had dirt bikes on her family farm. So for both of them, riding was something they were a little more confident with. Me (Erica) - I’ve always been interested in riding, mainly for the way it represents freedom and adventure. All three of us got our motorcycle licences around the same time.
Do you remember your first times riding a bike - was it love at first ride?
YES! Riding a motorcycle is kind of the same feeling you get when you get off a rollercoaster - you can’t help but smile from ear to ear.
"Riding a motorcycle is kind of the same feeling you get when you get off a rollercoaster - you can’t help but smile from ear to ear."
We’ve been huge fans of you ladies for a long time now and we’ve seen you travel to some amazing places. What would you say has been your favourite trip together and why?
There’s been some epic places. Hard to narrow it down but here’s a few of our favourites…
Wheels & Waves festival in Biarritz. It’s such a buzz to have thousands of riders all in the same place, with amazing motorcycles, music, fashion, food. Getting out to see all the cool races like Punks Peak. And the ride getting to the event through France & Spain is spectacular, especially when you do it with a big crew like we did.
Riding California’s PCH from LA to Big Sur & back was another incredible experience. This was such a beautiful ride because the road hugs the coastline for miles, riding through the giant redwood trees, and getting to stop at some amazing little roadside motels that the USA does so well.
Bali! It’s a crazy place to ride. So much traffic, everyone is on bikes! (mainly scooters) Once you get out of the towns and into nature it’s stunning. Riding through the rice fields, or along the coastline under palm trees is just beyond beautiful. And the people are so friendly and kind.
Finally, riding in Buenos Aires was so so good, because we met the best crew there simply by putting up a post on instagram, and we got to meet the most generous people like bike builder STG Tracker who loaned us free bikes and took us on some epic rides around the city.
They say ‘4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul’… What makes riding a motorbike so special to you?
It’s an unexplainable feeling, but we’ll try… Imagine the feeling of being completely free, nothing else matters but you and your bike. Unlike a car, all your senses are awakened, so you feel the sun on your face, you can smell your surroundings, your moto is purring. It’s moving mediation. And let’s face it, it’s pretty damn cool too so you get an extra spring in your step!
Motorbikes, traditionally, can be seen as quite a masculine hobbie. Have you ever had to deal with any negativity or sexist comments from people through your journey together? If so, how do you deal with this?
When we started riding, there were of course women already out there on the road, so we definitely weren’t the first by any stretch of the imagination. We were really lucky to have the Sydney Cafe Racer & Rising Sun Workshop crews who helped us with any questions we had, giving us advice or tips when we needed it. However, when we started The Throttle Dolls we did represent a different type of rider, and although there were a few people who didn't love us, overall we have felt love from the community. We try to remember you can’t be for everyone.
Our instagram followers are very supportive of us, we feel lucky to have found them.
Erica is wearing the Warrior. Shop the Warrior 2.0 here
If you could take a trip and ride together anywhere in the world where would it be?
We have been dreaming of an Alaska summertime ride through one of the many stunning national parks. Or Mexico - stopping off at little towns for tacos and tequila at night sounds pretty epic.
"Imagine the feeling of being completely free, nothing else matters but you and your bike."
You ladies have been riding for years now and are seasoned pros, what would be your advice to anyone, male or female, who wants to get into biking for the first time?
Stop putting it off and just do it! Everyone who rides ‘regrets’ not starting earlier.
Try to have a friend to learn with, it’s more fun if you can learn together.
Practice in the backstreets. Hill starts, parking. Don't ride on highways until you feel comfortable.
Choose a bike that’s learner appropriate. Eg it’s not too heavy, your feet can easily touch the ground, and not too expensive so if you knock it over then it’s not the end of the world (as you’ll almost certainly drop a bike in your first few months of learning).
Be super cautious. Never assume people in cars can see you. It’s better to be really safe.
What does the future look like for the ‘Dolls’? Have you any exciting projects you can tell us about or trips you are planning together?
We’ve just launched our new website www.thethrottledolls.com and our new online store where you can buy Dolls merch.
We have officially opened up our ‘girl gang’ so that anyone can become a Doll. Being a Throttle Doll is a state of mind, and we want to invite women from all over the world to join us. Check out our blog for more information.