If you’ve been around the motorcycle community long enough, you’ve probably heard someone say:
“You’re going to grow out of that bike.”
“Why start small you can handle more power”
“You’ll get bored of that 300cc in a month.”
But here at Chic Riot, a brand built for women riders, we’ve seen a different truth unfold again and again. This idea that you’ll “grow out of a motorcycle” isn’t just outdated, it comes from a place that doesn’t really honor how real riders build skill, confidence, and long-term love for riding.
Where Did the “Grow Out of It” Myth Even Come From?
1. Ego-Driven Riding Culture
For decades, riding culture, especially in the U.S. was built around horsepower, bravado, and “bigger is better.” A lot of riders (usually men, if we’re being honest) made engine size the measure of skill. So telling someone they’d grow out of a small bike was really a way of saying: “You’ll get cooler when you ride something more powerful. It wasn’t about safety. It wasn’t about growth. It was about image.
2. Motorcycle Marketing in the 80s & 90s
Brands pushed bigger bikes as the “real” bikes, even though smaller bikes were proven to help riders develop far better control. The industry planted the idea that graduating to a higher-cc bike was some kind of rite of passage.
3. Lack of Focus on Women Riders
Women weren’t the target market for decades. Gear wasn’t made for us, training wasn’t marketed to us, and “start small, build skill” was rarely part of the conversation because most advice assumed a big, tall, heavy rider.
Now, with more women entering motorcycling, and brands like Chic Riot making gear actually designed for women, the conversation is shifting and that’s a good thing.
Why “Growing Out of a Motorcycle” Isn’t Really a Thing
1. You don’t grow out of a motorcycle; you grow as a rider. Skill has nothing to do with engine size and everything to do with comfort, control, and confidence. A smaller bike might actually fit your needs for years depending on how and where you ride.
2. Every bike teaches you something different.
A 300 can teach you throttle control.
A 500 can teach you highway stability.
A 700 or 900 can teach you power management.
You’re not graduating, you’re expanding your skills.
3. A smaller bike is NOT a beginner bike, it’s a smart bike. Many experienced riders intentionally ride lower-cc bikes because they’re: lightweight, fun, forgiving, less physically demanding and perfect for city or twisty riding— no one grows out of fun.
4. Confidence > Cubic Centimeters
You can buy power, but you can’t buy confidence.
You build that, ride by ride.
Why Starting on a Lower-CC Bike Makes You a Better Rider
This is the part most new riders especially women aren’t told enough.
1. Muscle memory comes fast, a lighter bike lets you focus on skill instead of wrestling with weight.
2. Mistakes are less punishing, every rider stalls. Every rider misjudges a turn. Smaller bikes make the learning curve gentler and safer.
3. You build true riding instincts instead of relying on power to get out of a mistake, you learn technique.
4. You can gain confidence sooner, confidence isn’t just a feeling, it’s a tool. And it builds way faster on a bike that feels like an extension of your body.
5. You actually enjoy the learning process, the first months of riding shouldn’t feel like a fight. They should feel like freedom.
The Real Growth Path for a Rider
Here’s what a healthy, long-term motorcycling looks like:
1. Start small enough to learn without fear.
2. Ride often enough to build real experience.
3. Move up only when YOU feel ready, not because someone tells you to.
4. Choose bikes based on fit, comfort, purpose, and joy.
Growth is personal. Not linear. Not competitive. And definitely not measured in cc’s.
At Chic Riot, we believe riders should grow into themselves, not out of their bikes.
As a brand creating women’s motorcycle gear that’s made to fit YOU, we’ve seen firsthand how much more empowered riders are when they start on machines that build confidence instead of fear. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone. You don’t need a bigger bike to validate your riding, and you don’t need to apologize for learning at your own speed. You’re not growing out of a motorcycle; you’re growing into the rider you’re meant to be, and we’ll ride with you through every chapter.
