Photos: Women who ride

Stacie London, Kristin Rademacher and Martell Rose prepare for a group motorcycle ride. The East Side Moto Babes meet up every Tuesday evening for a ride through the Los Angeles area.   (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Emily Hughes, Mai Lei and Jules Peres make conversation in the parking lot of a restaurant before heading off on a group ride.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

Stacie London, founder of the East Side Moto Babes, dons her gloves before heading out on a group ride. Both male and female riders meet up every Tuesday evening.  (Rick Loomis / Los Angeles Times)

East Side Moto Babes founder Stacie London, right, rides through the Second Street tunnel into downtown Los Angeles during a group ride.

Ana Llorente of Highland Park rides through Los Angeles during an East Side Moto Babes group ride. Women are a growing segment of the motorcycle market.  (Ora DeKornfeld / Los Angeles Times)

The East Side Moto Babes meet up every Tuesday evening for a ride through the Los Angeles area.  (Ora DeKornfeld / Los Angeles Times)

Lindsey Hanson stands on her motorcycle during a photo shoot in the parking lot at DeSano Pizza. Female riders are a growing part of the motorcycling population.  (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Tammy Hilton, left, and Michelle VanVilet hang out at a biker gathering in Los Angeles.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Female motorcycle riders hang out in the parking lot at DeSano Pizza for a biker gathering in Los Angeles.   (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Female riders are a growing part of the motorcycling population, and are seen by manufacturers as a key demographic.

Erika Willhite of West Side Motorcycle Academy teaches beginners how to safely ride a motorcycle.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

Amanda Cunningham of West Side Motorcycle Academy gives instruction to beginners in a parking lot in Los Angeles.  (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)