Fast Babes Featured Rider: @nerissa_mke

Name: Nerissa

Instagram: @nerissa_mke

We’ve never seen Nerissa not smiling. It could be her love for motorcycles or her super positive attitude….either way if you ever meet Nerissa at an event like we did you’ll be instantly welcomed by her genuine personality. She is perfect example of “women support women” and one of the most humble, bad ass babes we’ve encountered.

Where did you grow up and where do you currently reside?

Wisconsin born and raised! I currently live in Milwaukee. I try to hide my accent but occasionally it creeps out. My SoCal friends love it when I say the word bag.

How did you initially get involved with motorcycles?

My dad has a CB750 built up as a custom chopper. He used to plop me on the back with a sparkly (probably expired) helmet he purchased at a garage sale, and we’d cruise everywhere around town. Between the minimal suspension and narrow king/queen seat, it was never a comfortable bike to ride on. But, it really made me fall in love with the feeling of being on a motorcycle. 

When I was 10 years old, my parents split and I moved out with my mom. It wasn’t until I graduated from college many years later that motorcycles came back into my life. I had just landed my first job out of school, and I needed a new hobby. I didn’t have homework or lab reports to take up my evenings anymore. My (now) husband was offered the old Honda cruiser that was collecting dust in his mother’s garage on ONE condition: he had to get his motorcycle license. So, he and I decided to take an MSF class, and you guessed it..I found my new hobby!

When did you get your first bike and what was it? 

My first bike was a 2001 Kawasaki Ninja 500. I bought it off Craigslist and it was a piece of junk, but I didn’t know any better at the time. It was purple and that’s all I cared about! I don’t regret it at all though, I learned so much on that bike and it was a lot of fun. It forced me to get my hands dirty and I learned a lot about properly taking care of my motorcycles.

What do you currently ride and why?

My daily is a 2020 Low Rider S. I’ve owned a few Softails, but I connected with this one better than any other. The Low Rider S is big enough for me to stay comfortable on long road trips, but it’s small and nimble enough that I can maneuver it out of my tiny driveway and bop around the city for bike nights in the summer. I love the mid controls and the dual front discs. 

But, my husband and I also own a 2021 H-D Pan America (I try to steal it from him as often as possible), a 1973 Honda CL350, a 1970-something Kawasaki XS650, two Honda CRF150Fs, and a 2010 Kawasaki KX250. The vintage cruisers are project bikes. The dirt bikes get used for trail riding, ice riding, and flat tracking.

What is your happiest memory that involves motorcycles?

I have a few really impactful memories, it’s tough to narrow them down! Here are 3..
- In July 2019 I spent a week riding from Kingman, AZ to Denver, CO for work. We were performing altitude tests, so we were intentionally hitting every high peak along the way. This was my first time riding through the American Southwest and I was mind-blown with the natural beauty in the landscapes. Even though we were working long hours on this test trip, it will forever be one of my favorite adventures. At one point in Northern AZ we passed a group of wild horses on the side of the road, one of them broke off and started galloping alongside me for about 100 yards. I felt like I was dreaming. I credit this trip for my obsession with the Southwest area of the country. Now, every chance I get, I plan rides through AZ, UT, NV, or CO.

- I mentor a team of high school girls, called the Iron Angels, to rebuild motorcycles into flat trackers. We compete against other area high schools as part of the BUILD Moto program. At the end of each year, the students must complete a pit-stop challenge with no help from the adult mentors. It could be an oil change, a tire change, etc. I’ll never forget the first time I watched our girls spring into action for this timed event. To see their confidence wrenching on the bike, moving as fast as they could, was one of my proudest and happiest moments.

- In June 2021 a friend and I rode from Milwaukee to Seneca Rocks, WV for the annual Grits ‘N Glory campout. The first day we landed right into the massive Cicada Brood X that had hatched in central Ohio. On the second day we spent a few hundred miles pushing our way through the gnarliest thunder and lightening storms I’ve ever experienced, keeping tight on each other’s taillights since we couldn’t see much more than that. In the moment, these experiences felt horrendous, but now I feel incredibly proud of myself and my friend for continuing to push through it together with nothing but the best adventure mindset. I felt like I proved something to myself on that trip, and I am more confident in my own resilience than ever before.

Outside of motorcycles, tell us a little about yourself?

I like being physically active and I’ll try almost any activity once. I particularly enjoy weightlifting, kickboxing, and dancing. Music is a huge piece of my personality; live shows feed my soul and I’m always looking for new artists to explore. I’m also a big foodie, including craft cocktails and craft beer. (Milwaukee’s food scene is very underrated by the way, we have great restaurants here!) I also consider myself to be an avid traveler, I’m on the road any chance I get.

How have you become a more confident rider? Things you’ve done to help you gain confidence? 

A very significant part of my job involves riding to evaluate things that I am working on. Because of this, I have to take advanced rider technique classes to ensure my safety while performing tests. I’ve taken defensive riding classes, Police riding academy, and annually I must pass the advanced riders’ course (equivalent to Advanced MSF). These classes have inspired me to take other courses on my own, particularly for dirt riding and flat track racing. My riding skills and confidence have drastically increased through these classes, so I’ve become a huge advocate for continued education. Miles and time can be great to help build experience, but you may not realize you’re propagating a bad habit until a professional instructor points it out.

Photo by: Jason Watkins @jasonmichaelwatkins

What is your dream trip/bucket list ride(s)?

Riding through Thailand in 2019 sparked my fire for international trips. Taiwan, Canada, tip to tail of the UK, Pakistan, and Nepal are all on my list.
Domestically, I want to ride through the Ozarks and explore more of Utah.
I also dream about ripping around the desert, I’m insanely jealous of my friends in the Southwest who have miles and miles of playground in their backyards.

How do you think motorcycles have changed your life?

I have several small memories over the years that I stow away into a “happy” box in my head, and I’ll reach into that box from time to time when I need a smile. They all involve motorcycles and the people who ride them.

Motorcycles have overwhelmingly been a catalyst for positivity in my life. Some of my favorite people in the world I met through riding. I have formed a career that involves motorcycles. I’ve found a platform to become a mentor and positive influence, two things that are hugely important to me. I’ve developed the confidence to grow into myself and learn how to love the woman I am. I found ME. I can’t imagine my life without motorcycles.

Do you have any upcoming motorcycle trips/rides planned?

Nothing set in stone yet since I’m still waiting to see what the world will be like this summer, but if international travel opens up then my husband and I might rent bikes in Germany for a few days. I also try to make an annual trip to Arizona. I’m considering riding to Babes Ride Out East this year, and I’ll definitely be attending Pussy Ramble in western Michigan again. 

If you ever see me on the road or at an event, please say hi!