Women’s World GRITTY DIRT BIKES AND GRAPHIC DESIGN
Kim Teems of Chattanooga, Tennessee grew up riding on the back of her dad’s motorcycle. As an adult with two small daughters, she went back to college. She took the MSF class to get a motorcycle license so she could use her dad’s Honda 500-4 as transportation to and from school. In fact, her first solo ride was to class! It wasn’t long before Kim was using her education in graphic design, her love for bikes and her hobby of taking photos all together for business. While taking photos at a H.O.G. Rally with her boyfriend, a motorcycle magazine asked to use her photos. While her ‘real job’ was as a graphic designer for The Print Shop, Kim co-founded a local motorcycle magazine. This allowed her to attend bike rallies, poker runs, and other events as a photographer. As she was traveling around to various motorcycle events, Kim became familiar with off-road riding and thought it sounded fun. Then while dating a guy who rode adventure bikes she found the best of both worlds as his Suzuki V-Strom could work both on and off roads. Kim sold her street bike and got a V-Strom. She could ride it in the woods, on fire roads, on dirt or gravel. This takes different body movements than riding on pavement and it took a while not to feel terrified. Always a rebel she thought, “If it scares me I want to!” BTR 8 | BORNTORIDE.COM
One very painful lesson is that on an adventure bike you can jump off the bike and let the bike go down. Kim didn’t! She blew out her knee. She had to recover mentally and physically as that accident really messed with her head. Still, she was determined to master adventure riding. Kim became involved with FACES: The National Craniofacial Association. She used her connections in the motorcycle community to plan a poker run event as a fundraiser for them. Kim coordinated the poker run for several years and it was a major fundraiser for FACES, a non-profit organization that provides education, empowerment and financial assistance to adults and children with craniofacial differences. After working as a graphic designer, software trainer and coowning another magazine Kim eventually became communications director at FACES. She also does freelance graphic design which you can check out at KimTeems.com. Kim currently has two bikes. A Yamaha XT250 to ride on the dirt and a big BMW F800 GS adventure bike. The heavier bike is great for back roads, dirt roads, and primitive camping. Motorcycles, graphic design, photography, communications—Kim has blended her skills, talents, and hobbies into an exciting career and fun life!
Myra McElhaney If you or someone you know has a unique story contact Myra@MyraMcElhaney.com.
