Women’s World - Dirt Bikes & Design

Women’s World GRITTY DIRT BIKES AND GRAPHIC DESIGN

Kim Teems of Chattanooga, Tennessee grew up riding on the One very painful lesson is that on an adventure bike you can back of her dad’s motorcycle. As an adult with two small daughters, jump off the bike and let the bike go down. Kim didn’t! She blew she went back to college. She took the MSF class to get a out her knee. She had to recover mentally and physically as that motorcycle license so she could use her dad’s Honda 500-4 as accident really messed with her head. Still, she was determined to transportation to and from school. In fact, her first solo ride was to master adventure riding. class! Kim became involved with FACES: The National Craniofacial

It wasn’t long before Kim was using her education in graphic Association. She used her connections in the motorcycle community design, her love for bikes and her hobby of taking photos all to plan a poker run event as a fundraiser for them. Kim coordinated together for business. While taking photos at a H.O.G. Rally with the poker run for several years and it was a major fundraiser her boyfriend, a motorcycle magazine asked to use her photos. for FACES, a non-profit organization that provides education,

While her ‘real job’ was as a graphic designer for The Print empowerment and financial assistance to adults and children with Shop, Kim co-founded a local motorcycle magazine. This allowed craniofacial differences. her to attend bike rallies, poker runs, and other events as a After working as a graphic designer, software trainer and cophotographer. owning another magazine Kim eventually became communications

As she was traveling around to various motorcycle events, Kim director at FACES. She also does freelance graphic design which became familiar with off-road riding and thought it sounded fun. you can check out at KimTeems.com. Then while dating a guy who rode adventure bikes she found the Kim currently has two bikes. A Yamaha XT250 to ride on the dirt best of both worlds as his Suzuki V-Strom could work both on and and a big BMW F800 GS adventure bike. The heavier bike is great off roads. for back roads, dirt roads, and primitive camping.

Kim sold her street bike and got a V-Strom. She could ride it in Motorcycles, graphic design, photography, communications—Kim the woods, on fire roads, on dirt or gravel. This takes different body has blended her skills, talents, and hobbies into an exciting career movements than riding on pavement and it took a while not to feel and fun life! terrified. Always a rebel she thought, “If it scares me I want to!”

Myra McElhaney

BTR 8 | BORNTORIDE.COM If you or someone you know has a unique story contact Myra@MyraMcElhaney.com.