Women Of The Brooklyn Motorcycle Festival

This past weekend, the annual Brooklyn Invitational Custom Motorcycle Show, known as the most badass invitational of the year, returned to New York City with a crowd of female riders who were ready to prove that riding a hog is an activity that ladies can master. People from across the country flocked to ROOT in North Williamsburg to talk all things motorcycles — and show off their rides. What we learned? Riding is so much more than just a form of transportation; it's a lifestyle.

The event, which first started in 2008 by Keino Sasaki, owner of Keino Cycles; John Copeland, a fine-arts painter; and Jeffrey Schad, a professional photographer, features a myriad of incredible bike builders (the Van Goghs of their industry, really) alongside a crowd that challenges society's preconceived notions of motorcycle culture. The most fascinating subculture consisted of the women present — ladies who are breaking all kinds of stereotypes and giving a completely new definition to the phrase "ride or die." They're a seriously awesome, unexpected group making waves in a male-dominated pastime, and they're ready to deal with anyone who stands in their way.

Ahead, we got up-close-and-personal with some of the coolest women at Brooklyn's hottest bike fair.