Riana Petanjek

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Riana Petanjek is a rider from Croatia. She rides a Harley Davidson Softail Slim. She has ridden extensively within Croatia and even ridden Route 66 in the USA. She has also authored a book about travel adventures around the world.

Please introduce yourself.
Hi, Riana is the name. I am from Croatia but during the last ten years I have traveled heavily and lived in many other countries. At the moment I live in San Francisco, California, where I’m  working on taking my journalist career to a new level. I am studying video production and editing even though I have degrees in journalism from Croatia and design from Slovenia. I’m the kind of person who always wants to learn more. Journalism is my greatest passion and I want to become an expert some day and this degree will help me get there.  With this goal in mind I have also lived in India during 2013, working as a subeditor of an American web magazine. Having a journalist job for many years has also turned me into who I am today – a travel writer and photographer. When I’m not traveling, working or studying, you will probably find me motorcycling, painting, skiing, kayaking or rock climbing.

Describe your path to how you got to where you are with motorcycling today.
I don’t know exactly at what point and why I fell in love with motorcycling, but I remember that even in my early childhood  I used to hope that one day my bicycle would be substituted by a motorcycle. I was around 11 when I tried to convince my uncle to let me ride his motorcycle, but he was strong enough to say no. After a few years of me annoying him about it constantly, he bought me my first Honda. Even though it was just a scooter, at the time I felt like the whole world was mine. I will never forget the first summer I got it. I didn’t go off it at all.

A few years later before I turned 18, I realized it was time for a bigger one and the first step was to get the driving license to ride one. While working to get the license I was riding a Yamaha Virago XV 250. Alas, soon after that, I had to take a break from riding simply due to lack of money since I had to spend what little I had on my studies. Soon after I graduated though, I bought a Honda CBR 125, again the only one I  could afford at that point. My Honda never let me down and we rode hundreds of miles, even though riders on the big bikes would think I was strange for taking a small bike like that on long distance tours. Of course, I did get the chance to ride different kinds of motorcycles in the mean time, just none of them officially belonged to me.

Soon after, Harleys came into my life and my Honda seemed too small. Harley Davidson in Croatia was the sponsor of my Route 66 adventure (I rode a Harley Davidson Softail Heritage on the classic old road from Chicago to Los Angeles in the United States) and I got the chance of riding every possible Harley in their store before I even went on the trip. I am a travel writer in Croatia and I was publishing stories from Route 66 on a popular Croatian website, so this was the reason Harley decided  to become my official sponsor. On the Route 66 I was riding .

These days I ride a Harley Davidson Softail Slim. For me, it is the world’s greatest, most beautiful motorcycle. It was love at first sight. I like that it has just as strong of an engine as the bigger Harleys (like the Softail Heritage) but it is still lighter and easier for me to handle. What I like most is that it’s so low! When you’re not all that tall, that is a blessing. It just feels right and natural when I’m riding it.

Do you have a motorcycling achievement that you take pride in?
I am proud on my Route 66 adventure , just because  I did it by myself. I am also proud that I did the whole coast in my country several times, before Harley came into my life, on a bike that really isn’t  for long distance rides, proving that often all you need  is passion and nothing else. 

What’s your favorite motorcycling story to tell others?
The story goes something like this – a boy and a girl meet. They have a love affair. The girl has no idea that boy has a motorcycle back home and he has no idea that the girl is a rider too. They never talked about it. A year later  they meet again. He comes to meet her on his motorcycle. She feels in love with him even more. Unfortunately they didn’t live happily ever after, but when somebody asks me if it matters to me if a guy is a rider too, I think not, but subconsciously I think “yes”. :)   

Have you done any long distance road trips?
Except for Route 66- Chicago to L.A. I did whole Croatia and big part of Slovenia. It’s hard to say which one is the favorite one, they were all amazing in a different way.

Is there any other kind of motorcycling that you’d like to try your hand at?
Yes I would definitely like to try some enduro one day.      

Have you made any close female friendships due to motorcycling?
To be honest – no. All the close friendships I have made motorcycling are with male riders. I just don’t know that many female riders. I hope Global Women Who Ride might change this! 

Do you do maintenance and repairs on your bike?
When it comes to the Harley, I leave everything to the professionals, except for maybe filling air in the tires. But with my Honda, I at least lubricated the chain, checked and changed the oil, and replaced the battery.

If you could design your dream motorcycle, what would it look, sound and feel like? 
I’d probably want something like the Batmobile, except it would be a motorcycle. :) 

Do you have any advice for people who want to get into motorcycling?
After you try it, most of the time there’s no going back. You will probably love it very much and you won’t be able to live without it anymore, but you should take it seriously. It is an amazing toy in a way, but it is also a really dangerous toy if you’re not cautious.
 

RIDING MOTORCYCLES IN CROATIA

If I were to visit you and we went riding for one short morning ride, where would you take me?
If you visited me in Zagreb – the capital city of Croatia – I would definitely take you to Sljeme. It is a mountain located about 16 km  from the city centre. It is an amazing road with constant curves where you ride literally through the middle of a forest. Even better is that it’s a one way road. One side is only for riding towards the top of the mountain and the other one is for going back to the city. When on top, you reach an altitude of 1033 m, so you get the best city view of Zagreb and the area around it. Since it is the most popular skiing place in Croatia during winter and really popular for hiking during the summer, you will find several restaurants offering typical Croatian food for the region and you won’t regret eating there. If you want to stay for the night you can also find a room on the top.     ( Photos where I’m riding in a wedding dress and one other which is in the woods are both from this road )

[Link to Route] 

What’s the best part about riding in Croatia?
The amazing  diversity! That is something that could impress any rider. On the coast you can ride literally right next to the clean blue sea surrounded by olive trees or lavender fields. Between the coast and the northern part of the country, there are many hills, mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. If you decide to head towards the eastern part of the country, you will find more flat lands with wheat fields.

What kind of food can riders expect to stop for on the way that is typical to the region?
This depends on the part of the country you are exploring.  If you’re on the coast you could get amazing fish or seafood. The north part is more about meat, especially grilled pork and beef, and the famous cevapi.  The area between the coast and the north is also famous for prosciutto and lamb, often prepared in typical local way called pod pekom where they put lamb with vegetables or octopus with potatoes under an iron bell, cover it with live coal, and leave it like that for a few hours. Istria, the biggest Croatian peninsula, is popular for dishes prepared with truffles.

 If a motorcyclist from another country visited your country, what are the top rides you would recommend?
The top ride I simply adore and many riders love is the ride along the Croatian coast. The best option would be if you took the old road all the way from Dubrovnik to Zagreb or in the opposite direction, and include the Istria peninsula, stopping at the national parks along the way. Even if you don’t have the time to do the whole thing, riding just a small part of the Croatian coast is an amazing experience. Make sure you are not taking the new highway since it goes inland and you will miss riding next to the sea and beaches.

[Link to Route] 

What are the best months for riding?
From April to October. 

Is it safe to ride at night where you live?
Croatia overall is a safe country, so I don’t think anyone could have any safety issues anywhere and at any time when riding there. 

Is motorcycle theft a problem?
I really don’t believe so. I haven’t heard anyone having their motorcycle stolen, but sometimes riders who don’t have a garage do put a disc lock and a chain when they leave bikes outside constantly.  

Are there any motorcycle specific laws?
Motorcyclists must wear helmets all the time.  Lane splitting or filtering  is allowed if you respect lane markings. Most of the time even if you do it where you shouldn’t, the police won’t chase you down. 

How do the police treat motorcyclists?
I think they actually treat us better than car drivers. I have a feeling that they often forgive us for minor mistakes than they do to car drivers.

Can you describe the motorcycle license test?   
You take the written test first ( traffic related)  then you take first aid test. Once you pass them both you are ready to take driving classes. After a certain number of them – it used to be 30 when I was doing it – you are ready to take the driving test.  

Do you have access to high quality women’s motorcycling gear in your part of the world?
All I really need is Harley Davidson Zagreb, I believe I would wear their clothes even if I wasn’t a rider. Their shop in Zagreb is one of the best ones in this part of Europe. There are many other stores for other brands in  Zagreb, so a true biker shouldn’t have a problem with getting all they need. 

What kinds of motorcycling events are held regularly?
When it comes to events there are quite a few of them during the summer. It usually includes some music concert, beers and many bikers. I didn’t attend them that often, but I was really glad to be the official journalist of the biggest Harley Days in Croatia last year.

Are any motorcycle related sports popular where you live and do women actively participate in them?
There are a few but they are really not that popular. I hope things will change in the future.

How are women motorcycle riders treated by most people and by male motorcyclists?
I think with respect and admiration, especially by other women riders or non-riders.  

Do female and male motorcyclists have the same amount of freedom to pursue motorcycling activities?
In Croatia they do, but I am aware that this is not the case in many other countries.