THE WRENCH
Kristen Lassen
Photos by Six Speed / Drew Martin , Paul Vincent , Christopher Rank
“ I ’ ve learned all this stuff from my dad ,” Kristen said . “ I wanted to be able to look back and see this time I cherish with him . Motorcycles are our common language .”
Kristen Lassen started riding at age 17 thanks to her dad , who made her take a class and get her motorcycle license . And once she had her license it was off to Sturgis . “ We ended up riding to Sturgis from Pensacola , Florida ,” she said , “ and I pretty much learned to ride on that trip . Took a Sportster , explored the country and spent time getting to know my dad . That trip sucked me into it , and I couldn ’ t get enough of riding .”
Surprisingly , it was a motorcycle crash that launched her deeper journey into motorcycling . “ We were going up to Tail of the Dragon ,” she recalled . “ I was sick and ended up pushing myself too hard and blacked out , going straight on a curve toward a cliff , colliding with an oncoming motorcycle . I broke a lot of stuff and spent that whole summer at my dad ’ s house , where he took care of me . During that time I reevaluated my life . I was in college studying Environmental Engineering and didn ’ t know what path I wanted to be on . I realized I really liked the motorcycle thing , so I went to the Motorcycle Mechanics Institute ( MMI ) in Orlando , Florida .”
After graduating from MMI Lassen moved back to Pensacola and went to work for a Harley-Davidson dealer as a mechanic , and currently works at an independent bike shop . But beyond wrenching , motorcycles have permeated her life in every way over the past few years . “ While I was in Orlando , Leticia Cline , me and a few other women started up an all-girls riding group called the Iron Lilies ,” she says . “ We started infiltrating the area and worked with local Harley dealers . It was super fun , and that was the first year I went to Mama Tried .”
OEMs and other companies have also taken notice of her skills , both on and off the bike . Lassen was featured in Harley-Davidson ’ s Live Your Legend campaign , did promotional video work for MMI , went on to do Harley ’ s Find Your Freedom campaign , and even starred with Jason Momoa and Ludacris in the 2018 reveal of the Harley Softail line . Just a few weeks ago she was involved with the Michelin Commander III campaign , and she ’ s also been hired by American Flat Track as a lifestyle photographer .
Her advice to other women who want to ride ? Leave fear behind ! “ Fear is something a lot of women seem to struggle with when they start to ride ,” she says , “ and I try to remind other women that they ’ ll get over their fears . Fear keeps us from attaining what we want in life . Sometimes it ’ s difficult or scary , but if you want to do it , just go for it !”
Follow Kristen on Instagram @ ladylassen or visit her website : www . theladylassen . com
— JOY BURGESS
Kristen recently rode on the Michelin Commander III intro at Daytona Bike Week along with a couple other badass moto ladies .
54 | MAY 2020 | THUNDERPRESS . NET