Smellofgasoline aka Leona has worked with Team KEDO Tunisia explored. With dust on your face, the smell of petrol in the air and your heart beating to the beat of the engine, you live @smellofgasoline for adventures on two wheels.
Whether on off-road tracks, winding country roads or wrenching in the workshop - she shares her passion for motorcycles authentically and unfiltered, always with the aim of inspiring others for life with motorcycles.
Photo from @hass.moto
As trite as it may sound, riding a motorcycle means freedom to me. Not necessarily in the "wind in my hair and the highway under my tires" sense, even if that feeling does occur from time to time, but rather in the way that I really have time for myself on the bike. Even if I'm just running errands or riding my bike from A to B, by choosing a two-wheeler I'm consciously deciding against a way of being on the road where I could do other things on the side. I can't eat, answer emails or read while I'm on the bike. When I decide to ride a motorcycle, I make a conscious decision to do so. It's especially nice when I'm on tour with the bike. Just being for several days. Being and enjoying.
I've always had a passion for motorcycles. I've always been attracted to them and have wanted to ride a motorcycle for as long as I can remember. Nevertheless, there were certainly a few things that influenced my path towards motorcycles. When I was born, my father had a sidecar fitted to his motorcycle at the time so that I could ride along as a baby. However, I never found sitting in the sidecar particularly exciting. (I would now like to try it out properly off-road or on the racetrack). There were two boys in my primary school class who rode trials and a bit of motocross. I thought that was really cool back then and would have loved to do it too. As a teenager, I got together with one of the boys from back then and took part in various motorcycle events with him. At that time, I learned how wonderful this community is.
How did you come to travel by motorcycle? What were your biggest worries? What were you most looking forward to?
The reason for my first major trip on a motorcycle was Berger. Or rather his 60th birthday, for which we gave him a rally in Tunisia as a present - and then we had to go along somehow. So I went to Tunisia with minimal off-road experience. I had worries at all ends... The first trip on a motorcycle... What do I need to take with me, can my bike handle it, are my riding skills good enough, what are the right tires... and and then also be riding off-road. I couldn't even ride standing up before the trip and, apart from a few hours at the hazel rodeo, had never ridden on anything other than asphalt. But I was really looking forward to riding a lot of motorcycles, learning new skills and getting to know a new country.
I had to slowly feel my way around the first few bends. After only 1 1/2 hours of sleep on a brand new, unfamiliar bike, it was a bit of a challenge. But it quickly became a lot of fun and it was nice to notice how I became more and more experienced.
And then to top it all off: the Club of Newchurch. What was your first impression when you arrived in Neukirchen?
It was super cool to see how the village of Neukirchen was transformed into "Newchurch" during the five days we spent in the Alps. A mountain village that suddenly became a colorful, lively motorcycle festival. . Spending time with old and new friends, enjoying the weather, partying and looking at bikes - there are few things better!
How do you experience the motorcycle scene as a woman? Have things changed in your eyes in recent years? Is it becoming more colorful, more diverse, more accessible?
Basically, I was always surrounded by lots of great, strong women right from the start, who made me feel welcome and exactly right in this scene. However, there is still a big problem with the fact that women are often not taken seriously or taken seriously and sexist or condescending remarks are made. This can quickly spoil the mood, but I don't let it take away from my enjoyment of motorcycling.
20 years of club spirit, custom culture and community - and a farewell that was anything but quiet.
For three days there was music, festival atmosphere, good conversation - and of course the legendary ROKKER RACE.
Photo from @hass.moto
My first motorcycle, my Honda NX650, was a direct hit. I still love this bike and it taught me everything I know about old motorcycles. Old motorcycles just smell so nice of gasoline - that's why I call myself Smell of Gasoline on social networks.
I like to do my own repairs. It's just a great feeling to have repaired something that was broken myself. But for things that are new to me, like my engine failure two years ago, I'm also happy when friends with the relevant expertise are there and I can ask questions.
You screw with friends from time to time - what is the best thing about this time in the workshop for you? And: What has been your biggest "aha" moment so far when you've been wrenching?
As I said above, it's just great to get things running again. Anything that makes the bike nicer and better is of course even nicer. Then something doesn't have to be broken first and, in the best case scenario, the bike is simply even better than it already was after the work. My coolest experience was taking the engine apart once and putting it back together again after the repair and then realizing that it works again.
Is there a motorcycle trip that you still really want to do?
I would love to ride in Morocco. And in the Balkans. Countries where you can really enjoy off-roading, with beautiful landscapes. To experience the cultures and the people.
You say you want to encourage women to get on a bike themselves - what would you specifically like to see from the scene to make this more successful?
You need women as role models, like the ones I had. Women who are there to welcome you, accompany and support you along the way. Here and there it can also make sense to offer events and tours without men, as this gives you the opportunity to gain experience on a motorcycle and create lasting memories without external pressure and negative comments from men.
How was your first time on an XT or SR? Do you remember the feeling or typical "beginner's mistakes"?
My first time on an XT was also my first time off-road. On Nina's (Rengas) XT at the muddy Haselrodeo 2023, which of course I couldn't get started again after stalling in the mud. Later in the day, I failed on Markus XT with the deco lever like a beginner and couldn't get the bike started again after I stalled it.
Is there a moment on the bike that you will never forget - a scene that has really stuck in your mind?
Oh, there are a few things that have stuck with me. On the negative side, my first accident was when I crashed into a tree with a fresh driver's license because I failed to negotiate a bend. The whole Tunisia rally was actually positive. The friends I was on the road with, who were so kind and considerate of me, and the feeling that I was getting better and safer day by day. Slowly becoming addicted to traveling by motorcycle.
