UPPER UWCHLAN — Jackie Lauer’s husband has a 2008 Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide.

Crystal Killian’s husband has a 1992 Harley Soft Tail.

Now the two Lancaster County women want Harleys of their own.

If their dreams come true, they will find plenty of female company on the road.

According to the manufacturer, 12 percent of new Harley-Davidson purchasers are women, compared to 4 percent in 1990.

The Motorcycle Industry Council estimates that one in 10 U.S. motorcyclists is a woman.

To get the how-to on getting behind the handlebars of their own motorcycles, Lauer and Killian attended a women-only garage party at Smaltz’s Harley-Davidson in Eagle on Saturday. For a corporation with a logo of an American eagle, the event started off in the right place.

Killian said she was interested in a Harley Sportster, something smaller than her husband has.

“I don’t want to wreck it,” said Killian, of Salisbury. “I like the adventure, to be out on them. I’m just learning. I’m not going very far.”

Lauer was looking for a bike that fits her.

“I know (her husband’s bike) is way too big for me,” said Lauer, of Caernarvon.

Lauer also thinks a motorcycle would be more practical than the family’s snowmobile and four-wheeler that got less and less use as development ate up land that used to be open. Both of those recreational vehicles now have to be towed to some place with open space, she said.

“The Harley would get more use,” Lauer said.

Both women said their husbands were fine with them investigating a Harley purchase.

Sue Flinn of Parkesburg has a Harley Fat Boy, her third cycle.

“I’ve had the best of times and the worst of times on a Harley,” Flinn said.

The best of times is seeing the country, from Tennessee to Vermont, she said. The worst was seeing her friend in an accident.

Ann Smith has been thinking about buying a Harley for the last three or four years, the Valley resident said.

“I want to take it out after work in the country,” Smith said. “I want to leave the rest of the world behind.”

Michael Norton, who arranged for the event at the dealership on Route 100, said it will be first of more women-only gatherings designed to be entertaining and informational with topics covering safety, a review of basic motorcycle controls, how to customize a motorcycle and how to choose proper riding gear.

Nearly 50 women attended, and about half raised their hands when asked if they had ever ridden on the back of a Harley.

Vivian Kermon, a safety instructor and a Smaltz employee, said when she first got her motorcycle she was known as the $50 ride because every time she brought her cycle in for repairs she had $50 of scratches that needed to be fixed.

Kermon has improved and now teaches safety classes.

Men and women are entirely different students, Kermon said.

“Men say, ‘hold my beer’ and they get on and go,” Kermon said. “Women say, ‘what happens if ... ’”