20/08/2026
Meet Hanni Köhler – the Motorcycle Queen of the 1920s. 🏍️
Long before women were commonplace in motorcycle racing, Hanni Köhler was proving that the sport had no gender boundaries.
Born in 1907, the German rider began competing at just 16 years old. Throughout the 1920s, she established herself as one of the era's most accomplished female motorcyclists, taking on races and long-distance events at a time when motorcycle competition was still very much a man's world.
And importantly for us, Hanni raced on Continental tyres.
Continental's own history records that Köhler achieved 10 world records on Continental tyres, including a 1,000-kilometre long-distance record. She was also actively promoted by Continental as a brand ambassador during an era when the company was beginning to recognise the growing role of women in motorcycling and motoring.
Her achievements went far beyond simply being a pioneering female rider. In 1927, at just 19, she won her class in the motorcycle Six Days event, competing against strong male opposition. Contemporary reports praised both her composure and riding ability.
What makes Hanni's story particularly fascinating is the era in which she achieved it. Motorcycle racing and long-distance riding demanded huge levels of skill, endurance and mechanical sympathy—and doing so as a woman carried an additional social significance.
Continental recognised this early. In the 1920s, the company actively supported female racers, helping challenge the idea that motorcycles and motorsport were exclusively for men.
Nearly a century later, the machines and tyres have changed dramatically. The spirit hasn't.
Hanni Köhler was riding into the future—and Continental was along for the ride.