INTERVIEW: Lyz Herrera // Motorcycle Mechanic

MEET LyZ Herrera OF the LITAS SEATTLE

Wrench, Ride, Repeat.

Meet Lyz Herrera, co-founder of The Litas Seattle and a force in the Pacific Northwest motorcycle scene. Originally from Southern California’s Inland Empire, Lyz found her way north and into the garage, where she taught herself to wrench on her first Harley out of pure necessity. What started with YouTube videos and busted knuckles became a full-blown career in motorcycle mechanics. Now a tech at Nash Powersports of Auburn, Lyz is not only rebuilding engines—she’s helping reshape the industry, proving there’s power in showing up as your full, unapologetic self.

Keep reading to learn more about Lyz’s journey from self-taught wrench to professional motorcycle tech, and how she’s using her skills—and her story—to empower the next generation of riders.

ABOUT:

I currently ride a 2017 Harley Davidson FXDL. I was born and raised in Southern California, but I have called Washington state home for the last 5 years. I lived all over the Inland Empire when I was in California, mostly residing in San Bernardino county. I grew up with divorced parents that always had me moving somewhere different what seemed like every year or so. My direction in life and what I wanted to become became blurred; and after high school, I had no real direction or ambition. At that time, I had a very unstable home life, so all my focus was on diving straight into the workforce so I could support myself and be on my own. Fast forward a few years– I finally had a large enough chunk of savings to buy what I’ve only ever dreamed of owning up until that day. My very first motorcycle. My first bike was a 2017 Harley Davidson Iron 883, a beautiful denim red bike that I was so in love with.

HOW IT STARTED:

I started working on bikes thanks to my first motorcycle. I couldn’t afford to take my bike to the dealer for its regular maintenance, so I picked up how to work on my bike on my own. Through many YouTube videos, Harley online forums, and studying my owners manual like a bible, I learned a lot about basic mechanics. I am also very into the Harley stunt scene and dabbled in it a bit, so I’d always have something broken and need fixing on my bike, lol.

I first entered the mechanics industry in 2024 when I applied to Indian Motorcycle of Auburn. I applied to every local motorcycle dealership, but I only received one callback from Indian. I remember spending hours writing down the pitch I’d give to the hiring manager, as I had no real wrenching experience… but I knew wrenching on bikes is what I wanted to do with my life. I wasn’t afraid to get dirty and bust a few knuckles to get the job done. No matter my lack of professional experience, I wanted to learn all I can about the two wheeled machines I’ve grown to mold my life around. Safe to say, the hiring manager saw something in me, as two weeks later I was Indian Motorcycle’s newest tech!

“I wasn’t afraid to get dirty and bust a few knuckles to get the job done. No matter my lack of professional experience, I wanted to learn all I can about the two wheeled machines I’ve grown to mold my life around.”

HOW IT’S GOING:

My greatest success in the industry was fully rebuilding my buddy’s Indian Rogue from the ground up. She got into a really bad accident that left her and her bike pretty mangled. Her bike needed a complete engine rebuild as well as a new frame. It was a heavy weight on my shoulders to rebuild my buddy’s bike to the glory it once was, knowing how little industry experience I had… but it was also the fire under me that I needed. I wanted nothing more than to see her back on her bike and riding with all of us again.

I obsessed over the engine rebuild. I’d think about it even after I clocked out at the end of the day. It took almost four months (had to also wait on a lot of parts) but the engine was finally together and hoisted back into the new frame! Was it going to start up at all? Would it actually run long enough to even test ride? Will it just blow up while riding down the road? My mind played the worst case scenario, but when I flicked that start button, she fired up and hummed so beautifully. I will never forget it.

My biggest challenges in the industry is definitely being taken seriously as a queer female motorcycle mechanic. It’s my passion, but many see me as the lesser or weaker mechanic compared to any of my peers, simply based on my gender. I have learned to have thick skin to continue doing what I do, as I’ve had many days where I came home filthy, bloody, feeling absolutely defeated, and convinced that I don’t belong in a shop. I am now one year into the motorcycle industry, and I feel that a lot of people are surprised I’ve lasted this long. Most of what motivates me is proving to those people that literally ANYONE can do this for a living if you have the passion and drive.

I just acquired a 1980 Honda CM400T that I am turning into a cool bar hopping bobber. It’s definitely the oldest bike I’ve wrenched on. I plan to make it my wife’s first motorcycle, as she’s a newbie to riding and a 400cc would be a great starter bike for her.

COMMUNITY:

The Litas has given me the sense of community I’ve craved all my life, some of my best friends I’ve met through The Litas. They are truly such a powerhouse of inspiration and support, it’s hard not to be inspired by that group of badass women!

ADVICE:

Advice I’d give to those looking to work on their own bikes is to research as much as possible. Having an owners manual is key, literally study that thing and know it like the back of your hand. Don’t be afraid to ask your local bike mechanic lots of questions as a lot of techs love seeing women who are genuinely interested in mechanics!

I want to encourage more women to pursue motorcycle mechanics. It is a rarity to see women in this industry, and I want to change that. Feminine energy is an asset to the shop space! I love working on women’s bikes, as I can answer any questions they have without them having any fear of judgement and can inform them on things they should know or should be keeping an eye out for, to prevent them from a breakdown or a premature visit to my mechanic shop.

PHILOSOPHY:

I guess my personal philosophy would be.. don’t be a dick! I believe in karma and to do as much good as you can in the world. Pay it forward and keep a kind heart.