So what does it take to become a member of the Caramel Curves? “Being a Caramel Curve is about being a woman and loving to ride a motorcycle,” Ms. Beatty said. “Even if you just had a thought that you may want to do it, come on, girl, you can do that.” (She would welcome women of any skin tone into the group, she said, because it would make the Curves “a truly diverse group.”) But that’s not all. Several women “prospect” — try out — for anywhere from 90 days to a year with the group. During that time, they must commit to several community service events, like fund-raisers to buy bicycles for young girls . They must prove their riding skills to the rest of the group over months of ride-alongs, both around town and out of state, to Florida or Texas, or to one of the most popular bike gatherings in the South: Black Bike Week at Myrtle Beach, S.C. They also have to complete an “obstacle ride,” which in New Orleans means a trip to a second-line parade, completing maneuvers like jumping sidewalks when the roads are blocked and dodging broken glass and rowdy crowds. Even if the prospects pass those tests, they’ve still got to have their own bike; the Curves’ bikes range from $6,000 to $22,000.

Then there’s the question of safety. Ms. Beatty points out that a lot of women never get started riding because they are afraid of getting hurt. “People do fear for your safety,” Ms. Smith said with a laugh. “They always say, ‘Be careful, honey!’” Even once you’re a veteran rider, that risk remains, especially when you’re pulling stunts like the women of the Curves. Nellie Brooks, known as Quiet Storm, admits she rides a Can-Am Spyder — a three-wheel bike that looks like a Power Wheels dream for adults — because the design diminishes the chance of tipping over. (Asked why she’s called Quiet Storm, she responded: “Because I’m quiet,” and then said nothing else.)