Posted on 03/30/2005 3:01:07 AM PST by Melas
You Are What You Ride: Progressive Survey Finds Differences Between Harley and Sport Bike Riders Go Beyond Bike Type
Wednesday March 9, 1:33 pm ET
Both Dig Body Art But Harley Riders More Likely to Wear What They Ride, Says America's Top Motorcycle Insurer
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 9, 2005-- What can you tell about a person by the kind of motorcycle they ride? Plenty, according to a recent countrywide online survey conducted by The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, the number one seller of motorcycle insurance in the U.S. The survey finds interesting differences - and similarities - between Harley-Davidson riders and those who ride sport bikes.
For example, everyone knows that Harley riders wear their passion for biking on their sleeve... literally. The survey finds Harley riders are three times more likely than those who ride sport bikes to own clothing or artwork that displays the brand of motorcycle they ride (93 percent versus 30 percent, respectively). Harley riders are also more likely to have body art such as tattoos and piercings (52 percent versus 40 percent).
The survey also finds that Harley riders are more likely than those who ride sport bikes to plan rides around where they'll eat (32 percent versus 23 percent).
Sport bike riders are three times more likely to eat at fast-food restaurants (18 percent versus six percent), while riders of Harleys are nearly four times more likely to pick restaurants with the nicest looking waiters/waitresses (11 percent versus three percent).
The survey confirms that both rider groups have much in common, too. For example, both say "freedom" is the number one reason they ride. And though sport bikes are commonly known as "crotch-rockets" or "road-rippers," only six percent of those who ride them say they do so for "speed" while fewer than one percent of Harley riders say the same. Both groups listed the same top excuses for justifying a quick ride: running errands, testing the engine and visiting friends.
Progressive's survey also finds that ninety-five (95) percent of all riders acknowledge their fellow bikers while riding. Waving is the preferred method of acknowledgement (37 percent), although Harley riders are nearly twice as likely to acknowledge other riders by pointing two fingers down (29 percent versus 16 percent).
Harley riders are six times more likely to only acknowledge those riding the same style bike (18 percent versus three percent).
Additional survey results include:
An overwhelming majority of riders (88 percent) donate time or money to charities. Two-thirds of Harley riders (67 percent) and one-third of those who ride sport bikes (33 percent) participate in at least one charity ride each year.
Sixty-nine (69) percent of all riders daydream at work each day about riding their bike.
Eighteen (18) percent of all riders call in sick to work at least once a year to go riding.
Women prefer to ride with their significant other (58 percent), while men choose to ride with their friends (63 percent).
Adding custom parts that enhance the look of their bikes was the number one choice for Harley riders (73 percent), while adding performance equipment was the top choice for those who ride sport bikes (44 percent).
I actually did that on a buddy's little Honda gozipper when I had to help him get it home one time. Damn near ran a stop sign.
Sounds like you been riding long enough to realize the slightest mistake can get you killed really dead on one of those things.
bump
>>Sounds like you been riding long enough to realize the slightest mistake can get you killed really dead on one of those things.
Actually haven't been riding long at all. Just managed to make a small mistake early on in the learning process and still have the separated shoulder to prove it. They never really heal correctly, and the MD said it wasn't bad enough for surgery.
I will never forget the first time I ever saw a dresser do a wheelie. I had one of those moments where I thought I'd eaten the brown acid, and it was all over for me.
You sure it was the stocks that went up? </Bad Melas>
Motorcycles are like ex-wives: you can't too many. :):):)
ROTF.........thanks!
Thank you , suh!
Arggggh. Road Kings are NOT, I repeat NOT full dressers. Road Kings are baggers. Dressers have fairings, tour packs and bags. Full dressers have fairings, lowers, tour packs and bags. Baggers have screens and bags.
I had a '50 Hydraglide Panhead and rode it for several years. It was a good ol' horse.
I couldn't agree more. Very well said.
Owsley's purple is the best. :):
My pleasure ~ it was my first bike and lotsa fun. :):)
I could never make heads or soft tails out of the jolly pirate names of the various indifferentiable species of Harleys.
As indistinguishable as a river herring from a lake herring....
I grew up on dirt bikes as well. I started on a Honda mini bike, a 50cc model with a centrifigul clutch. I kept that until I got an XR-75. Later I owned an XR-125, and an XR-250 as well.
My first street bike was actually a Honda Twinstar 185. I rode the wheels off of that thing, and actually rode it from Denver Colorado to St. Louis Missouri. At one time I even owned a Honda Rebel 450 in addition to a Harley Sportster I had at the time. The Rebel was a nice little bike, and it's a shame they dropped it and only kept the 250. So don't think I have anything against Honda, because I don't. I even plan to start my daughter off on a Rebel when she turns 15.
That being said, I love Harley-Davidons. They're great bikes, and not the kludges you seem to think they are, but that's ok. My current ride has faithfully carried me some 30,000 miles with nary a hiccup, and it'll only be two years old come July. I'm harder than hell on bike, and I make many long distance trips alone, so I wouldn't be riding a Harley if I didn't know it was reliable.
Really, I can love my ride and appreciate yours as well. I don't have to put yours down to make myself feel good about mine. Unfortunately a lot of riders of Jap bikes feel otherwise. Not that I haven't contributed to big bigotry myself, I know I have, I too have sinned. lol
It's an easy switch. I went from a string of Honda with left foot shift to a Sportster with right foot shift, and then Harley went to left foot shift. So I've switched both ways. It's a piece of cake.
Hmm, I may have to consider that old Brit iron after all. I guess just do some practicing so it becomes ingrained in case of panic situations.
Thanks!
Yeah, I rode one from Colorado Springs to Denver. It's way too tall for me, but even that aside there are things I just don't like about the bike.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.