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 know of a few older Harley owners that went to a Goldwing. More comfortable and reliable.
Or the floppiest.
Lol, I'm a firm believer of policing our own. My dad rode a Harley in WWII, and he brought that passion back home to the states with him. My brother barely stood a chance, and when I came up, I had no chance, because both of them were deeply into Harley's that it was like the family religion.
They have their place, but as I said in an earlier post, they're horrible as commuters. The full fairing with lowers provides excellent protection at highway speeds, and makes for a wonderful ride. However, at lower speeds, the added weight makes them cumbersome, and the lack of airflow is suffocating in hot climates.
As for reliability, you're dead on. Nothing is more reliable than a GW. Those things have a duty cycle of over 300,000 miles now. The duty cycle of the Harley Twincam is an easy 100,000 which is absolutely nothing to sneeze at, but nothing lasts like the 4 and now the 6 cyl wings.
…without being being battered by the H-D's vibration and noise…
Amen, and we're more than due for a fun thread. I know I welcome the levity.
Me too. A Honda 50 with the little itty bitty wheels and a 3 speed tranny with a centrificul clutch. I think I was 6. I loved that little bike, and I thought I was real biker. The neighbors on the other hand thought I was a menace. Come to think of it, that's what the guy across street think every time I set off his car alarm with my pipes now.
Bad advice unless you know how he intends to ride. I greatly admire Wings, expecially the engine, but the Wing like all bikes that are really good at one thing, has some serious drawbacks if you're not riding in that niche, which in the Wing's case would be long distance riding.
I use a Microsoft Natural Multimedia Keyboard. They're $39.95 at Fry's and you owe me a new one. This one is covered in coffee thanks to you.
Lol, don't pay attention to Joe. It means literally "Two wheels down" It's bad when the wheels are up.
R.I.P. Indian Larry
IMHO, there is nothing as overpriced as Harley Clothing...er..excuse me.. Motorclothes (tm). I've ridden all my life, and I wear plain black t-shirts with pockets on them, $6 for a pack of 3. Red Wing motorcycle boots. A ZR1 black leather patrolman's jacket, river road chaps, and socks from Wal-Mart (Harley sells $20 socks with the HD logo on them). I do own a Harley leather do-rag, because it was just too cool, and HD goggles and glasses are a pretty good deal.
Ping.
Sweet. I love the 100th paint jobs. I've often considered a Fatbob tank for my Sporty, but I just can't bear to part with the paint job.
Same here. Not one black (or any other color for that matter) t-shirt with a H-D logo or a dealer print.
Black paint adds 4-7 mph to your top speed.
It's a scientific fact
Like you, I don't understand $22 t-shirts. That offends my sensibilities just typing it. Don't even get me started on $600 dollar jackets that aren't as good as the $200 jackets at Wilson's leather.
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