Looking for Romance? Consider a Date with the Biker Next Door
Surprisingly, male riders are softies according to a countrywide survey
by leading motorcycle insurer Progressive
MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio — March 18, 2009 — Women: just picture a confident, artistic man who's charitable and embraces the romantic side of relationships. Hard to imagine? He's closer than you might think: just check out your local biker hangout.
A recent survey explored the "softer side" of male bikers and non-bikers and looked at their online habits, what they like to read, charities they may be involved with, what brings them to tears, and more. The result? The stereotype of the "tough, burly, hard-core biker" is just that.
For example, bikers are more likely to say "I'm a hopeless romantic" (40 percent versus 34 percent) when asked to describe their romantic side. And when it comes to what moves them to tears, most riders say it's having their heart broken, while non-riders say it's watching a dramatic scene play out on TV or in a movie.
But, the hearts of riders and non-riders alike are filled with the need to give.
Guys who ride motorcycles are only slightly more likely than non-bikers to be involved in a charity or cause (43 percent versus 39 percent). How they like to help, though, does differ: non-bikers prefer charities involving community and social services, while bikers are most passionate about those involving children.
"We know riders are passionate about their bikes, after all we've been providing motorcycle insurance for more than 40 years and many of our own employees are riders too," said Marcy Gray, Progressive's motorcycle product manager and a long-time rider herself. "But what's interesting about this survey is that it dispels some stereotypes about bikers, and shows they're more than willing to get in touch with their 'softer side.'"
There is one stereotype that did bear out: tattoos. Riders are nearly three times more likely than non-riders to have a tattoo (32 percent versus 12 percent).
But the types of tattoos they have might surprise you. Bikers are nearly twice as likely as those who don't ride to have a tattoo of their significant other's name (18 percent versus 10 percent). They're also more likely to have slightly "softer" tattoos such as hearts and flowers and some motorcyclists even admit to having unicorn and cookie monster tattoos!
About ProgressiveThe Progressive Group of Insurance Companies, in business since 1937, is one of the country's largest auto insurance groups, the largest seller of motorcycle policies, and a market leader in commercial auto insurance based on premiums written.
Progressive is committed to becoming consumers' #1 choice for auto insurance by providing competitive rates and innovative products and services that meet drivers' needs throughout their lifetimes, including superior online and in-person customer service, and best-in-class, 24-hour claims service, such as its concierge level of claims service available at service centers located in major metropolitan areas throughout the United States.
Progressive companies offer consumers choices in how to shop for, buy and manage their auto insurance policies. Progressive offers its products, including personal and commercial auto, motorcycle, boat and recreational vehicle insurance, through more than 30,000 independent insurance agencies throughout the U.S. and online and by phone directly from the Company. Private passenger auto products and prices are different when purchased directly from Progressive or through independent agencies. To find an agent or to get a quote, go to http://www.progressive.com.
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Did You Know...
According to an online survey by leading motorcycle insurer Progressive
Progressive, the largest seller of motorcycle insurance in the U.S., conducted a national online survey of men who ride motorcycles and men who don't. The results may surprise you — it turns out that bikers are big softies!
Women may want to look at the biker next door for their next date
Motorcyclists are hopeless romantics
When asked about their romantic side, bikers are more likely than those who don't ride to say they're "hopeless romantics" (40 percent versus 34 percent). In addition, only 13 percent of single bikers say they don't have a romantic bone in their body, as opposed to nearly double the number of single non-bikers (24 percent) who said this.
"Love Story"... for long-time riders
Bikers who have been riding for 11 to 15 years are three times more likely than those who have only been riding for 1 to 3 years to select romance movies as their favorite type of film (6 percent versus 2 percent).
Bikers cry over love and babies
The event most likely to bring riders to tears is having their heart broken (22 percent), while non-riders say they are most likely to cry when watching a dramatic scene play out on TV or in a movie (28 percent).
Bikers are slightly more likely than those who don't ride to be moved to tears when experiencing the birth of their child (15 percent versus 13 percent) and falling in love (4 percent versus 2 percent).
Love comes on two wheels
Single bikers are more than twice as likely as single non-bikers to admit that "falling in love" is most likely to bring them to tears (7 percent versus 3 percent).
Artistic, confident, and outgoing men arrive on a hog
When asked to describe their personality, men who ride motorcycles are more likely than men who don't to say they're artistic, confident, and outgoing. By comparison, guys who don't ride are most likely to say they're shy, friendly, and smart.
What bikers do when they're not riding
Artistic hands
The artistic/creative hobby most enjoyed by bikers is woodworking (16 percent); by comparison, non-riders most enjoy reading (23 percent).
If you cook it, bikers will build it
Bikers are more likely than those who don't ride to watch home improvement shows such as "This Old House" and HGTV's "Dream House" (25 percent versus 17 percent), while non-bikers are more likely to watch cooking shows such as "Rachael Ray" (11 percent versus 6 percent).
Bikers would rather have a laugh with Sheen than watch broadcast news
Motorcyclist or not, men agreed the crime drama "CSI" was their favorite Nielson top-rated TV show. But there are some differences: riders are slightly more likely to watch "Two and a Half Men," while non-riders prefer "60 Minutes."
Motorcycle riding men conduct routine maintenance on their bikes... and themselves
When asked what type of books they most enjoy reading, single bikers are more than twice as likely as single non-bikers to read self-improvement books (10 percent versus 4 percent).
By comparison, single non-riders are more than twice as likely to read books about politics and current affairs (8 percent versus 3 percent).
Bikers make good friends and neighbors
Charities hold a place in bikers' hearts
Bikers are slightly more likely than non-bikers to be involved in a charity or cause (43 percent versus 39 percent). Bikers are most passionate about charities or causes involving children, while non-bikers prefer community and social service charities or causes.
When giving back, start at home
Riders are more likely than non-riders to be involved in their community (45 percent versus 37 percent). When it comes to what kind of involvement though, both groups prefer to volunteer at their local hospital, shelter, and food bank.
Want to join a social media motorcycle gang?
Male bikers are slightly more likely than those who don't ride to use social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace to catch up with friends (12 percent versus 10 percent).
If you are invited to join the gang, just say yes!
When asked what they do when someone denies their "friend request" on a social networking site, motorcyclists are more likely to send an e-mail directly to the person who denied them and ask for an explanation (6 percent versus 4 percent). Bikers are also two times more likely than non-riders to "friend request" them again.
Blogwild!
Bikers are two times more likely than non-bikers to have their own blog (2 percent versus 1 percent).
Surprising tattoos and piercings
Who's inked for life?
Motorcyclists are nearly three times more likely than non-riders to have a tattoo (32 percent versus 12 percent). But, when it comes to number of tattoos, non-riders have more of them on average than riders: non-riders have an average of 5.6 tattoos per person and riders only have an average of 3.9 per person.
Piercings, on the other hand...
Bikers are twice as likely as non-bikers to have at least one piercing (14 percent versus 6 percent).
Motorcycle men aren't afraid to express their love on their sleeves
Motorcyclists are nearly twice as likely as non-riders to have a tattoo of their significant other's name (18 percent versus 10 percent). They're also more likely to have slightly "softer" tattoos such as hearts and flowers and some bikers even admit to having unicorn and cookie monster tattoos!
Why and where do men ride motorcycles
Top five reasons why men ride motorcycles:
- Gives me a sense of freedom (24 percent)
- Provides adventure/excitement for me (16 percent)
- Gives me a chance to relax (14 percent)
- Saves money on gas (13 percent)
- Allows me to clear my head (10 percent)
Bikers look for travel destinations where they can ride
When asked to pick their top U.S. travel destinations, riders and non-riders picked the Grand Canyon and Las Vegas Strip as their top two choices. There are some differences though: bikers are more inclined to choose an outdoor adventure destination at Yosemite Park while non-bikers look for family entertainment at Disney World.
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