The How, Why, Where, and What I Ride Survey

All Rights Reserved © 2016 Thomas W. Day

 

Way back in 2011, I stuck a survey up on Survey Monkey and asked my readers to take part in the silliness. I should be the last guy on the planet to administer a survey because I tend to disbelieve everything claimed in every survey in the history of humans. Still, I got a fair number of responses (more than my free Survey Monkey account would let me access, in fact) and I made an attempt at compiling the information. About half-way through the project, I was distracted by something bright and shiny (my Yamaha WR250X) and the whole project fell through the cracks. You, my brilliant friends and readers, are atypical as hell and I suspect nothing gleaned from this survey would have squat to do with the attitudes of the average motorcyclist.

I always end up with a stupidly large “dead pool” is article ideas that will never see the light of day anywhere; blog or MMM column. Regardless, here is what I ended up with, statistics-wise:

In the dead of a past winter (2011), I was suffering cabin fever and my bike was practically encased in ice. Outside temperatures were in the negative numbers and the usual distractions failed me. The only break in the winter national television monotony came in mid-January when Ryan Villopoto beat James Stewart at the first ever Dodger Stadium Supercross. No fun like that for us here in Minnesota this year, thanks to the Metrodome's dome failure. So, I came up with a brilliant plan to piss off as many people as possible with a motorcycle survey called "The How, Why, Where, and What I Ride Survey." Ten questions, all designed to elicit as much animosity as possible. I promoted the thing on Cycle World and MMM's Facebook sites, on the MN-Sportbike and MN-Dualpurpose maillist, and got about  500 responses over the last 20 months.

 

1. The reason I own a motorcycle is (select all that apply)
	Response
for daily transportation (weather and season permitting)	72.00%
for recreation.	90.00%
for social events (group rides, poker runs, charity runs, etc.).	32.00%
off-road racing.	5.00%
road racing.	3.00%

Ok, I can absolutely believe this set of numbers. In retrospect, I should have made this a "pick one" question because I think the answers overstate the number of us who use motorcycles for daily transportation. The 90% recreational figure is absolutely believeable, though.

2. I own (select all that apply)
adventure touring bike	47.00%
a sport bike	39.00%
a dirt bike	19.00%
a dual-purpose bike	52.00%
a cruiser	16.00%
a sport touring bike	0.00%
a standard	0.00%
a touring bike	25.00%

Good enough. I'm a little surprised at the two 0% categories, though.

3. My primary ride is
an adventure touring bike	38.00%
a sport bike	18.00%
a dirt bike	1.00%
a dual-purpose bike	27.00%
a cruiser	5.00%
a touring bike	11.00%

Seems consistent with #2.

4. If I were only able to own one motorcycle, it would be
a 250cc or smaller sportbike	0.00%
a 250cc or smaller standard	0.00%
a 250cc or smaller cruiser	0.00%
a 250cc or smaller dirt bike	0.00%
a 250cc or smaller dual-purpose	2.00%
a 251cc-750cc sportbike	4.00%
a 251cc-750cc standard	8.00%
a 251cc-750cc cruiser	1.00%
a 251cc-750cc dirt bike	0.00%
a 251cc-750cc dual-purpose (adventure touring)	43.00%
a 251cc-750cc tourer	2.00%
a 751cc-1200cc sportbike	6.00%
a 751cc-1200cc standard	5.00%
a 751cc-1200cc cruiser	1.00%
a 751cc-1200cc dirt bike	1.00%
a 751cc-1200cc dual-purpose (adventure touring)	18.00%
a 751cc-1200cc tourer	4.00%
a 1201cc-and-up sportbike	1.00%
a 1201cc-and-up standard	0.00%
a 1201cc-and-up cruiser	0.00%
a 1201cc-and-up dirt bike	0.00%
a 1201cc and up dual-purpose (adventure touring)	0.00%
a 1201cc-and-up tourer	4.00%

Again, this seems consistent.

5. I own the following pieces of motorcycle gear (select all that apply)
a shorty helmet	11.00%
a 3/4 helmet	18.00%
a full-face helmet	99.00%
an off-road 3/4 helmet	7.00%
an off-road full-face helmet	27.00%
off-road armor (vest or full-body)	16.00%
armored riding jacket	96.00%
armored riding pants	85.00%
armored motorcycle boots	80.00%
motorcycle gloves	98.00%
weather-proof riding gear	91.00%
eye protection (other than a helmet's face shield)	46.00%
heated vest, gloves, and/or suit layer	54.00%

Wow! Who would have guess that 99% of any group of riders would own a full-face helmet?

6. I always wear the following gear everytime I ride (select all that apply)
a shorty helmet	2.00%
a 3/4 helmet	5.00%
a full-face helmet	94.00%
armored riding jacket	92.00%
armored riding pants	43.00%
armored motorcycle boots	62.00%
motorcycle gloves	92.00%
weather-proof riding gear	20.00%
eye protection (other than a helmet's face shield)	30.00%
heated vest, gloves, and/or suit layer	4.00%
none of the above	2.00%

Ok, this was my first piece of evidence that my self-selecting group of riders was not typical. We all know that 94% of us do not always wear a full-face helmet.

7. I will not ride (select all that apply)
when the temperature is below 0F	47.00%
when the temperature is below 32F	44.00%
when the temperature is below 50F	4.00%
when the temperature is above 80F	0.00%
when the temperature is above 90F	3.00%
when the temperature is above 100F	12.00%
when it is raining	10.00%
when there is a possibility of ice on the road	69.00%
after consuming enough alcohol to suggest that I might be under the influence	88.00%

 

A surprising amount of honesty here; especially in the alcohol consumption question.

8. I have taken at least one 2,000 mile solo motorcycle trip
Yes	53.00%
No	47.00%

This is pretty honest appearing, too.

9. Over the last 5 years, my average miles-per-year have been
0-500 miles	1.00%
501-2,000 miles	17.00%
2,001-5,000 miles	16.00%
5,001-10,000 miles	39.00%
10,001-20,000 miles	20.00%
20,001 or more miles	7.00%

Contrast this with the Craig's List sales data and we know either my group is self-deluding, non-typical, or lying.

10. I have lied (exaggerating is lying) on at least one question in this survey
TRUE	14.00%
FALSE	86.00%

At least 14% of the group knows itself well.