According to a survey undertaken by Australian insurer InsureMyRide, bikers fall into six distinct ‘tribes’.
The survey put most riders in the ‘Specialist’ tribe; more experienced, spend more time on their bikes and less nervous when riding. This tribe tends to be less competitive and are safety conscious.
‘Performance Riders’ are younger but confident, leading them to take more risks on the road.
‘Sport Tribe’ features purists, who prefer their thrills on come via the controlled environment of a circuit. This tribe also values protective clothing.
The ‘Lifestyle Tribe’ favours bikes over driving. This tribe tends towards a conservative attitude to riding, sticking by and large to road rules.
Value is a key factor for the ‘Commuter Tribe’, who value the practicality and the chance to save money by riding cheaper motorbikes and scooters. Road rules are rarely broken by this tribe.
Finally, there is the ‘Drifter Tribe’, who ride infrequently and may not even own their own bike – this group contains many riders with significant years of riding under their belts, but are non-committal about riding, suggesting they never had a real passion for biking.
"We've long suspected that different types of riders share a range of attitudes and behaviours" said InsureMyRide executive manager Graeme Brown, adding that the company hoped to use the research to draw attention to aspects of riding behaviour and make conditions safer for road users.
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