[Darwin]

According a recent article by CantonRep.com titled "Females flooding motorcycle market", the Motorcycle Industry Council's latest stats indicate that 25% of all motorcycle riders are women:

The stereotypical motorcyclist cruising down the interstate with a gal pal perched behind him is in danger of becoming a quaint memory. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council’s latest statistics, 25 percent of today’s riders are women. And they’re not on sissy bikes. Motorcycles are being tailored to this evolving market and the accompanying riding gear modified for shorter bodies and legs. That, said Claudia Garber, director of women’s outreach for Harley Davidson, has spurred women to take the leap. The contagion spreads from one woman to another. Those who thought they would like to ride, she added, now have plenty of company. :icon_bs:

Yes, I acknowledge that there are more women riders than ever before, but don't believe one in four motorcycle riders in the U.S. are female. Whether driving or riding my bike, I pay attention to almost every fellow motorcyclist. Based on my own admittedly unscientific circumstantial observations, I would guess that 1 in 20 are female. That being said, I sincerely wish that a quarter of all motorcyclists were women.

Am I missing the big picture? If so, where and when are all these women riding?!

 

[epiphysis]

they are probably buying but not using...very common.......I will tell you that over 1/3 of the people taking the local MSF course are women!

 

[plmsmith65]

I see atleast a quarter of the riders here in Florida being female. I passed a group yesterday and there was no 2 ups but every other bike was a female. I went on a small ride last weekend and 2 females and 7 males. Epi your right, females are in the classes and buying but not to many are riding daily! My class I was the only one, but my instructor was a female, you do see more of them on the weekends.

 

[jstar61]

It is probably basing the stat on new licensed riders, so it is not entirely accurate. Women riders are definitely growing in numbers rapidly.

 

[chuck_vtx F]

not where I ride (25 percent???) . but there is many more than before.
.
I am supprised how many woman drivers WITH the man on the passenger side of the car. whats UP with that???///

 

[doug48317]

We have quite a few lady riders around here, but they'd still be in a pretty low percentage. I've tried to get my wife to learn to ride but she has had no interest in being anything more than a passenger for the last 29 years she's rode with me.

I am supprised how many woman drivers WITH the man on the passenger side of the car. whats UP with that???///

I drive 70+ hrs a week for a living, so if we're headed out somewhere and the wifey wants to drive I say here's the keys

 

[plmsmith65]

not where I ride (25 percent???) . but there is many more than before.
.
I am supprised how many woman drivers WITH the man on the passenger side of the car. whats UP with that???///

Proven fact women drivers are better and we can follow directions!

 

[G3Truks]

25% seems very high to me too. Around here I'm thinking about 10% at best. AND...my Wife drives almost all the time when we're in the car and even my truck. She likes to drive (no pun intended) and I like to relax and let her.

 

[Vinish]

One more anecdotal datapoint from central Michigan. There is no way that 25% of riders are women in this area. As someone else said - at best 5% (1 in 20) and probably less in this region. I wish there were more. The only condition I set when my wife and I began biking by taking the MSF class was that we would each ride or neither of us would ride. She is the one with the VTX1300 and is on this forum as Mylilpony. Were the quoted statistics for the USA or N. America only? I was in India a few weeks ago for two weeks and there were lots of female riders there although mostly on scooters. It was easily 25% women riders. The motorcycles in India are mostly 75-125 cc with a very few 250 cc so they are barely larger than scooters.

G'day,

Vinish

 

[HammerHand]

I've been noticing a lot more women riders around here too. Maybe not 25%. But a good 15% maybe. The thing that gets me is the age. I was out riding yesterday on a local twisty road, and making pretty good time. In my mirror I noticed a couple more bikes staying back, but, definitely keeping pace with me. Remarkable? No. But when I pulled over to check if the wife had called, they pulled up too. The one in the lead was a tiny little thing on a CBR600. She started asking questions about cruisers and twisties. Seems she's been tryin to get her dad to come ride with her. This girl was 19 and had been riding since she turned 16. I was impressed. She was a good rider too. Oh, by the way, she was leading a couple of 20 something guys, one on a 900 Vulcan and the other on a 250 Ninja. Turns out I knew both the guys through my sons. I've ridden with them before and they have adequate skills, but they both admit she can outride their entire group.

 

[Darwin]

Were the quoted statistics for the USA or N. America only? I was in India a few weeks ago for two weeks and there were lots of female riders there although mostly on scooters. It was easily 25% women riders. The motorcycles in India are mostly 75-125 cc with a very few 250 cc so they are barely larger than scooters.

The statistic was for the U.S. Looked up the Motorcycle Industry Council. Their site doesn't have much information except on motorcycle tires...they have a free brochure:
http://www.mic.org/downloads/MIC_Tire_Guide_2012V1.pdf

From the brochure:

And never mount a passenger car tire on a motorcycle rim; the flat profile of a car tire is incompatible with the dynamics of a vehicle that leans as it corners, and the section of the tire in contact with the rim (the “bead”) is incompatible with motorcycle rims.

We all know how that argument goes.

MIC makes most of their money compiling then selling ($250 a book) U.S. motorcycle stats to businesses targeting the U.S. motorcycle market. They also occasionally lobby for/against legislation involving motorcycles. Additionally, they help news outlets with stats for stories. Unfortunately, there's no way to check on the validity of their info without purchasing that $250 stat book.

Might be based on sales, enrollment in safety classes, and/or motorcycle certification on state driver licenses...dunno. Frankly, I don't believe their stat anymore than I accept their rationalization against CT's on motorcycles.

To make it clear, I am not saying, nor implying ANYTHING NEGATIVE about female motorcyclists. Based on what I've been seeing, I find it difficult to believe the statistic that 25% of all current U.S. motorcyclists are women. Interestingly, it seems that several Cafe members have been seeing things differently.

 

[trkrJeff]

I drive 70+ hrs a week for a living, so if we're headed out somewhere and the wifey wants to drive I say here's the keys

70+.... hmmm, lets see that log book son!

Proven fact women drivers are better and we can follow directions!

want to bet on that? i too drive for a living, the ones i most see driving like braindead monkeys are women. just my unscientific view

 

[Spoiler]

...the ones i most see driving like braindead monkeys are women. just my unscientific view

Uh-oh.. Kaboom.... LOL

 

[G3Truks]

To be clear...I think the more women on bikes the better. I've even started threads about it. My earlier observation was just that...an observation from what I see at a glance around here. I've never done a head count and the division required to come to a percentage but I have observed from afar.
I will say that the Harley shop here has a very active Lady Rider Group that appears to be very well attended. I'm not allowed to go in (yes...I tried)but I have thought about borrowing Spoiler's spandex outfit to see if I could get in....
Heck...some of these Ladies have some of the best looking rides in town..I mean some very nice bikes!!

 

[Spoiler]

...I have thought about borrowing Spoiler's spandex outfit to see if I could get in.... !!

You seriously think it would fit? I mean I know it's spandex, but even still, that stuff can only go so far..

C'mon, quit teasing yourself Heavy G

 

[trkrJeff]

im trying to find me one of these ladies, that owns their own bike.

 

[hoss37]

@ Spoiler, I think G3 would fit your spandex with no problems, he's turned into quite the svelte body over the summer. Of course you wouldn't know because you always find a reason to cancell out on a ride, even those which you start. It's really very sad, still wondering has anyone seen Eric????

 

[Spoiler]

@ G3, tell Hoss he's hilarious

 

[G3Truks]

Hoss....Spoiler says you're real funny...( he doesn't know what Hilarious means)

 

[Spoiler]

doesn't know what Hilarious means...

It's a HD term for *******