Motorcyclists: Examine coverage Part 1

Virtually all hardcore riders answered they would give up their spouse or significant other before their motorcycle, according to the recent results of a consumer study commissioned by Allstate. Also, riders across all classifications were twice as likely to give up their television sets before their motorcycles -- a testament to the passion Americans feel for their bikes and riding.

These and other insights were revealed in an online survey of 500 male bikers nationwide, weighted to represent the total population and commissioned by Allstate earlier this year.

The company developed the study to stay current about changing demographics and interests of those who ride motorcycles.

Who I am and what I ride

Participants had the opportunity to identify their "biker classifications" as a Sports Bike Enthusiast, Stressed Out Executive, Hardcore Biker or Weekend Warrior -- which led the field with a 31 percent response rate. The majority of the participants who could not identify their classifications labeled themselves as Baby Boomer Riders.

Among the riders surveyed, Harley Davidson drew the highest number of clicks when participants named which makes of motorcycles fill their garages. Thirty-five percent of participants own at least one Harley and spend an average of $20,600 for the bike. An additional $2,250, on average, is spent for accessories. Honda emerged as the runner-up with 30 percent of participants owning at least one.

Ultimate Road Songs

As motorcycles continue to have an established presence in American culture with more than 6 million bikes, one thing is clear -- bikers continue to live with the attitude they were "Born to be Wild," the most popular song among survey participants.

Below is a top five count down, beginning with the most popular, or cruising music, selected by surveyed respondents:

* "Born to be Wild," Steppenwolf,

* "Radar Love," Golden Earring,

* "Take it Easy," The Eagles,

* "Born to Run," Bruce Springsteen, and

* "Freebird," Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Something for a Rainy Day

To satisfy a biker's daily fix -- whatever their classification may be -- for anything and everything motorcycles, Allstate designed allstategarage.com, a site that features specific elements, including:

* "Plan a Ride," which uses the most up-to-date satellite imaging and mapping software from Google. This feature allows riders to create their own routes, chose from a list of scenic rides or check out what fellow riders have posted as their favorites,

* "Build a Bike," a 12-step process that allows enthusiasts to pick from various parts, accessories and paint colors to create their own bike,

* "Calendar," featuring upcoming national and local events,

* "Garage TV," a tool that incorporates professional mechanics giving tutorials on many different safety concerns for motorcycles,

* "Get a Quote," and "Find an Agent," features which enable site visitors to enter information online for a quote or locate a nearby Allstate agent,

* "Motorcycle Coverage," which provides the ability to research various coverage options and features, and

* "Safety Tips," which provides checklists and safety reminders.