Part 2: Eight Types Of Indian Bikers, Which One Are You?

The second edition of our four-part series is based on a recent study conducted in Belgium, using a sample of 3,000 motorcyclists, all of whom were 16 years of age, or older, to help identify the various kinds of bikers there are. The report identified eight kinds:  the time optimiser, the ‘time-for-me’ seeker, the unconditional user, the good-vibe seeker, the ‘I want it all’ rider, the multimodal rider, the day-to-day rider and the life-long experience rider. Despite being an international study, we Indian bikers are not too different. We not only slot into these categories perfectly, but also add our own unique flavour to the mix.

Check out our previous story where we talked about the Indian ‘time-for-me’ seeker, who’s ironically always short on time, and the unconditional user, who is hardly ever on time. Also, as promised, this week, we shall analyse the always skeptical, ‘good-vibe seeker’, and the overbearing, ‘I want it all’ rider. So, let’s dive right into it.

The good-vibe seeker
These are the guys who make planning group rides ridiculously difficult and borderline frustrating. To make matters worse, more often than not, they’re the ones to propose the idea in the first place. See, they love the idea of a good adventure, provided the weather conditions are super ideal. It can't be too hot, riding jackets just aren’t ventilated enough for them. It can’t be too cold outside either, because the only exploring they will be doing, then, is raiding the Netflix directory from under the duvet. And God forbid if it rains!

That said, if the weather outside is just right, and I mean, there’s a sweet balance of toasty warm sunlight with a subtle nip in the air, these guys will hit the road like moths to a flame. See, motorcycling as an activity or as a passion, is subjective. Like music. For instance, you can enjoy metal music at a live gig inside a sweaty mosh pit just as much as you can with headphones on and from the comfort of your home. But one of them offers a unique experience. So, here’s an appeal to all you fair-weather riders out there: do not shy away from embracing a little bit of discomfort in your adventures. It allows you to discover and appreciate the finer two-wheeled experiences in life.   

The ‘I want it all’ rider
This kind essentially wants the best and wants to be the best, and settling for anything less is a huge compromise. For them, an immersive experience is the only experience worth having. Usually found shopping for top-shelf gear – for both themselves and their bikes – this lot will rattle out what’s hot and what’s not in the motorcycle world like a waiter at a South Indian restaurant reciting  the menu. They are perfect to latch on to for sound advice, but it’s best to avoid them if you’re too broke to shop at boutiques like them. Oh, those judgmental eye-rolls can be brutal!  

Off-the-bike conversations are the best form of service they have to offer. But on two wheels, they can either be super graceful, or like me and my two left feet at a Salsa dance class. That said, no matter the conditions outside, these well-equipped riders love leading by example and hardly ever skip a ride; A quality worth respecting, in my opinion. And that’s why I feel every group must have one ‘I want it all’ rider. It just helps the group to aspire for more. To have more, to do more and to ride more.       

Next Sunday, we will look at the veteran - ‘life-long experience’ rider and the ‘time optimiser’ who care for nothing but utility. Tell us about your friends and their quirky riding habits in the comments below. Also, here’s the Belgian research on the eight kinds of motorcyclists.