50 States Ranked for Highest Motorcycle Ownership

[akbeemer]

From the The Motley Fool


Rank/ State / People per bike

1/ South Dakota / 12
2/ New Hampshire / 17

3/ Iowa / 18
4/ Wisconsin / 18

5/ Wyoming / 19
6/ North Dakota / 21

7/ Vermont / 21
8/ Montana / 21

9/ Minnesota / 22
10/ Alaska / 23

11/ Idaho / 25
12/ Maine / 26

13/ New Jersey / 27
14/ Colorado / 29

15/ Delaware / 30
16/ Ohio / 30

17/ Oklahoma / 30
18/ Washington / 31

19/ Pennsylvania / 31
20/ Indiana / 32

21/ New Mexico / 32
22/ Rhode Island / 32

23/ Michigan / 32
24/ Florida / 33

25/ West Virginia / 33
26/ Kansas / 35

27/ Oregon / 35
28/ Nebraska / 36

29/ Arizona / 36
30/ Connecticut / 36

31/ Illinois / 37
32/ Alabama / 38

33/ Tennessee / 38
34/ Arkansas / 38

35/ Nevada / 39
36/ Virginia / 41

37/ Massachusetts / 41
38/ Missouri / 43

39/ North Carolina / 43
40/ South Carolina / 43

41/ Kentucky / 44
42/ Hawaii / 45

43/ California / 47
44/ Utah / 47

45/ Maryland / 48
46/ Georgia / 49

47/ New York / 56
48/ Texas / 58

49/ Louisiana / 67
50/ Mississippi / 106
51/ Dist. of Col. / 172

 

[motodan]

Holy Cow! Could this mean I'm representing 31 other people, as well as myself, at the dealer? He needs to respect that... LOL

 

[osbornk]

It's the highest per capita.

 

[miairhead]

Warmer states?

I find it amazing the states where year round riding could be, have much less ownership then cold weather states, in many cases.

 

[Kristopher]

I find it amazing the states where year round riding could be, have much less ownership then cold weather states, in many cases.

Yeah, I agree. I know excessive heat isn't a real treat to ride in but c'mon, live a little. It beats being snowed in with no choice in the matter.

 

[58058D]

Really more a Population Density issue?

Rather than a climate related figure, it appears that, in general, the higher the population density of the State and/or major urban areas, the lower the rate of motorcycle ownership per capita. The bulk of those folks owning motos in the less populated areas are probably good riding companions. Where as, the vast majority of those in the major urban centers are probably not likely the folks we would want to ride with for a variety of reasons. Besides, most of them would find it hard to text while riding, those gloves get in the way, etc....

I would be interested in the total number of bikes in a given area...and then we would need to compare how many miles are ridden, etc. All interesting.

 

[pglaves]

Rather than a climate related figure, it appears that, in general, the higher the population density of the State and/or major urban areas, the lower the rate of motorcycle ownership per capita.

I agree. I personally know a number of riders who moved from more suburban, small town, or rural areas, to major metropolitan areas and quit riding. What they have almost universally told me is in essence, "when you have to ride a couple of hours to get out of the traffic to a decent place to ride it isn't worth it".

I also know a number of urban combat warriors for whom the rush hour combat commute is the name of the game. But as a proportion of the total urban metropolitan population these folks are a miniscule percentage.

 

[xlarry]

Rather than a climate related figure, it appears that, in general, the higher the population density of the State and/or major urban areas, the lower the rate of motorcycle ownership per capita.

I think it has to do with the demographics; a lot more poor people where there is such population density. So that reduces the per capita.

 

[35634]

Makes no sense to me. Especially some of the states at the bottom of the list. See lots of oddball charts originating from motley fool lately, guess they want you to subscribe to them to explain it to you.

 

[tinytrains]

This probably includes dirt bikes. Folks in rural states have a lot more use for one than people in big cities.

 

[peterb]

Let's see...

there is something I am missing here... if CA has some 37,000,000 residents [not sure if that includes illegals] then 1:47 = something like three quarters of a million m/c's - pretty significant.

 

[BCKRider]

Anyone here watching the winter Olympics? Lot's of "death-defying" events which I love to watch but can't imagine doing, even if I was again in my 20's. And there are a LOT of motorcycling "events" which seem to me "death-defying" though plenty of folks just take it in their stride. (Thinking of racing, rugged off road riding, iron butt runs, and commuting near a big city.) Of course, my non-riding friends regard my two-wheeled sorties around local back roads or the occasional longer distance trips at less than impressive speeds as "death-defying."

For most of us, whether we are on skis or a motorcycle, the moral is to get the training, practice the skills, and stay well within your limits. Of course, that attitude is not likely to get you on an Olympic podium or win a motorcycle race. Most of the winners have undergone an impressive number of surgeries. I have to admire both their skill and their willingness to push it to the limit. Personally, I regard riding my motorcycle riding as recreation rather than sport and my mantra is always GET TO THE DESTINATION.

Even on the road, we get to choose how we do that.

 

[Travman]

So their is only 1 bike registered in South Dakota!

 

[ducster]

It's not about high population density or being too hot to ride, it is a matter of the level of income. THE poorest states in the country are in the south. The lowest state on the list for motorcycle ownership is Mississippi, which just happens to also have the lowest per capita income of any state. Anyone who has ever ridden thru Mississippi knows that the state has a very low population density. Louisiana, 49th on the list of bike ownership has a per capita income that ranks 44th.

Motorcycles are not a necessity. When you average income is less than 20k per year, A new k1600gtl is not in the budget.

 

[motodan]

It's not about high population density or being too hot to ride, it is a matter of the level of income. THE poorest states in the country are in the south. The lowest state on the list for motorcycle ownership is Mississippi, which just happens to also have the lowest per capita income of any state. Anyone who has ever ridden thru Mississippi knows that the state has a very low population density. Louisiana, 49th on the list of bike ownership has a per capita income that ranks 44th.

Motorcycles are not a necessity. When you average income is less than 20k per year, A new k1600gtl is not in the budget.

Here's one source on per capita State income. Definitely some areas not meeting your theory, especially the South Dakota figures among others. Just see the first column after the ranking # and State name. I rather think, much as all of life, there are multiple variables at play in how the numbers "fall".

Note: Data is from the 2010 United States Census and the 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.[1][2]
Rank State Per capita

Washington, D.C. $42,078 LAST IN REGISTRATIONS.
1 Maryland $36,775
2 New Jersey $34,858 13TH IN REGISTRATIONS
3 Connecticut $34,849
4 Massachusetts $33,966
5 Virginia $32,145
6 New Hampshire $31,422
7 New York $30,948
8 Alaska $30,726
9 Colorado $30,151
10 Washington $29,733
11 Minnesota $29,582
12 California $29,188 $60,883 $69,322 37,253,956 12,577,498
13 Delaware $29,007 $57,599 $69,182 897,934 342,297
14 Hawaii $28,882 $66,420 $77,245 1,360,301 455,338
15 Illinois $28,782 $55,735 $68,236 12,830,632 4,836,972
16 Rhode Island $28,707 $54,902 $70,663 1,052,567 413,600
17 Wyoming $27,860 $53,802 $65,964 563,626 226,879
18 Nevada $27,589 $55,726 $64,418 2,700,551 1,006,250
19 Vermont $27,478 $51,841 $64,135 625,741 256,442
United States $27,334 $51,914 $62,982 308,745,538 116,716,292
20 Pennsylvania $27,049 $50,398 $63,364 12,702,379 5,018,904
21 Wisconsin $26,624 $51,598 $64,869 5,686,986 2,279,768
22 Florida $26,551 $47,661 $57,204 18,801,310 7,420,802
23 Oregon $26,171 $49,260 $60,402 3,831,074 1,518,938
24 Kansas $25,907 $49,424 $62,424 2,853,118 1,112,096
25 North Dakota $25,803 $46,781 $62,920 672,591 281,192
26 Arizona $25,680 $50,448 $59,840 6,392,017 2,380,990
27 Maine $25,385
28 Iowa $25,335 3rd in registrations
29 Nebraska $25,229
30 Michigan $25,135 23RD IN REGISTRATIONS
31 Georgia $25,134
32 Ohio $25,113
33 Texas $24,870
34 North Carolina
35 Missouri $24,724
36 South Dakota $24,110 1ST IN REGISTRATIONS
37 Indiana $24,058
38 Montana $23,836 $43,872 $55,725 989,415 409,607
39 Tennessee $23,722 $43,314 $53,246 6,346,105 2,493,552
40 South Carolina $23,443 $43,939 $54,223 4,625,364 1,801,181
41 Utah $23,139 $56,330 $64,013 2,763,885 877,692
42 Louisiana $23,094 $43,445 $53,702 4,533,372 1,728,360
43 Oklahoma $23,094 $42,979 $53,607 3,751,351 1,460,450
44 Alabama $22,984 $42,081 $52,863 4,779,736 1,883,791
45 New Mexico $22,966 $43,820 $52,565 2,059,179 791,395
46 Idaho $22,518 $46,423 $54,689 1,567,582 579,408
47 Kentucky $22,515 $41,576 $52,046 4,339,367 1,719,965
48 Arkansas $21,274 $39,267 $48,491 2,915,918 1,147,084
49 West Virginia $21,232 $38,380 $48,896 1,852,994 763,831
50 Mississippi $19,977 $37,881 $47,031 2,967,297 1,115,768
Puerto Rico $10,355 $18,791 $21,764 3,725,789 1,376,531

 

[rdhudson]

In NH-VT-ME

We live in a sweet spot in terms of SEEING motorcycles. Not only are there a lot of bikes/person they do get ridden in the summer. This coupled with a major motorcycle event (Laconia Bike week) early in the riding season gets everyone out and gets us seen. I notice less of the cage ignorers here, people see enough bikes to begin to get us on the radar. In a sense it makes me feel a bit safer as being seen is such a big safety issue. It is interesting that during bike week the few M/C deaths seem to be bikes hitting bikes or just drunk riders, not usually bike/car accidents. Anyone got the state by state stats to prove me right?? or wrong??

 

[6322]

Makes sense to me.

Makes sense to me. A lot of bikes in Idaho. For my 35 years working for the USFS, I commuted a 60 to 70 mile round trip most every day. Most any where we go we have to travel some distance through the mountains and river canyons (the nearest BMW dealers are north 120 miles or south 120 miles). An economical means of travel and a lot less traffic here to deal with. More natural obstacles to prepare for. Just a logical choice(?). I'm just surprised that the numbers aren't higher for some of the other states.

 

[AKsuited]

I agree. I personally know a number of riders who moved from more suburban, small town, or rural areas, to major metropolitan areas and quit riding. What they have almost universally told me is in essence, "when you have to ride a couple of hours to get out of the traffic to a decent place to ride it isn't worth it".

I grew up on Long Island, and I know that place is very tough on bikers. You have hordes of people always in huge hurry to turn left, and a mix of third-world drivers. You have the anonymity of big-city crowded places where people just don't care about their neighbors and are rude and careless on the road, especially in regard to watching out for motorcyclists.

Harry

 

[36654]

I agree. I personally know a number of riders who moved from more suburban, small town, or rural areas, to major metropolitan areas and quit riding. What they have almost universally told me is in essence, "when you have to ride a couple of hours to get out of the traffic to a decent place to ride it isn't worth it".

I used to live a few miles from the York, PA H-D plant and almost came to the same conclusion. Luckily, a job change rescued me from giving up riding. Of course, a purchase of a left-over 1984 R80ST may have helped..........

 

[mika]

The original table is one of those wonderful Motley Fool tidbits of information that leave you scratching your head while you have a bit of fun with them. I am curious what a breakdown of states by county would yield.

I purchase my first BMW airhead when I lived in the state of Illinois. How I road, used it and how many people I rode with was much different than when I lived in Park Ridge a first tier northern suburb of the State of Chicago.
(Only on maps do Illinois and greater Chicago share the same state boarders )