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Aero
Standard Member
157 Posts
Providence, RI
USA
Honda
Shadow Aero 750
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 Posted - 08/03/2004 : 1:02 PM
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Hi All,
I'm curious to see who does/doesn't wave at oncoming riders they see on the street.
Does anyone 'selectively' wave? Be honest! 
Jarrod
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dcstrng
Standard Member
155 Posts
USA
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 1:46 PM
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Crotch-rockets; I wait to see if they know I’m there and then happily return the wave...
Wings and most other Tupperware; same
Beemers; not a factor – don’t think I’ve ever met one who would return a wave so my radar is now tuned to filter `em out now (they don’t see me, I don’t see them)
Cruisers – including Harleys: generally I’ll wave first if it’s obvious they see me (2-lane road), or try to return it if they catch me napping... those who are obviously ignoring me, I happily ignore...
Generally, I ride to ride. But I am happy to acknowledge another friendly rider; however, since my flocking instincts are minimal I have missed several who were waving at me, when I’m too busy admiring their bike to realize there’s a rider on it... Regrettably I have all the social graces of a brick...
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Ben
Junior Member
28 Posts
San Jose, CA
USA
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 2:14 PM
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I'm a waver.
Generally, the HD guys seem to be too into their rides to wave, so my wave rate at Hog Jockies is about 10-20%. Unless it's a dresser, then they seem to wave more.
Actually, someone on rec.moto suggested many years ago that HD guys don't wave simply because they can't see you: unless you're on another HD, you're probably not vibrating at a harmonic frequency...
(Too bad there's no smiley face for lighting a fuse and running!)
Ben |
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dcstrng
Standard Member
155 Posts
USA
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 3:32 PM
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Maybe it has something to do with the style of bike rather than the brand... and just feeling some fleeting camaraderie with like-minded riders...
The Rocket-Kids in my area almost never seem to have the time to acknowledge a wave and I can’t remember when I saw one initiate one -- doesn’t apply to the sport touring people like the Connies and ST1100/1300 who seem generally as friendly as Wing riders, who I find usually friendly if they aren’t too busy tuning their home-theater units/satnavs/satcoms or preparing their meal in the on-board galley...
Harley guys I find generally sociable, if detached, and most can tell my Nad ain’t a hawg... Sunday I about dropped my teeth when one of the few Angels (in colors) in our area blasted by me in the rain and actually waved (and from the rear, my Nad doesn’t look all that Harley-esque). Go figure...
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Aero
Standard Member
157 Posts
Providence, RI
USA
Honda
Shadow Aero 750
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 4:42 PM
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OK here's my experience. First I should say that I'll usually initiate a wave to anyone, unless it's dangerous (ie if I'm taking a corner, I'll just nod instead).
Sportbike riders don't usually wave back, but a lot of times I see them nod in acknowledgement. Sometimes they do wave, other times they pretend they didn't see me.
Cruiser guys will usually wave (I usually can't tell what kind of bike it is until it's past me) but some seem to give a stare instead. I'm thinking the full-face helmet has something to do with it. Sometimes just the person on the back waves.
Goldwing and other touring/sport touring riders seem to respond the best. I've seen them actually wave (ie hand up in the air or off to the side flailing violently). That always cracks me up.
As far as hacks go, I've only seen maybe 3 trikes this whole summer, and not one of them waved back. Maybe they forget and think they're in a car. 
Jarrod |
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JuniperBug
Standard Member
115 Posts
Montreal, Quebec
Canada
Kawasaki
Ninja 600R
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 7:03 PM
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I wave whenever I can, though during slow speed situations I find it very tricky to do so on the sport bike, so I can only muster a nod. At least as often as not, I'm the one who initiates the wave, and I'll wave to anyone on a motorcycle without discretion. The stories you guys tell about sport riders not waving surprises me a little, as my experience has been the opposite. I sometimes ride with a friend who has a Shadow 1100, and many Harley guys - and cruiser guys in general - will make a point of waving to him, but not to me, despite the fact that I wave to them.
Oh well, I guess group mentality hasn't changed much from our high school days. |
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Noobie_rider
New Member
13 Posts
USA
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 7:12 PM
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definately disagree with the others.
I ride a quasi-sport bike, so I find that rockets all wave, unless they're busy endangering their lives.
Cruisers don't like to wave back, I find about 10% will.
Touring bikes are the nicest, they will wave to everyone.
I also wave to bike cops. My friends say that's bad, b/c they have been pulled over by bike-cops, & shown no quarter. I drive too slow for cops to worry about me, so I still wave. |
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SteveS
 Advanced Member
1012 Posts
[Mentor]
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
Harley-Davidson
FLHTCU '08 Ultra
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Posted - 08/03/2004 : 8:14 PM
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I guess we each have our individual experience.
I thought I waved a lot until I rode with a few Harley buddies from Toronto to Americade in June. The Road Captain waved at every bike we passed and like all good followers, each of us waved in turn. BIG WAVES.
Since then I have continued to wave at all bikes. In Toronto and around the province we have lots of bikes of all sorts. I wave at them all. Most wave back, some just nod, some pretend I'm not there. I don't think it's so much the bike but the type of bike but the kind of person riding it that chooses to wave or not.
Occasionally I'll miss returning a wave as I was focused on something else. Sometimes I wave or nod (slow speed or at a stoplight) and there is anything from no response, nod, smile, or even a "nice bike" comment.
Like someone else said, I can't always tell what kind of cruiser or sport bike is approaching until they pass, even my Harley "brothers and sisters".
When I first started, last year, I would only wave if someone waved first, in fact I didn't know it was a "thing" to wave .... just thought, "hey, did that gal know me?" or "I didn't realize I was THAT cool".
Great thread, like all the different comments, experiences, biases.
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nomad dan
Advanced Member
1276 Posts
Denver, Colorado
USA
Kawasaki
06 Vulcan Nomad 1600
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Posted - 08/04/2004 : 1:04 PM
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I wave to everything but vespa scooter types. Wings wave hand up 90 degrees, harley looking bikes wave donw low a little lower than straight out, sport bikes wave with their wrist turned out not extending thier arms. I wave the harley type wave to all of them.
On freeways with wide medians I just nod my helmet low, don't like sticking my arm out too far in the 75mph breeze.
When someone doesn't wave I just assume that they didn't see me and hope that the ones I miss think the same. |
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GeorgeR
Junior Member
76 Posts
Austrian/Mexico, Mexico City
Mexico
Yamaha
YZF600R Thundercat
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Posted - 08/04/2004 : 3:29 PM
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Other than whats been said before, in my neck off the woods two things differ.
Beamers are the friendliest type, every one else waves usually at any bike. Mostly on the recreational bike routes or the road, while in the city mostly we ignore everyone except say at a light.
One thing that is different is that sport tourers or crotch rockets tend to flash their high beam in a single "hello". Specially while in the twisties. |
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(Deleted)
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Posted - 08/04/2004 : 3:57 PM
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| I usually tend to nod instead of wave, but if someone waves to me, I'll wave back, if I can spare a hand. I used to ride a scooter so it was really interesting to see who'd nod or wave back. Actually, most people on cruisers would respond and some sportbikes would. One woman on a harley (with all the harley gear and tatoos and stuff) completely ignored me on my scooter. I was right in the lane next to her and she pretended not to see me. I thought that was pretty funny. Now that I've got a real bike, even the crotch rocketeers will nod back! |
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scottrnelson
Advanced Member
4863 Posts
[Mentor]
Pleasanton, CA
USA
Ducati
ST2, 888, + XR650L
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Posted - 08/05/2004 : 8:12 AM
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| I wave to everybody on two wheels, and on two-lane roads, if I do it early enough, just about everybody waves back regardless of what they're riding. And I don't worry if they wave back or not either. |
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sdfilbeck
Junior Member
26 Posts
Mount Clemens, Michigan
USA
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Posted - 08/05/2004 : 12:21 PM
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I wave at everyone and almost everyone waves at me. The people that don't seem to be the after dark riders on any motorcyce.
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Edited by - sdfilbeck on 08/05/2004 12:52 PM |
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Nordic One
Junior Member
32 Posts
San Leandro, CA
USA
Yamaha
1100 Silverado
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Posted - 08/07/2004 : 11:20 AM
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I am with Nomad Dan and Scott. I wave to everyone I see unless I feel that I need both hands on the bike like in a tight twisty curve.
My wife and I have even had cagers waving at us as we ride. Maybe it is because it is obvious she is a chick on a bike that get everyone waving.
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petercwelch
New Member
18 Posts
Carmel, NY
USA
Suzuki
vs800
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Posted - 08/08/2004 : 8:17 AM
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| Wave may not be just what I see. More often a hand out with index finger extended. Sort of an acknowledgement that you are there and we are somehow related. Some HD drivers seem not to see my Intruder but that is their problem. I would guess 90% of other riders acknowledge in my area (NYC northern suburbs). |
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tmonroe
Advanced Member
692 Posts
[Mentor]
Seattle, WA
USA
Kawasaki
ZX-10R
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Posted - 08/08/2004 : 7:00 PM
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| My wife and I had our bikes standing up in the bed of my pickup truck, and were riding in Eastern Washington State. It suprised me just how many riders actually waved at us just seeing the bikes in the bed of the pickup. A couple of times, I almost tried to wave back instinctively. |
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rbates
New Member
10 Posts
Ashburn, VA
USA
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Posted - 08/09/2004 : 11:24 AM
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| I'm a waver - in fact, the biggest thrill I got was on one of my first rides I had other riders "waving" at me. However, around here (Northern Virginia)we don't wave. Imagine doing an old fashined Peace Sign, but pointing down - palm to the oncoming rider. It's kind of like "two wheels down". |
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Aero
Standard Member
157 Posts
Providence, RI
USA
Honda
Shadow Aero 750
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Posted - 08/09/2004 : 1:04 PM
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A lot of people here mentioned 'two fingers down' or 'two fingers out'.
That's actually what I meant in the beginning! Sorry I didn't clarify that.
Seldom do I see anyone actually 'waving' as in 'bye-bye!' That, however, would be hilarious! 
Jarrod |
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mikester
Junior Member
73 Posts
Lawton, OK
USA
Harley-Davidson
Heritage Softail
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Posted - 08/10/2004 : 12:57 PM
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I usually wave to everyone if reasonable and safe to do so, if they don't wave back it makes no difference to me, sometimes they just are too busy, not looking, rude or whatever. I just feel the right thing is to acknowledge them if possible.
Last week I was in Sturgis to visit my brand new granddaughter, born July 30, and her family, my son and daughter-in law. We drove in a car up there, but had a chance to go for a ride in the Black Hills on Harleys. We went for a small group ride and had a great time, it has to be some of the greatest riding in the country. Anyway since I normally ride my Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 at home, I had assumed that some of the Harley guys were just not waving because I wasn't on a Harley. But after riding in the Black Hills on a Harley when 90% of the other bikes were Harleys I have decided that some riders just don't wave period. I feel better now when they don't wave and I am on my Kawasaki. I could tell no difference in the amount of people returning waves on either bike. I think we should wave at other bikers if possible, and I usually wave at law enforcement officers as a friendly jesture even when I am in my car or truck. I always have. Just my 2 cents worth. If you see me on the road I would appreciate a wave, and you can expect one from me. |
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indiephil
Starting Member
5 Posts
Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Canada
Kawasaki
1500 Classic
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Posted - 08/10/2004 : 5:55 PM
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| My husband & I had this very conversation the other day!! We had a bike years ago, before the kids were born, and when we were out riding we always noticed how bikers would always wave to us and we returned the same. But this time around it is different, people dont seem to be as reseptive, but we dont' care we still wave anyway. Who gives a rats a-- on who waves first. It is just great to be back on a bike again!! |
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(Deleted)
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Posted - 08/12/2004 : 9:31 AM
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| my first post on this site, with that said i always wave and don't always get a response , who cares. i'm happy to be in the wind again and it just feels good throwing a wave around to all. i'm lucky to be able to pick all my riding times and not forced to rage with the cages for position, they are my only concern when i'm riding. I ride with a group here in arizona called star touring and riding chapter 263, what a great bunch of guys and gals that love to ride. I'm sargent at arms and senior tailgunner. we do group waves also, hard not to wave when your grinng from ear to ear. safety first fun always....grizz |
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