To wave, or not to wave. That is the question.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 170
From: Rapid City, SD
Here is what I notice.
Rarely in town does anyone wave.
Goldwing riders DON'T wave here...maybe they are too comfy to realize they're on bikes too.
Outlaw riders or the tough guys don't, but 70% of regular HD guys do wave
All sport bike riders wave outside of town as long as they have helmets on (we sport riders are few compare to the HD's) , and also BMW crowd seems friendly.
I notice sport cars occasionally wave especially when canyon carving.
Rarely in town does anyone wave.
Goldwing riders DON'T wave here...maybe they are too comfy to realize they're on bikes too.
Outlaw riders or the tough guys don't, but 70% of regular HD guys do wave
All sport bike riders wave outside of town as long as they have helmets on (we sport riders are few compare to the HD's) , and also BMW crowd seems friendly.
I notice sport cars occasionally wave especially when canyon carving.
Member
Squid
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 33
From: Louisiana
I don't know if it's just southern hospitality or what. But it seems that everyone in Louisiana waves. I traded my jeep to get the Shawk, so I'm still waving from the jeep crowd. When I'm in town(3000ppl) in my truck I wave at everyone I see. I wave at cops everytime I see them. That's just to let them know I have nothing to hide. The only time I don't wave is when I go to the near by "big city" Lafayette. The only reasion I don't wave there is because Louisiana drivers are just plane retared, and I'm afraid to take my hands off the bars for even a second.
Senior Member
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 139
From: Northern Vermont
I wave to everyone. Sportbikes and standards will return the wave ~95% of the time, Metric cruisers a little less, Harley's almost never.
To those who don't return the wave, I turn my wave up in the air and lower 4 fingers.
To those who don't return the wave, I turn my wave up in the air and lower 4 fingers.
Senior Member
Superstock
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 358
this town has 3 groups. cruisers, oldschool sport bikers, kids that shouldnt be on 4 wheels let alone 2. us first 2 groupls get along really well rather we are on custom cruisers, modded out harleys or sport bikes, and theres some of both in the normal riding group. its this third group we have problems with, do to these problems if seen on the road they get ignored.
the scooter peeple in this town are all VERY family oriented, matching his/hers scooters, matching helmets, one parent and one kid per scooter, it makes you want to go 'awww, how cute' (and posibly through up a little) also do to the aformentioned third group of idiots on bikes most of the scooter peeple are scared to death of guys on bikes, i wave smile nicely and be as curtious to them as possible.
the scooter peeple in this town are all VERY family oriented, matching his/hers scooters, matching helmets, one parent and one kid per scooter, it makes you want to go 'awww, how cute' (and posibly through up a little) also do to the aformentioned third group of idiots on bikes most of the scooter peeple are scared to death of guys on bikes, i wave smile nicely and be as curtious to them as possible.
Sexual Daredevil
SuperSport
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 597
From: Mother Earth- orbiting around Charlotte, NC. But now over the border in S.C.
Here in NC, I wave at everyone. Most times I get a return wave. If not, no big deal. If I am in a situation where it's not safe to return a wave, I'll nod my helmet. We are all bikers, from the kid on the 50cc dirtbike to the guy with more money than common sense. Your a brother on a bike. It is a bonding experience and a sense of belonging to a group. Wave = your excepted.
My motto has always been: "doesn't matter what your riding, as long as your riding".
My motto has always been: "doesn't matter what your riding, as long as your riding".
Moderatio est Figmentum
Superstock
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 427
From: Covington, Georgia
I appreciate the welcome superhawk22. It's nice to find more superhawk enthusiast. It had been fifteen years since I had been in the saddle, but that all changed when I found my superhawk. I can't seem to stay out of the saddle now. I will try to get pic's and spec's posted soon.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 227
From: Arnold Missouri
I wave to everyone. If they don't wave back, that's their problem. I always wave to the police, it's fun 
and I get some strange looks from them sometimes even dirty looks. I've got nothing to hide, just being nice.
and I get some strange looks from them sometimes even dirty looks. I've got nothing to hide, just being nice.
Senior Member
SuperBike
SuperBike
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,031
From: Los Angeles ish
That’s exactly how I feel. I had a twelve year hiatus and the bug bit me bad all of the sudden. I knew the Shawk was the bike I wanted, looked at one on a Saturday, then another on Sunday and bought the second one on Monday. Welcome aboard from another re-newbie.
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SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,806
From: Atlanta, GA
I appreciate the welcome superhawk22. It's nice to find more superhawk enthusiast. It had been fifteen years since I had been in the saddle, but that all changed when I found my superhawk. I can't seem to stay out of the saddle now. I will try to get pic's and spec's posted soon.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,455
From: Williamsburg, VA
I wave at anything over 50cc's. I just can't bring myself to wave at the scooters. Most of the time it is returned by anybody and everybody.
Sometimes, if I'm in the right mood, when someone doesn't return the wave I'll put both arms in the air and wave them around all crazy like the puppet in "Team America". I make myself laugh so hard I've almost wrecked a few times. The look on the face of "Harley Guy" is priceless. Everyone should try it sometime.
Sometimes, if I'm in the right mood, when someone doesn't return the wave I'll put both arms in the air and wave them around all crazy like the puppet in "Team America". I make myself laugh so hard I've almost wrecked a few times. The look on the face of "Harley Guy" is priceless. Everyone should try it sometime.
Member
Squid
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 39
From: Kansas
In Kansas, especially Wichita and the surrounding area I get the wave from araound 98% from anything on two wheels except for the scooters. The few that don't wave will get the finger and depending on how fast I'm going they'll get both hands, that really seems to freak them out. That reaction alone tells me that the people who are not waving might not have had their bike long enough to feel comfortable letting go with one hand and can't believe I just let go with both of them to give them the bird.
Although from now on I will be using a combination of the double finger and the "Team America" shake as described by drew c14 above because I couldn't stop laughing when I pictured what it must look like.
Although from now on I will be using a combination of the double finger and the "Team America" shake as described by drew c14 above because I couldn't stop laughing when I pictured what it must look like.
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SuperBike
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,806
From: Atlanta, GA
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 240
From: Jacksonville, NC
I'm a big jeep guy, currently sporting 5. I never did wave to other jeeps unless I knew them. Too many posers IMHO with the lift n tires that don't even lock it into 4wd. Bikes...I just usually wave to other sportbikes. Most cruisers are too cool to wave.
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 175
From: Amsterdam, NY.
When I was still on my VFR 9 years ago, everyone waved except the hard core "true" Harley Riders (guess all that skank didn't allow them to raise their hands) - nine years later, I'm back out there and I'd say a large percentage of riders tend not to wave. Particularly the poser Harley riders. Those guys kill me. Anyways, I've noticed a 50/50 hit out there, no matter who's riding what. Hey man, we're all of a "Brotherhood" of sorts, why not respect that???
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 227
From: Arnold Missouri
Sometimes, if I'm in the right mood, when someone doesn't return the wave I'll put both arms in the air and wave them around all crazy like the puppet in "Team America". I make myself laugh so hard I've almost wrecked a few times. The look on the face of "Harley Guy" is priceless. Everyone should try it sometime.[/QUOTE]
I have got to try that
I have got to try that
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 158
...Sometimes, if I'm in the right mood, when someone doesn't return the wave I'll put both arms in the air and wave them around all crazy like the puppet in "Team America". I make myself laugh so hard I've almost wrecked a few times. The look on the face of "Harley Guy" is priceless. Everyone should try it sometime.
ROFL...thats even better than what myself (and apparantly a lot of other people here) do when snubbed on a wave... LOL I'm gonna hafta try that next time hehehe
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 224
From: Fresno, Ca
It is funny about the whole waving thing. I mean really, we preach to ourselves about scanning the road, staying alert, being prepared for anything, etc. but when we see another fellow rider, we take hand off for a quick acknowledgment, and if they don't return it, we get totally distracted. Some people get upset and flip the uno, but in general everybody starts thinking about something other than the road ahead. I bet many of us actually try to see that rider in the mirror! I wonder how many accidents have been caused by this tradition?
That being said, I wave to everybody. I try not to let non-wavers get me down (but sometimes it happens). The only group that I find that does NOT return the wave 99% of the time is MOTO-COPS! Some of the newbie riders on HDs and customs are still learning about the 2-wheel life, and some guys (doesn't matter what they ride) are just too hard/cool/GArY to wave, and thats fine. But I am not going to let that ruin my riding experience. If you are on two (or sometimes one!) I will wave. IF you are on three, maybe a wave too. I generally don't wave to Rascal or enclosed three wheelers though, but maybe I should start.
That being said, I wave to everybody. I try not to let non-wavers get me down (but sometimes it happens). The only group that I find that does NOT return the wave 99% of the time is MOTO-COPS! Some of the newbie riders on HDs and customs are still learning about the 2-wheel life, and some guys (doesn't matter what they ride) are just too hard/cool/GArY to wave, and thats fine. But I am not going to let that ruin my riding experience. If you are on two (or sometimes one!) I will wave. IF you are on three, maybe a wave too. I generally don't wave to Rascal or enclosed three wheelers though, but maybe I should start.
Member
Squid
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 95
From: Missouri City, Texas
When I first got my bike and was farting around town, I went by 2 other bikers in the oncoming lane and they kept pointing to the ground. Being a newbie (and never ridden a street bike in the states before) I pulled off the road to check my tire pressure.
I just thought those guys had some eagle eye vision and could see that I was running low on PSI from about 25 yards away!
I caught on after that, and now I wave all the time. Except scooters, they make me shake my head in laughter that I often times forget to wave.
I just thought those guys had some eagle eye vision and could see that I was running low on PSI from about 25 yards away!
I caught on after that, and now I wave all the time. Except scooters, they make me shake my head in laughter that I often times forget to wave.
Senior Member
SuperBike
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,315
From: Richmond, Virginia
Senior Member
Back Marker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 175
From: Amsterdam, NY.
I waved at a scooter once and my buddy started laughing at me. I felt kind of weird about it - is it PC to wave at the scooters? Or should we treat them like the little red headed step children they really are? (No offense to those of the red headed persuasion..)
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,844
From: Gainesville FLA.
I waved at a scooter once,(not the big hybrid kind the little ones), just saw the light from far away and waved to him. Felt kind of like getting caught kissing you're sister, not that I would know what that feels like 
never had a sister, maybe kickenchicken will chime in. J/K
never had a sister, maybe kickenchicken will chime in. J/K
Senior Member
MotoGP
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 4,138
From: Austin, Tx
I had two sisters - one was older carried a pile of books. The younger one carried a bat. It got it from both sides if I kissed the fuggin' cat! That's when they got me a dog. All was cute while the dog was a puppy but the puppy turned into an Airedale who tried to kill the cat, my childhood ended and the war was on. Scooters are hilarious so I wave to them too! And yes, I laugh in my helmet cause none of them look like my sisters.
