Waving

[fast1]

   When I started riding we waved to all other motorcyclist's on the road. Of course there were a lot less bikes on the road then so one might only wave a dozen times on a day ride. On a sunny day day now you can see hundreds. Some wave back most don't. Went to Ness lake today for a family function. Being as hot as it was and not wanting to roast or change after getting there I opted to ride in shorts and a t-shirt with sneakers. Waving to every bike seen, return waves were dismal at best. Harley guys only wave at other hawgs, Goldwing dudes only wave to Golwing dudes..etc. So I have decided to only wave at Kawasaki chopper riders in shorts from now on. Should make it easy.CHEERS.

[PeggySue]

HA!
Noticed that myself; I wave at anyone, though.... fewer bikes around here. 

Peg

[MaximX]

Waving can be a bit of a science and a mind game perhaps at times.  I will ramble a bit here as there sometimes is no sense to it.  I ride in shorts and T shirt when it is hot, that puts me in a different bracket of riders....however I did see a couple of guys on Harleys yesterday in shorts, does that mean I can wave to them?  And low and behold a guy on a Harley in full dress waves at me!  Slightly taken off guard I got my wave in just before he goes by me.  I actually found about 30-40% were waving yesterday, that with me not initiating it, if I am first to wave that percentage goes up a bit.  When in some traffic I am often checking out the where cars are and sometimes miss a wave from a biker, feel a bit bad when that happens.
Then when the 'tough guy' bikers appear I pretty much assume they will not wave so don't bother myself.  But wait why do I do that?  Maybe I should just be nice to everybody, even if they think I am a twit for having the confidence in my riding ability to wear shorts.  I just can't help but think on a hot day..Are you really enjoying your black leathers?  They can not enjoy the breeze as I am and have no idea that I playfully think that leathers are for sissies as they go by.  Bikers often like to think they are tough risk takers....they should be in awe of my type of rider, risking all and enjoying the weather not caring what others think of them.  Even tough bikers are held back by peer pressure at times....can't break the code.  Am I digressing here a bit?  Most fun is when an older Harley rider all decked out on his slightly loud bike ends up being next victom to the MaxX at a stop light.  I don't take off really hard, just go on green and if I hear him trying crank it through 2 gears and slow down again.  I know my bike is not really quick, but for a for a collector bike it holds its own with lots that are out there, makes riding fun.  All this does relate a bit to the when to wave question.  Do I make a judgement call on when to wave because of what I see coming my way, or simply decide to live something I tend to believe. That I should treat others as I would like to be treated.  (If you are thinking "What about dusting off another bike at a light?" I want to know the truth, if your bike is faster, show me, I'd want to know   I like it when people wave, if I did it more, the chances of more people doing it would have to go up.  Even if they don't wave am I going to stop smiling?  I hope not.  Glad you brought this up Wayne, got me thinking and I probably will wave more....

[Billy Thunder]

I try to wave at all my two wheeled brothers. Sometimes just a drop of the hand and extension of two fingers. I get a kick out of the reactions and I too try to get into the mindset of those who do and don't wave back. Keep in mind I often wear a 'Rocker' style studded and patch bedecked leather jacket... and I usually ride a clubman barred caf? racer.
 About 70 - 80 percent wave back. New riders on modern sport bikes and the electric scooters seem the most surprised to see the salute. The hardcore, midlife, expressionless V-twin riders are the ones who often ignore it. I secretly make a vow to pass them by if I see them broken down roadside (but I know I wouldn't really...ha ha).

[british bulldog]

I try to wave 100% percent of the time unless i need 2 hands on the bars whether its a electric scooter or Harley Davidson etc. . As for leathers or denim 99.99 all the time i wear, do to some road rash over 48 years of riding. I was not happy with the end results. Its the other motorists usually you have to watch out for, not ruling out mechanical or rider error. Once again i love all motorcycles. Safe and Happy Riding to all.

                                     British Bulldog

[Theo]

It?s a good feeling when other cyclists wave.  I even got a ?wave? from a fellow in a car the other day ? it was the one fingered variety and was accompanied by some loud, indecipherable verbal message.  I have no idea who he was, or why he was saluting me, so I just waved back.
He was probably just wishing he was riding his motorcycle.
Theo

[oldduc]

   Around town nobody really waves, out of town on the highway on a sunny weekend just about everyone waves. Hell even most of the bad ass Harley guys wave to me on my Ducati (they my not want any of their buddies see them do it). I think it is because you are out on the open road and the sun is shinning and people are doing what they love so it does not matter what you/they are riding it is the fact you are riding. Most of the Harley guys even wave at my wife on her little 250. They are born to be wild, she is born to mild

[fj1200]

Once upon a time "beetle" drivers waved to each other, but no longer. The "wave" a recognition of a kindred spirit, slowly gets squashed as the number of spirits riding bikes increase to the point where it is no longer a special group. Rather is now part of the mainstream style recreational activity to be done on sunny days with great strutting and posing to show what a "biker" you now are. Did you ever notice that you hardly ever get to wave or not wave, when it is raining outside.  Rode from Calgary to P.G.a couple of years ago in the rain all the way, and never felt the need to take my hand from the bar. On a sunny day you can hardly throw a rock between the bikes.  But what the heck, wave anyhow, Canadians are famous for their politeness.