[Houndguy]

I was having an interesting talk tonight with a biker. He was curious why those of us that ride scooters don't give the bikers wave.

I can honestly say I do and generally get it in return. I have a couple of theories...everything from the scooterist is riding a little 50cc and scared to death they will crash if they take a hand off the bars to not understanding its a greeting (although some bikers have given me a one finger wave as I zip pass them).

Your thoughts?

 

[Buffalo]

Maybe it just depends on where you live. Around here scooter riders wave at about the same rate as other type motorcyclist.

 

[knucklehead]

I've never cared for 'the wave'. Seems a bit stupid. Back when I first started riding it was unusual to see more than a few bikes out and about even on very nice days. The uniqueness of seeing another bike on the road back then didn't draw a wave - that started (IIRC) in earnest back in the late 70's early 80's when it seems everybody started riding. I do return the wave if it's conspicuous. I see some guys that barely move their hand off the L/H grip and give a little finger wave. I don't generally bother to return those - they didn't really mean it!

 

[scout58]

Ha! I started out riding a little 50cc Honda Metropolitan and I would always give the "biker wave" to everything that passed me, especially Harley riders (mostly for s**ts & grins because I looked so silly and they looked so perplexed). I still will throw out a hand to say, "Ciao! Looking good!!!" :headbang:

 

[momule]

I get a big kick out of watching a motorcycle coming at me and the guy/gal trying to decide what the hell my 650 is before they venture a wave. This is HD country around here big time and many of those guys won't acknowledge anyone other than another HD rider....elitest bastards that many of them are. I've seen a lot of them start to wave only to "adjust their helmet" or something to avoid it. My gal and I ride two up a lot and she waves at everything that she sees...even horses or cows sometimes...and before we leave town on a ride we have to drive by the nursing home so she can wave at the old folks out sunning on their wheelchairs. I do love that gal...

 

[Rusty J]

In addition to being friendly, I consider it to be a "make your own luck" thing, in the same sense as some smoking-related superstitions.* In particular, the "three on a match" myth. If you have to light three cigarettes from a single match, it means you're running out of matches (poor planning or lack of money) or chain-smoking (a sign of severe stress). It's not the superstition itself that causes the bad luck. The bad luck is caused by the inattention to detail that also caused neglecting the superstition.

This is also true for waving at fellow motorcyclists -- if you aren't noticing other bikes, you aren't paying enough attention to the traffic around you; if you can't spare a moment to wave to them, controlling your own bike is taking more concentration than it should. So, if you normally wave, and find yourself not doing so (didn't see the other bike, or can't spare the time or effort) it's an indication that you ought to consider pulling over and taking a break.


*I don't endorse smoking. Seriously, just don't.

 

[Houndguy]

This topic gnawed at me for a bit so I did what all ubur-geeks do.

I blogged about it. :roll:

http://2smallerwheels.blogspot.com/2013 ... oters.html

 

[zackman]

If I may I would like to share what I thing to be a funny story about the biker wave, about 4 or 5 years ago when I had my 400 burgman I was coming home from work and I always come home by a back country road where the speeded limit is 55 MPH, Now I have ridden this road for 40+ years I know this road very well. any ways when I had gotten on the road another biker came up behind me a man and woman riding a Harley not a very big bike I guess a lowrider type, anyways when he started to pass me he slow down long enough to look me and my scoot over and I waved but he looked at me like I shouldn't even be on the same road with him, Now I am old enough to know better and I shouldn't of done it; but I did, Now that being said here is the rest of the story, he started to speed up hoping to leave me in his dust but I stayed right on him we got up to 70 and I saw him look into his side mirror to see if I was still there and I was and just waved with a big Grin, this must of not sitted well; now he gets his bike up to 90 and I am still there I saw him take another look and I just waved again, Now by this time the woman is yelling at him and hitting him on his back i am that close enough to see it quite well. we travel another 5 min. at this speed I and i think his woman made the point that he needed to slow down the last thing I saw before turning to get off of this road to get home was a wave from him and a Thumbs up at me. I had the biggest grin on my face when I got home my wife ask me what i was so happy about, Just said it was a good Day. :thumbup:
The Burgman Grin Theirs nothing like it. Ride safe (LOL) and happy trails, Zack

 

[Daboo]

That's funny, zackman! :lol: :laughing8:

I've noticed something a bit different this year. Maybe it's because I'm riding the NT and not the Burgman? Anyway, it seems like 8 out of 10 HD bikers don't wave.

I've never cared for 'the wave'. Seems a bit stupid. Back when I first started riding it was unusual to see more than a few bikes out and about even on very nice days. The uniqueness of seeing another bike on the road back then didn't draw a wave - that started (IIRC) in earnest back in the late 70's early 80's when it seems everybody started riding. I do return the wave if it's conspicuous. I see some guys that barely move their hand off the L/H grip and give a little finger wave. I don't generally bother to return those - they didn't really mean it!

I'm actually beginning to feel this way too. Back when I bought a 66 VW Beetle, they were scarce enough that we'd often wave at each other. Later, they became so common that no one thought of waving anymore. It's getting the same way here. For 9 months of the year, you can ride for an hour and never see another motorcycle. And that's in the Seattle Metro area. Let the temperature go above 50F and the skies dry up...and they come out like a mayfly hatch on a lake in the summer. They're everywhere. Most people seem to have stopped waving at other bikes from across 8 lanes of the freeway, but we generally will wave on two lane roads.

But even now on two lane back country roads, it can seem like you're going to Sturgis with hundreds of other motorcyclists having the same idea as you. The uniqueness of being on the open road and meeting up with someone else is...well, not unique. Sort of like coming across another VW Beetle on the road now.

Chris

 

[rut3556]

I've never cared for 'the wave'. Seems a bit stupid. Back when I first started riding it was unusual to see more than a few bikes out and about even on very nice days. The uniqueness of seeing another bike on the road back then didn't draw a wave - that started (IIRC) in earnest back in the late 70's early 80's when it seems everybody started riding. I do return the wave if it's conspicuous. I see some guys that barely move their hand off the L/H grip and give a little finger wave. I don't generally bother to return those - they didn't really mean it!

Yes, I agree as well. When I started riding in 1958 the "wave" made more sense, as there weren't that many of us on the road. But today, seriously? Again, if somebody waves I'll wave back, but otherwise, not so much.

 

[v8eyedoc]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.!!!!! Funny topic. I wave to most everybody.........

Funny experience a while back - I was riding in one direction and an HD rider with his gf on the back....... As we approach one another - we wave to each other and as he rides past me...... OMG..!! He "realizes" what a fatal mistake he just made - AND.......t r i e s .... to ERASE .....his wave!!!!!!!!!! "No, No!!! I didn't mean that!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Gbjbany]

Well as a fairly new rider, I feel part of the community with they wave a signal that it still exists, and feel I can expect/ hope about 50% of riders will stop and ask or help out, if I find myself stranded on the side of the road. Bikes tend to go where many cars dont and the hope someone will come along who will stop, is comforting. I get the wave doesn't mean that exactly but even so I hope the comradery stays, too many things, like please and thank you, are disappearing.

 

[MacDoc]

Australia it's a nod - could not figure it out at first.

 

[convertfromVespa]

In Arizona this year, I have noticed more people waving ( > 50 percent). In the past ten years it seemed to be less than 20 percent were waving. I am not sure of the cause, but it is nice to feel that there is community. That is what the wave always gave my wife and I a feeling of when I first started riding.

Sometimes I don't wave, because I am preoccupied with GPS directions and unfamiliar roads, or I am busy with traffic. But most of the time, I will wave to any one on two wheels - especially bicyclists that are in the middle of the desert on 100+ degree days. Even they wave back.....

We are all in this together and waving is partly what links our community.

 

[countryartist]

I ride a Burgman 400. I give almost everyone waves! I even have people putting their arms out of their cages giving me waves. I will admit though that I may not do it for the small scooters because I'd rather them pay attention to what they are doing. Many ride dangerously, two on a bike, no gear, sandals, etc.

N

 

[Scootereno]

I wave to any 2 wheeler passing by. :wav:
I have even broken knuckles trying to do it in my Stealth (dam cage). :lol:

 

[29534]

Y'all just don't live far enough back in the sticks. Around here, all of the natives wave at everybody and everything. Bikes, scooters, cars, trucks, farm tractors and even people mowing their lawns, going to the mailbox, walking the dog, etc.

 

[oldsomeman]

I don't just wave.i nod my head in an friendly way.... most folk see it and acknowledge it.......well Harley's don't...but who cares....
I cant always raise the had if i have handlebar mitts on.my hand freezes!
As they go past many riders will wave their foot at you........and as they are usually steaming past at speed it better than lifting your hand.

 

[Mike337]

I wave, because if I don't and they do, I feel rotten. I don't believe it's an anti scooter thing at all, as ours look like crotch rockets coming at ya, so maybe that's it?

 

[Desert Rat]

Right on

QUOTE=osbornk;536152]Y'all just don't live far enough back in the sticks. Around here, all of the natives wave at everybody and everything. Bikes, scooters, cars, trucks, farm tractors and even people mowing their lawns, going to the mailbox, walking the dog, etc.[/QUOTE]

My wife is from S.D. and I'm a native So. Cal. guy. When we drive back to here little home town everyone ways even to us with Cal. plate on our truck & RV.
I wave to other bikes but have given up on the riders that have their hands lower than their knees or higher than their shoulders.:thumbleft: