So I waved at the Harley rider

Let me start off by saying I own and ride a Harley. 1991 FLHTCU with 130k + on the clock.. that's kinda what makes this even funnier to me.

Yesterday, leaving work, approaching freeway onramp. Dang. Tank bag not zippered shut. Cruise to the onramp shoulder, zipper it up, adjust helmet, check for traffic behind on freeway and onramp, then nail it. As I'm, uhh, 'merging' (blowing by everybody), I also pass up a Harley who's in the left lane. Now this guy is not a RUBBIE nor a poser nor a Hells Angel. His bike is dirty, he's sporting Washington plates, camping equipment and it looks like he's been on the road for awhile.. In other words, a rider.

So as I go by, I wave at him :yahoo: .. No wave back.. No big deal. As the traffic in my lane, the slow lane, slowed down due to a truck, Mr. Harley is going to now pass me.. So I sit almost side saddle, look him straight in the eye as he goes by.. and WAVE again :yahoo: at him. He doesn't do ****.. Hmmm.. me thinks he thinks he is too good to wave at a Jap bike.. what the hell, time for some FUN! So I accelerate up, maneuver right beside him (he's still in #1, I'm in #2 lane), match his speed and WAVE WAVE WAVE :yahoo: :yahoo: at him with big exaggerated movements.. like how a puppy dog greets his owner... and still nothing, nada, zip.. But it must have pissed Mr. Congeniality right off caused he accelerates up to 90+ to get away from me. HAH! I match his speed, pull right along side and WAVE WAVE WAVE.. :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: Gawd this is fun! He doesn't crack a smile, no wave.. but away he goes... up to about 108.. so I do the only friendly thing a fella could do.. I match his speed, pull up along side and WAVE WAVE WAVE WAVE WAVE WAVE :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: again.. I'm laughing so hard now I'm damn near crying.. and Mr. Harley has had enough, again. He grabs what's left of the throttle, makes a bunch more noise.... and gets up to maybe 110.. and that's it, he's topped out.. So I pull up alongside again, this time lock the throttle down, take both hands off and wave with *BOTH* hands at him.. then unlock the throttle, rocket up to 130 and left the poor ******* alone.. But damn it sure was fun... and in my last look back in the mirrors, he finally did wave! :****:

whoa...dude, at a 110 and no hands I think I'd be pissing in my pants instead of waving.

I like your absurdity though....I award you the "Medal of Irreverence"

Gotta love some of the "cool" Harley guys.....Good job with the waving !

As for me, I hate waving- sport bike, HD, or anything else. I don't wave when I drive a car, so why should I wave when I drive a bike. Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

For me, Just sharing the road with similar minded freedom loving people...

Awesome! But a long way from "off topic", IMHO.

:clapping: Carv!

Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

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You wouldn't understand anyway, so why waste our time?

Barabus said:

As for me, I hate waving- sport bike, HD, or anything else. I don't wave when I drive a car, so why should I wave when I drive a bike. Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

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Better yet, can anyone explain how we can limit the waving? A typical ride around my area could mean waving at 50 or so bikes. Maybe the HD riders have it right- only wave at similar rides? Further yet, maybe someone could spead the idea to only wave on Sundays.

Well done Carv! B)

A pretty funny story...

Over here it's the Beemer crowd that appears reluctant to wave back.

Some R-GS folks even stare at you funny when you wave. They're like: :huh: "Whut? What's that guy want from me?".

The HD folks tend to wave back energetically when you wave at them first, 'cause they're kind of surprised a street-bike rider is greeting them. (They're aware of our Harley jokes, of course) .

Stef

Maybe just limit your riding ? Not going to limit my enjoyment by waving at like minded people....

FJRobert said:

Maybe just limit your riding ? Not going to limit my enjoyment by waving at like minded people....

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Hey FjrRobert! I hope we can go riding someday... I'll wave the whole way atcha! :yahoo: :yahoo: .

toecutter said:

Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

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You wouldn't understand anyway, so why waste our time?

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More likely a "Cannot explain" rather than a "will not explain".

I submit that if there were a lot more "free minded/ free spirited individuals" that supposedly sets riders apart from cagers, then you would have less sheep following the wave ritual. Any lack of waving in my area would be welcoming. I would rather feel that biker brotherhood when I need it- broke down or other emergency. At least in southern cali, I bet most of those guys waving would drive right by.

BTW, Dcarver, great story and admirable persistence. Even I return the wave. That guy has meet his match.

Don't worry Barabus, I wave at everybody, but I will make a special exemption for you.

"You can go through life like everyone is you friend, or everyone is your enemy. It matters more to you, than it will to them."

Sweet story Don...I don't like to dork around too often, but I have been known to chase people to their top speeds and pass them too. (on closed course tracks, of course)

Waving: People on two wheels take more risks than those on four, or more. When a rider is in need of help, it is customary that another rider will not just pass by, but lend a hand if they can. I feel the wave is a symbol of that support. To me, it means:

1) I respect you

2) I got your back

3) I'm having fun too!!

There, I explained it. Get it?

Edit: further babbling:

Recently we had a forum member crash his bike. Dcarver volunteered to bring his truck and trailer over to provide transport for the bike. He was willing to travel over 600 miles round trip to help out a fellow rider. The rider was helped by another rider that was much closer, but the offer of help from dcarver did not go unnoticed, or without a great deal of gratitude. You choose how you interract with the riding community. You can take part in an extended family of sorts, or you can be a loner. Even if you are a loner, you may benefit from receiving help of other riders, however you miss out on some good relationships by not kicking in yourself. There are a lot of very good friends to be had out there and if we aren't living for the personal relationships that we develop in life, we aren't seeing the trees for the forrest. So wave.

One of the best explanations ever, OrangevaleFJR !

dcarver, You betcha !, hi & low and well just a wave...

Ok, this has gotten too grandiose for me. It's Dcarver thread. I was merely pointing out that not everyone likes to be a "parade princess" and wave all the time. I am not talking about anything big like the biker brotherhood or antagonistic world views. Maybe this HD rider was tired of waving- that's all.

Here's a double high-5 to you, dcarver!

One for BBIII and one for the great story.

OrangevaleFJR said:

Sweet story Don...I don't like to dork around too often, but I have been known to chase people to their top speeds and pass them too. (on closed course tracks, of course)
Waving: People on two wheels take more risks than those on four, or more. When a rider is in need of help, it is customary that another rider will not just pass by, but lend a hand if they can. I feel the wave is a symbol of that support. To me, it means:

1) I respect you

2) I got your back

3) I'm having fun too!!

There, I explained it. Get it?

Edit: further babbling:

Recently we had a forum member crash his bike. Dcarver volunteered to bring his truck and trailer over to provide transport for the bike. He was willing to travel over 600 miles round trip to help out a fellow rider. The rider was helped by another rider that was much closer, but the offer of help from dcarver did not go unnoticed, or without a great deal of gratitude. You choose how you interract with the riding community. You can take part in an extended family of sorts, or you can be a loner. Even if you are a loner, you may benefit from receiving help of other riders, however you miss out on some good relationships by not kicking in yourself. There are a lot of very good friends to be had out there and if we aren't living for the personal relationships that we develop in life, we aren't seeing the trees for the forrest. So wave.

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+1 :clapping:

I'm a waving fool...

Barabus said:

Ok, this has gotten too grandiose for me. It's Dcarver thread. I was merely pointing out that not everyone likes to be a "parade princess" and wave all the time. I am not talking about anything big like the biker brotherhood or antagonistic world views. Maybe this HD rider was tired of waving- that's all.

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Hey, you asked:

As for me, I hate waving- sport bike, HD, or anything else. I don't wave when I drive a car, so why should I wave when I drive a bike. Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

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Exactly what did this mention about the HD rider being tired of waving, and exactly how didn't you expect your question to garner a response?

Look, do what you want and think what you want but I wouldn't recommend inferring anything like you did in your last post unless you just want to piss people off. If you want to call me a princess because I buy into the biker brotherhood and I like to wave then, **** you. I hope to see you on a ride someday so I can wave and make you question ************...again.

OrangevaleFJR said:

Barabus said:

Ok, this has gotten too grandiose for me. It's Dcarver thread. I was merely pointing out that not everyone likes to be a "parade princess" and wave all the time. I am not talking about anything big like the biker brotherhood or antagonistic world views. Maybe this HD rider was tired of waving- that's all.

Click to expand...

Hey, you asked:

As for me, I hate waving- sport bike, HD, or anything else. I don't wave when I drive a car, so why should I wave when I drive a bike. Can anyone explain what all the waving is about?

Click to expand...

Exactly what did this mention about the HD rider being tired of waving, and exactly how didn't you expect your question to garner a response?

Look, do what you want and think what you want but I wouldn't recommend inferring anything like you did in your last post unless you just want to piss people off. If you want to call me a princess because I buy into the biker brotherhood and I like to wave then, **** you. I hope to see you on a ride someday so I can wave and make you question ************...again.

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Easy cheetah. No need to get personal and so agitated. I wasn't calling you a "parade princess" and I started another thread where a poll exists so we can see that everyone doesn't view waving the same. In that way we do not have to hijack Dcarver's thread.