Excuuuse Me!

[Tyler]

I NEVER wave to ANYBODY on three wheels! That's a Trike, not a bike. If I ever get to that point in life, I'll just buy a convertible.

That's okay... I'll still wave at you when you're driving your convertible and making vroom-vroom sounds while you're driving.

 

[Khunajawdge]

Actually, waving in the UK is a bit more problematical than in more civilised areas, because we ride on the left, so our "visible" hand is holding the throttle open. I found it much easier when I was in foreign parts and riding on the right.

Most of the time we make do with nods, and even then, with the amount of traffic on our roads, I'm usually keeping track of several morons in cages around me, in which case I'm very rude and don't acknowledge other riders.

I enjoyed reading MCA's account, but I gotta say I resemble some of his remarks, for example: what's wrong with Suzuki's and the helmets those guys wear? Shoot, I wear the same helmet on both my FJR and V-Strom. :dntknw:

I like the top comment quoted above, makes perfect sense. :clapping:

The second comment doesn't work for me because with all the wind noise and stuff, I can't hear the rattle of another rider's head when they nod.

 

[mcatrophy]

... and gave a big wave, so I waved back...

I'm just good with kids like that.

I suspect we all have similar stories.
In heavy motorway traffic, I'm riding in the middle lane, car in the lane to my offside. We travel like this for a little way, sometimes I'm slightly behind, sometimes ahead.

A young girl is sitting in the front passenger seat of the car. At one stage I'm beside for several seconds. I notice the girl looking at me (a moment to savour, very few girls look at me, but I digress), she gives me a sort of half-hearted wave. I couldn't acknowledge her, just at that moment my queue slows and I have to take care of brakes and such.

Several minutes later my lane frees up, I find I'm passing the car, so I slow until I'm pacing it. I wait 'till she looks my way, I give her a long, deliberate wave. I see a broad grin on her face, she waves back enthusiastically. I accelerate away.

Made my day to make hers.

(Don't know what Daddy in the driving seat might have thought seeing a Biker waving to his 12-year old daughter ???)

Other non-bikers who wave? I often see a parent walking* with a toddler encourage their offspring to wave to a biker, they know they will almost certainly get a wave back.

*Walking: Sometimes still practised in the UK, but becoming rarer.

 

[mcatrophy]

Actually, waving in the UK is a bit more problematical than in more civilised areas, because we ride on the left, so our "visible" hand is holding the throttle open. I found it much easier when I was in foreign parts and riding on the right.

Most of the time we make do with nods, and even then, with the amount of traffic on our roads, I'm usually keeping track of several morons in cages around me, in which case I'm very rude and don't acknowledge other riders.

I enjoyed reading MCA's account, but I gotta say I resemble some of his remarks, for example: what's wrong with Suzuki's and the helmets those guys wear? Shoot, I wear the same helmet on both my FJR and V-Strom. :dntknw:

I like the top comment quoted above, makes perfect sense. :clapping:

The second comment doesn't work for me because with all the wind noise and stuff, I can't hear the rattle of another rider's head when they nod.

Erm, can't hear the other rider's wave either.

Motorcycling Lesson Number 3: You have to use your eyes when riding.

 

[wev567]

I AM an asshole!

Me too!! Used to wave but seems like nobody waves back, so I stopped. Now I only wave back, and feel bad if I don't notice the wave in time to return it....

 

[Gerry.GEG]

Many times, it's directly related to how much the rider doubles as a Pirate!

I encounter both types, those who are friendly and those who have to keep their Argh in check. LOL.

 

[SacramentoMike]

We've had most of the possible combinations already: always wave, never wave, only wave back, etc. Me, with the exception of shirtless guys with leather vests, Nazi helmets, and ape hanger handlebars, I wave at everybody. But I resent it when they don't wave back. So then I give them the finger.

 

[mferriter]

I NEVER wave to ANYBODY on three wheels! That's a Trike, not a bike. If I ever get to that point in life, I'll just buy a convertible.

That's okay... I'll still wave at you when you're driving your convertible and making vroom-vroom sounds while you're driving.

OK, to avoid any chance at offense, from now I'm going to wave at everyone and everything - bikes, trikes, cars, busses, bicycles, pedestrians, squirrels, trees, buildings, traffic control devices even Harley riders just to see who or what waves back.

 

[wheatonFJR]

FWIW, I'm a waver and I don't give a frog's fat a** if someone waves back at me.

I just set them on fire with my mind

Whoa...I gotta be nicer to you Mary Ellen....I didn't know you were one of those freaky SCANNERS!!!! :dribble: :dribble:

 

[Tyler]

I NEVER wave to ANYBODY on three wheels! That's a Trike, not a bike. If I ever get to that point in life, I'll just buy a convertible.

That's okay... I'll still wave at you when you're driving your convertible and making vroom-vroom sounds while you're driving.

OK, to avoid any chance at offense, from now I'm going to wave at everyone and everything - bikes, trikes, cars, busses, bicycles, pedestrians, squirrels, trees, buildings, traffic control devices even Harley riders just to see who or what waves back.

Works for me.

 

[Khunajawdge]

I NEVER wave to ANYBODY on three wheels! That's a Trike, not a bike. If I ever get to that point in life, I'll just buy a convertible.

That's okay... I'll still wave at you when you're driving your convertible and making vroom-vroom sounds while you're driving.

OK, to avoid any chance at offense, from now I'm going to wave at everyone and everything - bikes, trikes, cars, busses, bicycles, pedestrians, squirrels, trees, buildings, traffic control devices even Harley riders just to see who or what waves back.

Works for me.

OK mferriter, you've been Tylerized! :bye: :bye:

 

[Jer]

When I am not playing golf, I have a two mile route that I walk and I say good morning to everyone I meet along the way. Some people do not answer back, but that is probably because they are shy or afraid that I might be a mugger or worse. Riding the bike I always wave which to me is practically the same as my good morning greeting to the strangers I pass during my walk.

I will admit that if they don't acknowledge my greeting it might turn into a single digit.

 

[HotRodZilla]

While on the subject: Where Patch and I grew up, we waved at almost everyone we passed. We lived in the middle of nowhere and just about everyone knew everyone else; so everyone waved. Especially on the long 2 lane roads we had.

Still catch myself doing it sometimes just driving around. Some people must think I'm an idiot.

 

[wnyfjr]

We lived in the middle of nowhere and just about everyone knew everyone else; so everyone waved. Especially on the long 2 lane roads we had.

I grew up in a small town (well, small-ish: pop. 8500, one stop light), but then moved to Lousiana, then southern Cal, then the Bay Area, and finally moved back home some 25 years later. It took a while to get back into the groove of having both folks you know and complete strangers waving to me as I walk through town! The wife and I will be walking and someone will drive by and wave and I'll ask "Who was that?" "Haven't a clue honey." Everyone waves to everyone around here.

On motorcycles, not so much, but like others, I wave anyway. Don't much care what you're riding, I'll wave. Even to a moped on occasion! You wanna wave back, cool. You wanna ignore me, cool too. Nothing to get my knickers in a knot over. I keep on grinnin' inside my helmet, 'cause I'm out riding my FJR and that's waaaay cool to me!!

 

[Fred W]

A couple of thoughts on this subject this morning:

Yesterday I took the day off and tested one of the VT NERDS routes (the Mt Washington loop route actually). It was a 450 mile day including the slab ride to the closest route intercept point. It is also bike week in New Hampshire. I must have passed more than five thousand bikes on the roads yesterday. More bikes than cars in and around the white mountains. I stayed away from Laconia and Lake Winnipesauke, which is where the pirates make their base camps. Needless to say, there wasn't a lot of waving going on from either side, when there are so many. :huh:

The waves that I enjoy the most are when you are riding along, usually in the country, and there is either a young boy or an older guy along the side of the road. He hears the bike and looks up and waves. I love that because I know what is going through their mind. I see the gleam in their eye, in my own mind at least.

 

[beemerdons]

While on the subject: Where Patch and I grew up, we waved at almost everyone we passed. We lived in the middle of nowhere and just about everyone knew everyone else; so everyone waved. Especially on the long 2 lane roads we had.

Still catch myself doing it sometimes just driving around. Some people must think I'm an idiot.

Did HRZ-AJ just write "think"? I always wave at other motorcyclists y muy loco Nuevo Mexicanos!!!

 

[mferriter]

I'm waving to you all right now.

I think a squirrel waved back to me this morning on my way into work. The deer just stared at me with those blank stares they have, but I can tell they were thinking about it.

The voices in my head keep telling me I'm crazy. I don't believe them, they're just jealous.

 

[racer]

I don't wave anymore. When I rode down to Daytona for Bike Week, everyone waved, so I waved back. However, no one would wave back in Daytona, so I just decided not to wave anymore.

 

[Spook]

Waving is stupid.

Keep both hands properly positioned on the bars at ALL times...

Is that rude?

Watch fer shit that can kill ya.

Prepare to make evasive maneuvers...

You must ride a Harley.

 

[Spook]

I love motorcycles and I love riding. Like many of you, what first drew me to bikes was not just the experience of riding, but the feeling that I'd become part of a special community--a brotherhood, really. Nothing calms me more than a long ride down the interstate, waving to the members of my beloved clan. Except when I pass Harley guys. I hate Harley guys. Hate, hate, hate. When they pass me on the highway, you know what I do? I don't wave. With their little tassel handlebars and the studded luggage and the half-helmets--God, they drive me crazy.

You know who else I hate? BMW guys. Oh, I do hate those guys. I don't wave at them, either. They think they're so great, sitting all upright, with their 180-degree German engines. God, I hate them. They're almost as bad as those old bastards on their touring motorcycles. You know what I call those bikes? "Two-wheeled couches!" Get it? Because they're so big. They drive around like they've got all day. Appreciate the scenery somewhere else Grampa, and while you're at it, I'm not waving to you.

Ducati guys--I don't wave at them either. Why don't they spend a little more money on their bikes? "You can have it in any colour you want, as long as it's red." Aren't you cool! Like they even know what a desmo-whatever engine is anyway. Try finding the battery you Italian-wannabe racers! I never, ever wave at those guys.

Suzuki guys aren't much better, which is why I never wave at them, either. They always have those stupid helmets sitting on top of their stupid heads, and God forbid they should wear any safety gear. They make me so mad. Sometimes they'll speed by and look over at me and you know what I do? I don't wave. I just keep on going. Please, don't get me started on Kawasaki guys. Ninjas? What are you, twelve years old? Team Green my ass. I never wave at Kawasaki guys.

I ride an FJR, and I'll only wave at FJR guys, but even then, I'll never wave at a guy in full leathers. Never, never, never. Yeah, like you're going to get your knee down on the New York thruway. Nice crotch, by the way. Guys in full leathers will never get a wave from me, and by the way, neither will the guys in two-piece leathers. And I'll tell you who else I'm not waving at -- those guys with the helmets with the loud paintjobs. Four pounds of paint on a two pound helmet - like I'm going to wave back to that! I'll also never wave at someone with a mirrored visor, or helmet stickers, or racing gloves, or hiking boots.

To me, motorcycling is a like a family, a close-knit brotherhood of people who ride FJRs, wear jeans and a leather jacket (not Vanson) with regular gloves and a solid-color helmet with a clear visor, no stickers, no racing gloves and regular boots (not Timberlands). And isn't that what really makes riding so special?

(Shamelessly stolen from elsewhere.)

That is what I like a guy with no opinion.