The Almighty Harley Rider

[FJRocket]

I don't think they EVER take their hands off the grips. Seems some Beemer pilots are the same way. That's why they don't wave. They are afraid the big machine might get away from them. It's a SAFETY thing.

As a matter of fact, I almost never see a Nut or a Beemer look anywhere but straight ahead.

I get waves from Harleys, sporties and just about everyone. 'Cept the 'for mentioned anal retentitive out of touch bungholes.

I get bored easily. I like to initiate the wave. Traffic permitting, of course. And no, I'm not talking about the stadium wave. Although it would be a hoot to have a row of bikes do one. Scarey, but a hoot.

 

[JaySea93]

To Wave or Not to Wave By Shalom Auslander

:clap: :lol:

I dont wave at anyone, I wave back.

And I always stop or get a thumbs up OK signal from a sidelined biker...

 

[yanktar]

Anybody notice this thread is right next to the one about wearing protective gear???

 

[BlueWing]

Being a Wing rider also, I have to agree that MANY Goldwing riders do not wave; however many do wave but neglect to move their hand far enough to extend beyond that huge mirror to be seen by anyone they are approaching! They just lazily lift their hand off the grip while imagining how cool they are. So the biker immediately thinks "Well I won't wave at wings anymore".

 

[RickL]

When I'm riding my Rocket, the HD riders tend to wave more than when I'm riding the FJR. My theory is that either they think it's a Harley (haven't figured out the two headlight thing yet), or they just know it's not a sport bike. But I usually initiate the wave, and get 50 percent or better in return. I even wave at Wingabagos.

 

[Carnifex]

I wave at everyone on a bike, with pretty high success rates..

Course I also have a Jeep, so you wave at Jeep people too.

And the wife just got a Passat, and has found out that VW people wave too. (tho not nearly as much as Jeep people).

I just want a vehicle I can drive without my arm getting tired.

/related Harley story.

I went on a group ride to DC earlier this year, to the Nat'l Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, about 200 or so bikes, and I fell in with a group of guys that I knew, two harleys, two metric cruisers and my Feejer. We had a great time all day - they kept telling me to do wheelies and I kept asking them if they needed oil. Anytime we'd stop the Harley guys would all rev their engines and pop the exhaust, so I started it too - got funny looks every time.

The best part was that I had a quart of oil in one of my saddlebags - I had just done the 600 mile oil change on my bike the night before and tossed a spare quart in there, "Just in case". The ride stopped at a hotel in Arlington to pick up the family of one of our Troopers who had been killed in the line of duty in 2004, and we rested there for about an hour. About 15 minutes into our break someone walked back along the line asking if anyone had any oil - lucky for the Harley guy who was blowing oil I did.

I laughed all the rest of the day...

 

[Toynut]

In fact I seem to get fewer waves from Gold Wings than any other brand 


JREW,

 


Could it be that the Wingers are too self-involved with their electric heated coffee mugs (optional, in the left fairing nacele), to let go of the bars long enough to wave back?

 


Or, is their mandatory, monster, boom mike on the left side of their helmet, blocking their periferal (side) vision? :haha:

 

[zorkler]

i stop for everyone bike or car it does not matter . as for the wave deal i am in new york city and in the city limits i say 40 percent of the hd dont wave but as soon as you leave the city limits almost every biker waves . i was riding rt 97 last month and i had to stop waveing there was to dam many bikes out there . it seemed like every 30 seconds there was another rider passing by . hey GROO i like that comment .

 

[Windjammer]

I'll wave at most any bike if the thought occurs. So what if they don't wave back? Maybe they just forgot, maybe they're pricks, whatever. To quote a guy whose neighbors are sick of F4 Phantoms landing out in the street - it ain't no thang.

I don't stop for every bike at the side of the road. I look them over to see if they're in trouble, make eye contact if I can. That usually tells me if they need help or not. Course if they're on British iron I always stop, since it's a foregone conclusion that the Prince of Darkness has paid a visit.

 

[Groo]

The best part was that I had a quart of oil in one of my saddlebags - ...
The ride stopped at a hotel in Arlington ...

What you should have done was gotten the bottle while nobody else was looking, and pour a little puddle under the Harleys.... just for grins.... "Hey Man, looks like your bike is marking it's territory...."

 

[EastTNFJR]

Unless I'm wailing around a corner I always wave at everyone I pass. I can't help if they're too scared to let go for a moment and be friendly. I love to pass by cruisers on the Dragon in curves and wave to them. They can't believe you're not going to have a huge loss of control with one hand off of the bar.

 

[twowheelnut]

Being a Wing rider also, I have to agree that MANY Goldwing riders do not wave; however many do wave but neglect to move their hand far enough to extend beyond that huge mirror to be seen by anyone they are approaching! They just lazily lift their hand off the grip while imagining how cool they are. So the biker immediately thinks "Well I won't wave at wings anymore".

Huh? I've never passed a Wing where either the rider, pillion (can that term be used where Wings are concerned?) or both haven't waved!

 

[BlueWing]

[Huh?  I've never passed a Wing where either the rider, pillion (can that term be used where Wings are concerned?) or both haven't waved!

I keep trying to tell you TWN; there is no constant. Just variations of constant!

 

[sparky3008]

While at work I go running around the halls laughing & waving at everyone like a mad man.

When on my bike I pull right up to every cage I can, knock on their window and wave, laugh and ride off.

Other motorcycles I come across I laugh, wave do wheelies and try to shake their hands before speeding off into the distance.

Signed the Mad laughing waving biker... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[radman]

Going down Wisconsin 35 (along the river) Sunday, I must have passed by 300 bikes going the opposite direction. It appeared we had un unacknowledged agreement, suspension of wave protocol for the day. Otherwise, we'd have never been able to shift...

 

[FJRocket]

You don't need both hands to shift. Unless you're an amputee or a mutant.

That's why everyone should learn to shift without the clutch. You HAVE to wave to every bike you pass.

Another solution would be to get a bobble head arm. Strap it on like a Holloween set of angel wings. Just let it wave up and down and up and down. Then you can use all fingers and toes for the job at hand.

I still like to wave. If it seems appropriate, and I have time. Otherwise I be TCB.

 

[sparky3008]

Just install a loud speaker with a pre-recorded message and a button on your handle-bars with all the others buttons we seem to have for GPS, garage door, cruise etc and instead of waving it shouts the message to each passer-by.

Something like RIDE-ON, or LIVE-FREE.

 

[Windjammer]

Anybody notice this thread is right next to the one about wearing protective gear???

I read this post last week, then it popped into mind last Sunday. I was coming across 694 in Mpls and ran into a traffic slowdown. Come to find the cause is a Gixxer rider by the side of the road on the left shoulder. Saw his buddy lift his shirt and LOTS of road rash there. Obviously he's been down so I pull over and stop to help. Damage on one side of bike, looked like he did a little panic braking and got over zealous with the right foot and laid 'er down. His buddy was amazed he didn't get run over by the traffic all around him. All he had on was thin jeans, a t-shirt and helmet. Fugly road rash on his back. Helped him get his bike back in running order, his buddy loaned him some clothes to cover his wounds for the ride home and we all boogied B4 the LEO's arrived. But he's really hurtin' about now.

 

[gtex1970]

I have not noticed any lack of wavers here in Texas. But, I don't spend much time riding in Dallas or Houston. I imagine I'd be too pissed-off to wave if I lived in one of those cities

My two other rides are a 67 Ford pickup and a Jeep Wrangler. I need a 3rd Arm

:bye: :bye: :bye:

 

[brazos parker]

I wave at almost all oncoming bikers, regardless of make, traffic & road conditions permitting.

However, the large majority of those that don't wave back are on Hardleys. I usually smile and chuckle inside my helmet. :haha: