The "Wave"

[humangod]

So I've had my bike for a few weeks now. When I first started riding, I noticed others bikes on the road would wave to me or give me a head nod. I still think it's kinda cool... Like we have an understanding or something in common. It's a different scene. I had 3 burley bikers on harleys pull up next to me at a stop light last week. They all looked over and smiled and waved.

[tripleb]

yeah, that's the camaraderie from riding a bike.  you'll see it a lot, you make sure you return it, or at least nod, or else you'll feel like an @$$hole.

[rydethis]

Next time that happens... you should blow them kisses    jk the wave is awesome!!  It just shows respect IMO!!!

[TurkeyChicken]

I find it's hit or miss with people.  Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.  it usually depends on if they see you fast enough, etc.

people are usually pretty good about it.

[drincruz]

wave, nod, honk of the horn... it's always awesome to see fellow riders.  

sometimes i feel like some of the guys on the choppers don't want to give a wave or nod, but i do it anyway. i'll usually get a nod back.

cheers,
~drin

[tt_four]

Yeah, most people will do it. I used to get blatently ignored by guys on harleys and the like. I'd wave to them, but after the rejection for so long, you just stop waving, then all of a sudden one waves to you, and you don't catch it soon enough, and YOU look like the jerk.

[lonewolfpup911]

I always put two fingers down to signify keeping wheels down on the road.

[Chanse]

I always get the finger........ The one finger..... The pointer, not the other one... Pointing downward....... ummmm yeah.

[ohgood]

wave, nod, honk of the horn... it's always awesome to see fellow riders.  

sometimes i feel like some of the guys on the choppers don't want to give a wave or nod, but i do it anyway. i'll usually get a nod back.

cheers,
~drin

wave, but REAL BIG, and honk a few times. the looks HD guys give is priceless.

if you ever see someone actually riding a bmw, blow em kisses, cause he/she may be the first / last you 'll see

[AccidentalF]

wave, nod, honk of the horn... it's always awesome to see fellow riders.  

sometimes i feel like some of the guys on the choppers don't want to give a wave or nod, but i do it anyway. i'll usually get a nod back.

cheers,
~drin

wave, but REAL BIG, and honk a few times. the looks HD guys give is priceless.

if you ever see someone actually riding a bmw, blow em kisses, cause he/she may be the first / last you 'll see

Hey now, I ride my BMW all the time...and I have not gotten a single kiss blown at me....

Here's my method:  I wave at people who wear gear.  The Hardly-Ableson pose-in-the-mirror-before-riding dorks don't return it, and the JoeRocket-racerboys-squid-team-pavement-crayons don't return it, but everyone else who has a brain they feel like protecting and don't consider themselves too cool for you do.

[mister]

Down here in Oz we ride on the left side of the road. So our left hand is harder to see by an oncoming rider. So we Nod. Some give a subtle barely perceivable nod. Others give a big high-right-to-low-left nod. Some don't - mainly cruiser riders. I nod no matter what - I even nodded at a moped and the guy was shocked as all heck 

But if'n you're curious why people don't nod, here are the reasons....

TOP 10 REASONS WHY HARLEY RIDERS DON'T WAVE BACK:

10. Afraid it will invalidate warranty.
9. Leather and studs make it too heavy to raise arm.
8. Refuse to wave to anyone whose bike is already paid for.
7. Afraid to let go of handlebars because they might vibrate off.
6. Rushing wind would blow scabs off the new tattoos.
5. Angry because just took out second mortgage to pay luxury tax on new Harley.
4. Just discovered that fine print in owner's manual and realized that H-D is partially owned by Honda.
3. Can't tell if other riders are waving or just reaching to cover their ears like everyone else.
2. Remembers the last time a Harley rider waved back, he impaled his hand on helmet spike.
1. They're too tired from spending hours polishing all that chrome to lift their arms.
0. They're jealous that after spending $30,000, they still don't own a Gold Wing.

TOP TEN REASONS WHY GOLDWING RIDERS DON'T WAVE BACK:

10. Wasn't sure whether other riders was waving or making an obscene gesture.
9. Afraid might get frostbite if hand is removed from heated grip.
8. Has arthritis and the past 400 miles have made it difficult to raise arm.
7. Reflection from etched windshield momentarily blinded him.
6. The espresso machine just finished.
5. Was actually asleep when other rider waved.
4. Was in a three-way conference call with stockbroker and accessories dealer.
3. Was distracted by odd shaped blip on radar screen.
2. Was simultaneously adjusting the air suspension, seat height, programmable CD player, seat temperature, and satellite navigation system.
1. Couldn't find the "auto wave back" button on dashboard.

TOP 10 REASONS WHY CROTCHROCKET RIDERS DON'T WAVE BACK:

10. They have not been riding long enough to know they're supposed to.
9. They're going too fast to have enough time to register the movement and respond.
8. You weren't wearing bright enough gear.
7. If they stick their arm out going that fast, they'll rip it out of the socket.
6. They're too occupied with trying to get rid of chicken strips.
5. They look way too cool with both hands on the bars or they don't want to unbalance themselves while standing on the tank.
4. Their skin tight-kevlar-ballistic-nylon-kangaroo-leather suits prevent any position other than fetal.
3. Raising an arm allows bugs into the armholes of their tank tops.
2. It's too hard to do one-handed stoppies.
1. They were too busy slipping their flip-flops back on.

TOP 10 REASONS DUAL SPORT RIDERS DON'T WAVE BACK:

10. Vibration of knobby tires prevented the rider from taking his hand off the bars.
9. MX style safety gear was too bright to see you wave.
8. His front fender prevents you seeing him wave back.
7. Was too busy configuring his GPS/Enduro Roll/FishFinder.
6. His rain/wind/thorn/bug/bird proof thousand-dollar jacket won't allow it.
5. Was too busy re-arranging his 500 pounds of soft-sided luggage.
4. Doesn't recognize a wave in any language other than German.
3. Too busy splitting lanes/filtering through traffic.
2. One handed wheelies are not easy.
1. On single-track trails you stop, not wave.

TOP 10 REASONS WHY BMW RIDERS DON'T WAVE BACK:

10. New Aerostitch suit too stiff to raise arm.
9. Removing a hand from the bars is considered "bad form".
8. Your bike isn't weird enough looking to justify acknowledgement.
7. Too sore from an 800-mile day ride on a stock "comfort" seat.
6. Too busy programming the GPS, monitoring radar, listening to Ipod, XM, or talking on the cell phone.
5. He's an Iron Butt rider and you're not!
4. Wires from Gerbing's Heated Clothing are too short.
3. You're not riding the "right kind" of BMW.
2. You haven't been properly introduced.
1. Afraid it will be misinterpreted as a friendly gesture

Michael

[PaviSays]

Hehe, I learned about the wave when my dad first took me for a ride on the back of his Harley when I was maybe in fifth grade.  He just waved and I asked him about it at a redlight and he kinda explained how you just wave so I started doing it from the back too, haha.  Idk, personally I think it's awesome that everyone has that connection.

So needless to say, I always make sure to wave on the open road or nod if I'm sitting with the clutch in and front break at a light.  Something I always noticed is everyone has their own little wave.  Some people just flash the hand up, others point one finger down, others just throw the whole hand down.  I guess I throw out a peace sign which kinda doubles as the "two wheels" lonewolfpup mentioned.

The other day though, I saw by far the single best wave of my short riding career.  I was going up through some twisties until I got stuck behind some out-of-state minivan going 10 under the speed limit (ugh.) when I saw someone on a black cruiser coming around one of the bends.  It turned out to be some hippie with the whole stereotypical look, the long hair, the round glasses, the baggy shirt and pants.  As I flashed out my wave and he reciprocated the gesture with a vivacious waving peace sign.  The whole scene was outrageously ridiculous.  I just started laughing out loud as I was riding along.  Definitely made my day.

[Dr.Sparkie]

One time I nodded at a scooter.. I felt like a dork.

the first long ride of my career (and my first time on the road) was 100km on a gs400 with only one good carb (also unlicensed and illegal as hell). I was cold and terrified... people kept waving at me, but I was afraid I'd drop the bike if I let go. I felt shamed.

[O.C.D.]

The "wave" is odd as this is the second vehicle where the "wave" seems mandatory.  In my Jeep I get the "wave" all the time and I wave back as well.  On the bike I still get the "wave" as well.  These are the ONLY two vehicles where I have noticed this is common.  And guess what, I love it! 

I say wave away, even if it is a HD prick without class.

[pwostrel]

I just wave to all bikes! If no wave or nod back I guess  they were too cool for me! 

[tt_four]

The "wave" is odd as this is the second vehicle where the "wave" seems mandatory.  In my Jeep I get the "wave" all the time and I wave back as well.  On the bike I still get the "wave" as well.  These are the ONLY two vehicles where I have noticed this is common. 

I live in the city, and am rarely any farther than 4 miles from my house, so I just usually ride my bicycle if I need something from home depot or am going to work. We also usually wave to each other, or at least acknowledge one another. Sometimes less by waving, and more by just screaming to each other from the other side of the road. Same as everything else though....the guys in full spandex, and the guys who you can tell are just riding around because they lost their licenses for too many DUIs aren't usually into it.

[Toogoofy317]

Anybody read the August edition of Motorcyclist? It's called "Permanent Waves" by Mike Seate. I was a little taken aback when he was a complete a$$ about it saying it wasn't necessary and they don't do it "over there" so why should we. I understand the safety part where the guy did it in a curve. But, seriously if you are so insecure about your bike that you can't lift your hand off for a 2 second wave should you really be on the road?

From the article "I wish I could say I was shocked by this random act of stupidity, but motorcyclist waving at each other at inopportune moments is one of the sport's most enduring annoyances. It ranks right up there on my pet-peeve list with helmetless riders dressed as though they're entered in the MTV Rock and Jock Beach Vollyball Tournament. But while the flip-flops-and-wife-beater crowd can be dismissed as squids who will son be riding hospital gurneys instead of motorcycles, the wavers should know better."  He also went on to say that he doubted that anybody who waved at him on the bike would ever pull over to help if he needed assistance. Apparently, in Germany nobody waves because " Nobody waves here because we're concentrated on profecient riding" 

Ahh yeah honestly didn't like the magazine this month!

Mary

[ver4]

I've only been out riding once, but made sure that I did the wave to an motorcyclist driving by.  I used to ride on the back of my Dad's bike and I have always seen other riders wave to him, so I had to make sure when I start to ride that I give the wave back.


Side note:  About a month ago some guy in  VW Golf waved to me as I was driving.  I also drive a VW Golf, but I have never seen that before. 

[BaltimoreGS]

I am hit or miss on the wave.  When I first started riding I always did it, years later I still do it when in the mood.  On nice days around here though there are just too many bikes on the road to wave at them all, I start to feel like the beauty queen in a parade.  Other times I'm just concentrating more on what's going on on my side of the road to pay attention to the bike 3 lanes over coming towards me.  But for the most part I am a waver.

I always wave to cops though.  I have a friend who is a cop and I found riding with him that cops wave at each other.  He even does it when he is in his personal car in civilian clothes.  I figure if I wave at the cops they may figure that I am one of them and ignore the fact I may be a little over the speed limit.

And while we are on the subject...  Where I'm from in rural Bedford, Pennsylvania everybody waves to each other on the back roads.  Cars generally are few and far between on my road.  Oncoming drivers wave at each other as well as people in their yards if they see you coming.  It's just something us Appalachian Americans (hillbillys) do. 

-Jessie

[mister]

The "wave" is odd as this is the second vehicle where the "wave" seems mandatory.  In my Jeep I get the "wave" all the time and I wave back as well.  On the bike I still get the "wave" as well.  These are the ONLY two vehicles where I have noticed this is common.  And guess what, I love it!  .

Then you ain't driven a Rangie (Range Rover). Pricey as to buy new but cheap as to buy 2nd hand. Rangie drivers wave at each other.

Any form of acknowledgment needs to be done at your own safety first. Leaning over in a bend is no good time to be letting go of the handle bars - heck, it can be dangerous to glance into your mirrors!

Generally, where the bikes gather on the weekends - and roads leading to such places - no waves or nods take place. Just too many bikes. Although, there was this one time when I was riding solo to Queen Mary Falls just outside of Brisbane. During one of my brief stops to take some pics (in this case a pic of a rock that had been cut through to make the road along - Head Rd, seen here http://tinyurl.com/knbdwe) I heard bikes coming. Turned around and 6 or 7 bikes were headed through the gap. I flipped up a hand, got a nod, then got a nod from All of them. I felt like one of those Nodding Things you see on dashboards, nodding back and forth as they all nodded to me. Quite surreal.

Michael