Best thing about owning a GS500 is that I don't have to wave as much.

[speedsix]

I just sold a 08 V-Strom with Givi top case and side cases.  It also had a Cee Bailey extra tall windshield so it looked from head on like it may have been a Harley or a Goldwing or something so I got a LOT of waves from other baggers and touring bikes.  It really wasn't that type of bike but it sort of looked like one of them so they would wave at me all the time.

Riding the 1994 GS500E gets me almost no love from other bikers.  The rice rockets look down on me and the HD guys act like they can't see me.  The tourers also ignore me. 

I don't mind because I hated having to wave but I think it is funny to see the different responses based on what you are riding. 

[scottpA_GS]

I wave to everyone wearing a helmet.. No helmet, I ignor you 

[ver4]

I may be going riding today.  I let you know if I experience the same. 

I know last time I went out everyone waved to me. 

[johnny ro]

I had a customized harley owner say to me yesterday, " So, you like to pop wheelies at 85 on that thing?"

He had sent many thousands on paint and chrome, an ape hanger chopper.

[impulse816]

I get waves from almost every bike I see on mine. I wouldn't think the fairings would make that much of a difference? 

Occasional harleys don't wave but it seems super sports go out of their way to wave at me.

[Flanders]

ha...you've got biker snobs
I wave at everyone in a helmet, and everyone in a helmet waves at me.  Yay Ontario!

[joker79507]

I wave to everyone and get waved back most of the time.  I even get compliments on my bike by most cruiser guys, even Harley guys

[XealotX]

You don't "have" to wave...

I've noticed the "Weekend Cruiser" bunch tend to wave more than the "Weekday Cubicle Drone" bunch.

[courtsdaddy]

I live in Ohio and I get the same thing buddy,  Who cares if no one waves at you.  You are on a gs500 and you are on two wheels, ride for your self(enjoy).  This is my first year riding and I love my 01 gs500, still need some work but for me right now it is the perfect bike.  I dont need compliments, all i need is an open road.  Last thing when they dont wave at you, wave at  when you go by them and they are getting gas.lmao

[Dr.Sparkie]

ha...you've got biker snobs
I wave at everyone in a helmet, and everyone in a helmet waves at me.  Yay Ontario!

yay ontario indeed! but ive noticed that as you commute into toronto the wave turns into a nod, or just comlete ambivelence. that ties in with the cubicle drone correlation.

now people not waving because you dont ride the right "type" of bike, yah... biker snobs.

[mister]

I generally find cruiser riders (which is mostly Harley's but not entirely) won't Nod (we nod in Australia). And BMW riders can be snobby too. Like the one I pulled up next to the other day on his BMW GS-thing. He was at the front of one lane and I pulled up at the front of the lane next to him. He looked over, I nodded (as we do in such situations down here) and he just turned away. Rude f*ck!  Ignore me while riding the other way, sure. But when you're right next to someone and they Greet you...

Michael

[speedsix]

The rudest bikers I have seen have been Harley riders.  I have seen a few BMW snobs but BMW bikes are rare around here so I just see many enough of them to get a feel for there personality. 

There are probably 10 times as many cruisers as all other bikes put together around here (NE Indiana).  For every 100 bikes you see, 80+ will be a cruiser of some sort.  Mostly Harleys but a lot of Honda, Suzukis and other metric cruisers as well.  The second most common bike is a rice rocket.  Street fighters, dual sports and retro bikes make up a tiny minority of bikes around here and it is a shame.  Those are my favs.

[O.C.D.]

COlorado must be different cause I get waves from everyone sans the typical Harley every now and again.

[JB848]

I give them all the wave. If the don't return them then screw them. They are not a true riders and lack the "Spirit Fingers" sucks not having a personality I guess! 

[jdw03n]

ha...you've got biker snobs
I wave at everyone in a helmet, and everyone in a helmet waves at me.  Yay Ontario!

Thats the way it works here too.... if you're on two wheels you get a wave.  Unless you're on a little scooter, then you're on your own, or you're a college girl riding in a skirt and flip flops because we all know scooters are safer than motorcycles 

[Bridger]

I think the whole "wave" is kinda weird.  It's like if you have a bike you're in some top secret motorcycle club.....  I don't see much of a point in waving to every bike.  Why should I feel bad for not waving.  I drive a Subaru and I'm not gonna start waving to everyone in a subie.....

[NF11624]

I like the wave, I do it to everyone (except my next door neighbor... I hate that guy).  If they don't return it... oh well.  I don't think that it is a 'hey how are ya' thing, I think its more of an acknowledgment that we are putting our lives on the line to pursue our passion, because lets face it - riding a motorcycle is more dangerous than driving a car.

As to receiving the wave in return... I'd say about 60% of the people I encounter will wave back.  The number is higher with sport bike riders and lower with cruisers, but I think this is a fairly accurate average.

[Canonball]

i get a lot of waves, mostly the 2 down from street bikes, but its not rare that i get a wave from a cruiser



...btw, aren't there a few other threads exactly like this one?

[joshr08]

yes but no one searches takes to long.

[VSG]

I've noticed that more cruisers wave at the naked GS than the one with fairings.  In general though, I think sport bike riders still wave more.

I think the whole "wave" is kinda weird.  It's like if you have a bike you're in some top secret motorcycle club.....  I don't see much of a point in waving to every bike.  Why should I feel bad for not waving.  I drive a Subaru and I'm not gonna start waving to everyone in a subie.....

Coincidentally, when the WRX first came out in '02, I waved and got a lot of waves from other WRX owners as well as other regular Impreza owners!

It's just kind of an acknowledgment that you're in a relatively small group of people that share the same hobby/interest/passion.  That's also why most bikers are willing to stop and help out a fellow rider that's pulled over.